Jets Free Agents Hits & Misses 

  Never has a Jets twitter crowd had a love/hate relationship like they do with the Jets General Manager Joe Douglas. First he was in jeopardy of losing his job because he didn’t sign anyone 5 minutes after the tampering period of free agency started and not making an offer to the Cowboys for Amari Cooper. Then they love him for signing a couple of tight ends and other free agents. Then they hate him for not going after Robert Woods from the Los Angeles Rams. Jets fans have to appreciate the job the Jets GM is doing. Do I agree with everything he has done? Absolutely not. But he is not spending freely like Mike Mccagnan or drafting like John Idzik. Douglas wants to build a winner, not buy one. And he is doing it with measured discipline. Sure Cooper and Woods would have been nice acquisitions but JD is not going to go against his principles. This is bold and sometimes boldness can cost people their job, but he runs things a certain way and does not deviate from that path. He won’t pay a penny extra for a “Jets tax” and knows that all things being equal, a pro bowl player will pick a contender to play for before they pick the Jets. He wants to change that and eventually make the Jets the place that players will take a discount to play for. I like what he is doing so take a deep breath Jets fans, the draft is five weeks away. Give Joe Douglas a little bit of rope. He is going to get this thing right!

 

 

Jets Free Agents

C.J. Uzomah, tight end,  From the Cincinnati Bengals, 

A-

I never knew he would be available. What would you do if you could come back to a Super Bowl team with Joe Burrow? Complete shock to me. Three years $24 million. Had 49 receptions for 493 yards. A gamer and one who seems to love playing. A leader and in the locker room he is the type to lift his teammates up. A very good target on a play-option. I love his size (6’6” 260 pounds) but hopefully after tearing Achilles in 2020 and spraining his ACL against the Chiefs in the  playoffs, the injury bug is behind him. I love this pick up!

 

Tyler Conklin, tight end, From the Minnesota Vikings

B+

Conklin will be a nice complement with Uzomah though he is smaller at 6’3”, 248 pounds. He’ll be 27 when the season starts. He was born in Michigan and went to Central Michigan. He actually went to a different college first, Northwood University on a basketball scholarship. He was a 5th round pick of the Vikings in the 2018 draft. In four years he has only missed 1 game. Like all the Jets free agent signings, Conklin is an ascending player coming off a 61 reception, 593 yard season. I look for both Uzomah and Conklin to help immensely with Zach Wilson’s progress.

 

Laken Tomlinson, guard, From the San Francisco 49ers,

B+

Like Joe Douglas, I am an offensive line guy. Tomlinson was born in Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica and moved to Chicago in 2003. He was a two-sport athlete breaking state records in the discus throw. He went to Duke and was a teammate of former Jets Jamison Crowder.  In the last four years, there were 65 games. Tomlinson played and started in each of them. He is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. This former first round draft pick of the Lions just turned 30. His contract is for three years, $40 million with $27 million guaranteed. He only allowed 3 sacks in 681 pass-blocking reps in all 17 games. My only concern is he has been a left guard and the Jets will move him to the right side. 

 

Jacob Martin, edge, From the Houston Texans,

B

Martin was a 6th round pick by the Seahawks in 2018. At first look I’m not in love with his size 6’2”, 242 pounds. But this undersized defensive end has one of the quickest first steps in the NFL. He was born in Colorado and went to Temple. This past season he played in all 17 games and defended 3 passes, forced 2 fumbles and recored 4 sacks and had 5 tackles for a loss. This is pretty good for a rotational part time player. My biggest concern is Martin has a reputation for being an awful tackler who does not wrap up players, though he improved in 2021. Good upside here!

 

DJ Reed, CB, From the Seattle Seahawks,

B+

The Jets have not been big on interceptions for years. In 2021, there were only 2 by Jets cornerbacks. Reed signed a three-year, $33 million contract.  After going to a couple of small colleges, he ended up at Kansas State University and was drafted in the 5th round by the 49ers. The Seahawks claimed him on waivers and Reed has been improving every year. When Pete Carroll moved Reed from the left side to the right side, his play excelled. I happen to like players that are able to play both sides equally but Jets fans can live with the improvement in the secondary. He has become real good at smelling a running play and is a sure tackler.

 

Jordan Whitehead, Safety, From the Tampa Bay Bucaneers

A

The My favorite signing of all the new free agents. A 2018 4th round pick from Pittsburgh, this safety has been ascending at a better pace than the Jets other free agents. He missed two games in 2021 but still managed 73 tackles. He plays much better in zone than man coverage, but he comes to play. You won’t see many missed tackles by Whitehead. His contract is for two-years and $14.5 million. This cousin of Darrelle Revis will end up being the best signing by the Jets.

 

Takeoffs & Landings

…..The AFC is becoming very QB heavy. Saleh likes to build from the defensive line back. He may switch his approach and build the Jets D from the back to the front. Kyle Hamilton may be in the picture…..If  the Jets are in love with a wide receiver, he may be gone by the 10th pick. Atlanta is picking 8th and may go with a receiver. I heard they love Garrett Wilson from OSU…..April 5th is Drake London’s Pro day. Expect the Jets to have a bunch there…..I wish Becton & Mims had Chrebet’s heart…..Can the Jets ever go through an off-season without a DUI arrest? Hopefully OL coach John Benton will get his life in order before the season starts…..I still look for the Jets to draft a TE on day 3 but Trey McBride is off the table…..OTA’s start on April 18. Jets have 10 days to evaluate Becton and the type of shape and dedication he has. Joe D. and Robert S. should have two scenarios for the draft depending on Becton…..After all the QB activity, this year’s QB draft class doesn’t look as weak as it did last week…..

 

                          NFL Important Dates

• March 27-30: Annual League Meeting | The Breakers  Palm Beach, Fla.                                                                     
• April 4: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2021 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.                        
•      
• April 18: Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs                                    
• April 20: Deadline to bring draft-eligible players to their facilities for a physical examination.                                      
• April 22: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.   
•              
• April 27: Deadline for prior club to exercise Right of First Refusal to restricted free agents.                                              
• April 27: Deadline to time, test, and interview draft-eligible players. 
•        
• April 28-30: 2022 NFL Draft | Las Vegas