Everyone knows that the Jets must land a quarterback when free agency begins two weeks from Thursday, on March 9, but that won’t be the only position they have to address.
A list of the Jets’ needs basically looks like a depth chart right now. Outside of defensive end and wide receiver (and they might need help there), you could argue the Jets need to make additions at every position.
The quarterback position has been discussed endlessly this offseason, but let’s takes a look at four positions that must be priorities for the Jets besides quarterback:
It is amazing the Jets are back in the cornerback market two years after Mike Maccagnan’s spending spree on Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine. But the Jets secondary was dismal in 2016, giving up 13 passes of 40 yards or more. That means a major overhaul this offseason. The team likely will cut Revis when the new league year begins on March 9, leaving Skrine, Darryl Roberts and second-year player Juston Burris as the team’s top corners.
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The problem for Maccagnan here is trying to find value in the cornerback market. There are no elite corners coming free. There are a few guys with potential to be that, but there is going to be some risk in paying them. A.J. Bouye of the Texans is the hottest name out there right now after a breakthrough season. Maccagnan knows Bouye from his days as the college scouting director in Houston. The Rams’ Trumaine Johnson, Bills’ Stephon Gilmore and Patriots’ Logan Ryan are other options.
The Jets need to come out of this offseason with two cornerbacks, but one might be found in the draft.
The Jets could be in the market for two new tackles this year. The team already has declined to pick up the option for left tackle Ryan Clady, and right tackle Breno Giacomini could be a cap casualty in the coming weeks.
Ben Ijalana, who filled in at both spots last year, could be an option at one of the spots. Ijalana is a free agent, but the team wants him back.
Rick Wagner of the Ravens and Andrew Whitworth of the Bengals are considered the top two free agents at the position. Whitworth is 35 and probably will go to a team closer to winning than the Jets. Kelvin Beachum, recently released by the Jaguars, makes some sense for the Jets. He visited the team last year before going to Jacksonville.
This has been a need for the Jets since about 2006. They still have hope that Lorenzo Mauldin, a 2015 draft pick, can develop into this role, but after only 2.5 sacks in 2016, they might have to go out and bring someone in.
The headliners in this category are Melvin Ingram from the Chargers and the Cardinals’ Chandler Jones. There is a chance that both players could be franchised and not hit the market. If they do, their price tags are going to be huge, probably too rich for the Jets.
More realistic targets for the Jets are Jabaal Sheard from the Patriots and the Packers’ Nick Perry.
This position barely existed over the last two years with former offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. With John Morton taking over, you have to think the tight end will become part of the offense again. The Jets have Austin Seferian-Jenkins on the roster, but he did not blow anyone away in 2016. He had 10 catches for the Jets.
Martellus Bennett is the top name at this position, fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Patriots. But it’s hard to see the Jets going after the outspoken player after a season with locker-room issues. Todd Bowles surely wants to quiet the locker room down, not make it louder.
Jermaine Gresham is a name to watch. The Jets went after him hard last season, offering him a contract before Gresham decided to go back to the Cardinals. Jack Doyle could be another interesting option for the Jets. He had 59 catches for the Colts in 2016, the same number as Brandon Marshall had for the Jets, a team high.
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