Rich Cimini, ESPN staff writer
FLORHAM PARK, NJ – Check out what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. Desired recipient: Now that Aaron Rodgers has a new waiting list — we’re talking an improved offensive line, not the Secret Service — the focus shifts to wide receiver.
The corps that Rodgers received when he arrived 11 months ago includes Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis, newcomers/formers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb and newcomer Mecole Hardman — a deep and balanced group on paper.
It never works. Only Wilson and Lazard remain, and Lazard, who sat on gasoline last season, may be on thin ice. Rogers, who has said in several interviews that they need to add a receiver, may think about the status of the equipment as the Jets were unable to address the position in the first wave of free agency.
The options are dwindling quickly, and the pressure is on for general manager Joe Douglas to land a Hall of Fame quarterback of the future.
Douglas, who had some interest in Jerry Judy and Keenan Allen before they were traded to the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears, respectively, is still exploring the trade market, a source said. Tee Higgins has requested a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Ayuk is said to have wandering eyes, but there is no concrete evidence that one is available.
The most sensible plan for bargain hunting Douglas is to sign a modestly priced free agent and put him in a deep pool of receivers in the draft. Talent evaluators believe that the quality extends to the third round, when the Jets make their second pick (they traded their second round pick for Rodgers).
As for free agents, it’s a middling group that includes a fading star (Odell Beckham Jr.), a star coming off ACL surgery (Mike Williams), a steady WR3 (Tyler Boyd) and another Rodgers crony (Marquez Valdes-Scantling). Williams is said to be visiting this week. Also keep an eye on Beckham, who they almost signed last year.
Davis, who has indicated to return after opting to sit out last season, is available. The Jets would welcome him back to compete for a roster spot, but the smarts are that he will scout the market and choose a team closer to his home in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Jets’ top three receivers for now are Wilson and second-year players Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee, the latter two of whom have combined for 26 starts. Maybe Rodgers will be on the campaign trail soon — for a receiver.
2. Tyrone Effect: The addition of former Dallas Cowboys tight end Tyron Smith does three things: It completes the first phase of an offensive line rebuild. Jets allow guard Alia Vera-Tucker; And he opens the draft board with the 10th pick.
The Jets’ current starting five, left to right: Smith, John Simpson (in free agency), Joe Tipman, Vera-Tucker and Morgan Moses (in trade). On paper, it’s an even better line than last season.
Before the Smith deal, most people in the draft world had the Jets selecting Tech at 10, but now they could go for a wide receiver or tight end, perhaps Georgia’s Brook Bowers. In a perfect world, you’d want to trade down to pick up another top-100 pick. Currently, they only have two.
The additions of Smith and Moses won’t prevent them from developing a solution — they’re 33 years old, on one-year contracts — but it will reduce the need.
3. Full: Smith’s move reflects a sense of urgency within the organization, which was awakened by owner Woody Johnson after another disappointing season. Smith is a quick fix/risky player.
If the eight-time Pro Bowler is in the game, the Jets will have their best left tackle since DeBrickshaw Ferguson a decade ago. If injuries continue to be a problem (he’s missed 37 games over the past four seasons) and he’s lost in father time, he’ll draw comparisons to the dangers of Duane Brown and Ryan Claudy. Smith allowed two sacks in Dallas’ last playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers. Maybe it was just a bad day at the office.
Financially, the Jets protected themselves with an incentive-heavy, one-year contract that included less than $7 million guaranteed.
4. Clooney on the Radar: With the signings of Bryce Huff and Quinton Jefferson to the Philadelphia Eagles and Browns, the Jets lost 33% of their sack production. They are on the market and will host former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney for a free agent visit on Tuesday. Clowney, 31, recorded 9.5 sacks on three downs for the Baltimore Ravens last season. It will be interesting to see if the Jets view him as a situational pass rusher — essentially a Huff role — or as a starting defensive end. In other words, do you see him as a potential replacement for John Franklin-Myers? He’s still a productive, three-down player, but his cap hit is $16.4 million.
5. Jefferson Memorial: When the Jets signed defensive tackles Javon Kinlaw and Lecky Fotun, the natural assumption was that they had moved on from Jefferson. Not so. They wanted him back.
The Jets were offered a chance to match the Browns’ one-year, $3.6 million contract offer, but it took a long time to respond, two sources said. Jefferson agreed to settle with Cleveland when the Jets responded.
“Quinton has agreed to terms with the Browns and, from my perspective, the Jets handled the situation professionally, at the appropriate speed and without delay,” Jefferson’s agent, Jared Fox, said.
6. Oldies, but goodies: The Jets may be young at some spots, but not at quarterback.
Rogers is 40 years old. Newly signed backup Tyrod Taylor will be 35 at the start of the season. The Jets will have the oldest quarterback class in the league. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the 2020 Atlanta Falcons will become the first team since Matt Ryan (35) and Matt Schaub (39) to have two quarterbacks in the 35-and-over category on a Week 1 roster. .
It happened to the New Orleans Saints in 2016 with Drew Brees (37) and Luke McCown (35).
This isn’t Taylor’s first time as a junior quarterback. In the year In 2019, he backed Philip Rivers (38) against the Los Angeles Chargers.
7. A strong man, but… Taylor showed last season that he can still play. He ranks 19th out of 41 quarterbacks with the New York Giants in minimum 200 passing yards. (Zach Wilson was 40th, by the way). The question with Taylor is his strength.
During his 13-year career, he suffered rib and four concussions, as well as muscle, wrist and groin injuries. Now he’s backing up the quarterback with an Achilles surgery. The Jets are waiting for the injury gods to smile on them for a change.
8. For Sale: Speaking of Wilson, the New Jersey condom went on sale 10 days ago, the New York Post reported. The Jets are trying to find a new home for him, but the trade market has not been kind.
9. For team one: By reworking his contract and giving him cap relief, center C.J. Mosley secured his roster spot this offseason and increased his chances of returning in 2025. A player who has often talked about wanting the Jets when they break down.
In terms of basic accounting, he changed the final year of a $17 million (non-guaranteed) contract to a two-year contract for $17.25 million (13.25 million guaranteed) and took a pay cut.
It took a while to complete. Talks dragged on until this week, when former Jets linebacker Demario Davis renegotiated his deal with the Saints — the same deal Mosley received just days later. The Davis Agreement provided a framework.
Mosley’s first contract (five years, $85 million in 2019) was always a highlight for off-ball linebackers. His new average ($8.625 million) is tied for 11th at his position.
10. Pick tea leaves; Cornerback DJ Reed, who is believed to be seeking a contract extension, has recently changed agents. Reed, one of their top players over the past two years, is set to make $10.5 million in non-guaranteed money in the final year of his contract.