Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with RB Ty Montgomery?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent running back Ty Montgomery?

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

The Jets have 32 players set to hit the open market this offseason. Some don’t figure to factor into New York’s plans for 2020, while it’s safe to assume the Jets would like to keep others around for a while. Either way, Douglas has a lot of work to do in his first offseason on the job.

Ty Montgomery was somewhat of an enigma for New York in 2019. He impressed throughout the preseason, but was seldom used by Adam Gase in the regular season. Is he worth keeping around for another season considering what transpired in 2019? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

Forget about Montgomery’s role with the Jets in 2019 for a second. He turns 27 in January and still has a lot of good football left ahead of him, not to mention his versatile skillset can still play in Gase’s offense.

Montgomery’s ability to run between the tackles, catch passes and return kicks holds value. He wouldn’t have the biggest role in 2020, but it’s hard to imagine he gets phased out again considering what he brings to the table.

Cons of keeping him

Considering how little he was used in 2019, it’s worth wondering what exactly the point would be in keeping Montgomery around for another season.

If he could barely crack New York’s lineup last season, why would anything change in that regard in 2020? The Jets can find a backup running back Gase actually wants to use at a much cheaper rate. Plus, it’s hard to see Montgomery wanting to come back himself.

The verdict

This is one of the easier calls Douglas has to make this offseason. For whatever reason, Montgomery simply did not do enough to warrant playing time in 2019. It’s hard to see that changing next season.

Montgomery’s skill set could be of value to the Jets from the outside looking in, but clearly, Gase has seen something to justify his lack of playing time. With that being said, expect Montgomery to have a new home in 2020.

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with OT Brandon Shell?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent offensive tackle Brandon Shell?

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

Brandon Shell entered 2019 as New York’s starting right tackle before eventually losing the job to Chuma Edoga. Shell proceeded to make spot starts on the line after his benching due to injuries before taking over for Edoga at the end of the season when he hit injured reserve. Shell played a bit better down the stretch, placing himself in consideration to return in 2020. Will Douglas opt to bring him back? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of returning

Shell is only 27. He didn’t have the best season, but there is plenty of time for him to get back on track with the proper tutelage.

The South Carolina product improved his play in the final weeks of the season, so there is reason to hope his progression at the end of the year could carry over into next season. If the Jets opt to bring him back, Douglas is likely banking on Shell to return to the form that made him a promising starter on New York’s offensive line a couple of years ago.

Cons of returning

Shell did not show New York’s new regime much in 2019. Douglas knows what good offensive line play looks like and Shell did not provide it on a consistent basis.

Shell is a decent enough depth piece, but he has no connection to the new regime. It’s tough to see Douglas keeping a player he has no prior connection to after the way he played last season.

The verdict

Once upon a time, it looked like Shell would be an integral part of the Jets offensive line for years. Things have not panned out that way and now, there is a strong possibility Shell has a new home next season.

The offensive line is going to be a point of emphasis for New York in the draft. With Edoga returning for his second season and the Jets looking to get younger overall, there likely will not be a spot for Shell at One Jets Drive come March.

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with OL Alex Lewis?

Here’s how the Jets should approach Alex Lewis’ free agency situation.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

Alex Lewis took over as a starter after Kelechi Osemele got hurt and ended up being an upgrade. However, with an overhaul of the entire offensive line coming, did Lewis do enough to keep his guard spot? Let’s take a look on how the Jets should approach Lewis’ free agency in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

After opening the season as a backup, Lewis was inserted into the starting lineup in Week 5 after Osemele went down with a shoulder injury. Once Lewis started, the Jets offensive line played significantly better, but especially in pass protection.

Lewis himself only allowed two sacks in 12 starts, which was tied for 35th in the NFL for guards, according to Pro Football Focus. Lewis brings a lot of energy in the trenches, which is part of the reason why the Jets front office decided to trade for him in the first place.

Cons of keeping him

Lewis struggled with penalties in 2019, routinely wiping out key plays for New York’s already-stagnant offense. Lewis committed six penalties, which was tied for 16th in the league for guards. That’s something the Jets can’t afford because they don’t get many big plays to begin with.

If the Jets want to move on from every single player on 2019’s dreadful line, Lewis wouldn’t be hard to replace.

The verdict

Since Douglas acquired Lewis in a trade from the Ravens and he wasn’t a holdover from the Mike Maccagnan regime, there’s a good chance the general manager tries to keep him around. It doesn’t hurt to have offensive line depth, especially one when it isn’t expensive.

Despite his inconsistencies in 2019, don’t be surprised if Lewis is back for another season in New York.

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with S Rontez Miles?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent safety Rontez Miles.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

Rontez Miles doesn’t hold a starting job on the Jets defense, but he is an integral part of New York’s special teams operation and a well-respected veteran in the locker room. Is all of that enough to warrant a return in 2020? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

Prior to an injury that put him out for the second half of the season, Adam Gase granted Miles captain status due to his presence in the locker room and impact on New York’s special teams unit.

Miles only made seven tackles in 2019, but don’t let the numbers fool you. It’s tough to equate Miles’ impact to a single statistic. What he brings to the table in the locker room and as a hard-worker in areas of the game that not many people recognize is tough to replace.

Cons of keeping him

Injuries have been Miles’ downfall the last two seasons. The 31-year-old missed eight games in 2018 and seven a year ago. Considering he’s getting up there in age, it’s hard not to wonder how durable Miles is at this point in his career.

Miles’ leadership is invaluable, but the Jets can simply replace him with a cheaper and younger special teamer if they wish. That could lead to his exit from the Big Apple this offseason.

The verdict

This is a decision Douglas would likely prefer not to make. It’s always hard to move on from a player who is well-liked throughout the organization, especially one who has the respect of a whole locker room.

With that being said, it looks like Miles’ time in the green and white is up. The Jets need to get younger and can’t afford to be carrying players who wind up injured more often than not. His presence will be missed at on One Jets Drive, but odds are Miles will have a new home next season.

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with CB Arthur Maulet?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent cornerback Arthur Maulet.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

Arthur Maulet bounced from New York’s active roster to the practice squad throughout the first half of the regular season. Once he settled in as a permanent member of Gang Green’s 53-man roster in late October, the 5-foot-10 cornerback performed well enough to warrant starting duties down the stretch. Was Maulet’s strong second half enough to warrant a return in 2020? Let’s evaluate in the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

For a three-week stretch in November, Maulet teamed up with Bless Austin to form a formidable cornerback duo, one New York lacked throughout much of 2019.

Maulet’s not the biggest corner, but he has impressive range and solid ball skills. The Jets wouldn’t be keeping him with designs on inserting him into the starting lineup on a permanent basis, but Maulet could serve as a key depth piece for a unit that is lacking in that area.

Cons of keeping him

Maulet played well enough in the second half of 2019, but his sample size is extremely small and tough to evaluate. Other than his three-week stretch of standout play, how good was he really?

Maulet’s size also working against him more often than not. He isn’t a true nickel cornerback and is usually faced with a mismatch against bigger receivers on the outside. That’s far from ideal and could be a reason why Douglas lets the 26-year-old walk in free agency.

The verdict

Maulet is your typical solid backup cornerback. He can perform well in a pinch and typically gets the job done in a minimal role. Is he a player the Jets can start for 16 games? Probably not, but he contributes in sub-packages that play to his strengths. That leads us to believe Douglas will opt to re-sign him at a relatively cheap rate this offseason.

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with LB James Burgess?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent linebacker James Burgess.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

After spending the first month and a half of 2019 on the practice squad, James Burgess came on strong in the middle of the Jets defense in the second half of the season. With C.J. Mosley, Avery Williamson and Blake Cashman sidelined, Burgess helped solidify New York’s middle linebacker position and provided some standout performances down the stretch. Was his surprising play in the latter half of 2019 enough to warrant a return in 2020? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

Burgess was dominant in the second half, recording 69 tackles and an interception in New York’s final eight games. He finished the season with a career-high 80 tackles and was a consistent contributor in the middle of the defense.

Burgess’ play down the stretch certainly won him some fans within the organization. He was solid in both run support and pass coverage, making him a player defensive coordinator Gregg Williams could rely on in all personnel packages.

Cons of bringing him back

Avery Williamson — pending a cap cut — C.J. Mosley and Blake Cashman all return with clean bills of health in 2020. The Jets also have a decision to make on fellow impending free agent linebacker Neville Hewitt, which puts Burgess’ return to the organization in 2020 up in the air.

Considering how well Hewitt played last season, Douglas is going to have a tough call to make. If Hewitt wasn’t in the mix, Burgess would undoubtedly be back next season.

The verdict

This one is a true toss-up, as Douglas’ decision could go either way. Both Hewitt and Burgess were outstanding for the Jets in 2019, making matters even more complicated for the first-year general manager.

Working in Burgess’ favor is the fact that he will likely come cheaper than Hewitt. He also outplayed Hewitt in the second half of the season and left a lasting impact that could sway Douglas’ decision-making process. We’re going to go out on a limb and say Douglas opts to re-sign Burgess and let Hewitt walk, but this one could go either way.

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with P Lachlan Edwards?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent punter Lachlan Edwards.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

The 2019 season was another solid one for Jets punter Lachlan Edwards. Ever since Brant Boyer took over as New York’s special teams coach in 2016, Edwards has taken his game to the next level, emerging as one of the NFL’s premier punters. Is that enough to warrant a return to the Big Apple next season? Let’s evaluate in the latest in Jets Wire’s free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

Edwards has been the definition of reliable for the Jets the last three seasons. In 2019, he finished 13th in the league in punts inside the 20 with 28. Edwards also recorded only three touchbacks and his punts netted an average of seven yards per return.

All things considered, there’s really not much of a reason to move on from Edwards. Why let a consistent special teams contributor walk when you can keep him in the building at a relatively cheap price?

Cons of keeping him

Punter is arguably the most expendable position in football. Edwards has been a solid contributor, but not to the point where his return is an absolute must.

The Jets can opt to go with a cheaper, younger punter instead of shelling out a little bit of money. It all comes down to the route Douglas wishes to take when filling out his roster this offseason.

The verdict

Yes, the Jets can opt to go with a cheaper player at punter, but that wouldn’t be a wise move. Considering how often New York tends to punt, Douglas is likely better off turning to the veteran Edwards than a rookie or inexperienced specialist just to save a few bucks.

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with LB Neville Hewitt?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent linebacker Neville Hewitt.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

Neville Hewitt stepped up when the Jets needed him the most last season. With Avery Williamson, C.J. Mosley and Blake Cashman all sidelined due to injury, Hewitt filled a major void in the middle of New York’s defense with a career year. Was his 2019 campaign enough to warrant a return next season? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

Hewitt is coming off a career year in which he recorded 72 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks and eight quarterback hits. Not bad for a player who spent most of his time on special teams and only recorded a combined 40 tackles over the previous two seasons.

As the Jets learned in 2019, it never hurts to have quality depth on the roster. If one of New York’s middle linebacker trio succumbs to injury again next season, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams wouldn’t have to worry about inserting an inexperienced player into the middle of his defense. Hewitt is also only 26 and has plenty of good football ahead of him.

With Hewitt in the mix, the Jets have a veteran linebacker they can rely on. Even if he doesn’t get a lot of playing time on defense, he’s a key special teams player at the very least.

Cons of bringing him back

Mosley and Cashman are all going to be back with clean bills of health in 2020. Williamson is under contract, but his future is less certain. Anyway, Hewitt made only $1 million last season and earned himself a few extra bucks with the way he performed. According to overthecap.com, Hewitt could be worth as much as $3 million on the open market. Is Hewitt worth paying when the Jets can get a backup linebacker like fellow free agent James Burgess at a cheaper price? That question is going to loom large when it comes to Hewitt’s future with the organization.

There’s also Hewitt’s deficiencies in pass coverage. New York could opt to target a reserve linebacker it can slot in on passing downs as opposed to a player who profiles similarly to Mosley and Cashman.

The verdict

Whether or not to keep Hewitt is one of the toughest decisions Douglas has to make this offseason. There are just as many reasons to keep him as there are to let him go. At the end of the day, Douglas will have to decide what he wants out of his inside linebackers.

If he wants a linebacker with a nose for the ball in run support, odds are he’ll make every effort to ensure Hewitt returns in 2020. If he prefers a linebacker who is better in pass coverage, Hewitt will likely be out the door. When taking everything into account, we’re going to predict he’s back in the green and white next season.

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with RB Bilal Powell?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent running back Bilal Powell.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

Bilal Powell is far from New York’s most important free agent. However, he’s the longest-tenured of the group and did have a role in Adam Gase’s offense last season. Will the Jets stick with Powell as a backup running back for another year? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

Powell didn’t post eye-popping numbers (59 carries, 229 yards, 3.9 yards per carry) in 2019, but he served his purpose. When Le’Veon Bell was banged up and Gase opted to turn to a running back by committee approached, Powell delivered as a secondary option in New York’s rushing attack.

He’s not the dynamic runner nor pass catcher he once was, but Powell gets the job done more often than not. Considering he would be returning to the Jets as a backup, that should be enough for Douglas to consider re-signing him to a short-term deal.

Cons of bringing him back

Powell turned 31 in October and has endured plenty of wear and tear throughout his career. He has served as a backup for most of his career with the Jets, but the hits have certainly piled up over the years.

Powell is only a year and a half removed from a serious neck injury that threatened his career. He’s not getting any younger and New York could easily find someone younger to do his job.

The verdict

Considering his age and his relatively minimal role, odds are Powell is out the door.

There’s a reason for the Jets to consider bringing him back. Gase seems to like him enough and he’s a well-respected veteran presence in the locker room. However, New York needs to get younger, especially with its depth. Powell doesn’t fit the mold of a player who is heading in the same direction as the organization. That will likely lead to his exit.

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with LT Kelvin Beachum?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent left tackle Kelvin Beachum.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

Kelvin Beachum has served as New York’s starting left tackle for the last two years. He performed well as Sam Darnold’s blindside protector, but has battled a bevy of injuries and isn’t getting any younger. Should Douglas keep the veteran around for another year? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of bringing him back

The Jets struggled mightily in the trenches in 2019, but Adam Gase and company never had to worry about what Beachum would bring to the table on a weekly basis.

When healthy, Beachum delivered in both run and pass protection He helped keep the pocket relatively clean and Darnold off his back more often than not.

Beachum is not an elite left tackle anymore, but he gets the job done better than most. It’s tough to find reliable tackles on the open market and rookies take some time getting used to dealing with NFL edge rushers. With that in mind, Douglas should at least consider bringing the veteran back for another go around.

Cons of bringing him back

Beachum missed four games in 2019 due to injury and played through a variety of ailments down the stretch, including two sprained ankles.

Beachum will turn 31 before the beginning of next season. Considering how physical things get in the trenches, it’s worth questioning Beachum’s durability moving forward. Yes, he toughed it out through injuries last season, but will he be able to do the same in 2020? That might not be worth betting on.

The verdict

It’s tough to let solid players walk, but the Jets need to get younger on both sides of the ball. If New York was a sure-fire contender heading into next season, the decision on Beachum would be an easy one. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

He’s not going to be easy to replace, but odds are Douglas and the Jets elect to move on from Beachum in the offseason. Look for Douglas to target an offensive tackle with New York’s No. 11 overall pick to fill the void.