With the beginning of the free agency, there are some last notes and thoughts on the Jets and this important period of free agency gained from discussions with sources inside and outside the Jets:
1. It’s no secret that the Jets play a high role with Joe Thuney, the Patriots guard. They would have been a freer last year if the Patriots had not used the franchise label on him. This year, he will be one of the Jets’ top targets. However, the Jets are worried about a bid war for Thuney. They consider him the top guard in the market with a huge decline. They fear that this will lead to some team paying him. The Jets do not want to be dragged into a bid war and are determined to stick to the value they have assigned to players.
Another linebacker who will be a bit lazy is Packers center Corey Linsley. The sense I get at Linsley is that the Jets are not as interested in him as in Thuney. If Linsley’s market does not develop and Joe Douglas sees value, he may collapse, but I do not expect the Jets to be one of Linsley’s leading suitors. One interesting dynamic with Linsley is the new Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. His brother Matt is the head coach of the Packers and knows Linsley well. You have to wonder how much information Mike got from Matt on Linsley.
The Jets do not feel the need to replace center Connor McGovern. They felt he played better last season later in the year. If they sign Linsley, they can kick McGovern out to guard, but Thuney adds their preference to improve the offense.
2. The Jets will play a major role in the leading market. One interesting name to behold is Steelers past rusher Bud Dupree. Dupree tore his ACL in December and it will be fascinating to see how his free agency plays. If it were not for the injury, Dupree would get money on the highest market. Now teams will be reluctant to pay him a lot of money. Dupree and his agent can request a one-year deal so he can recover and then re-enter the market next year. However, I can not see the Jets doing that. You are actually paying a player for rehabilitation. Who knows when Dupree will actually be able to play, and that players usually take two years to recover from an ACL tear.
3. The Jets will hit areas of distress in free agencies, but one major need they may not be able to address is the diagonal. It’s a weak free class in the position, and Douglas may prefer to score a depth player rather than pay one of the best players and then set up a cornerback. The Jets also feel good about the young corners, Bless Austin and Bryce Hall. The new coaching staff believes that they can develop into good players. Austin and Hall had some good moments and sometimes bad moments. It is probably better suited to be the third and fourth corners rather than the first and second corners. But Douglas may have to roll with the young guys, hoping an increased rush will help the secondary.
One wild card on the corner of the corner is Richard Sherman. It’s known how he feels about the new Jets coach, Robert Saleh. He would not make sense for the Jets if it were not for the Saleh connection. Sherman would certainly rather join a team that has a chance at the Super Bowl this year. The Jets should not sign the 33-year-old cornerback. But it does make sense for Saleh to bring in a respected player who knows his system to help him learn it and help him in the locker room while he tries to build his program.