4 cornerbacks the Jets should avoid in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at four free agent cornerbacks Joe Douglas should avoid.

The Jets struggled at multiple positions in 2019, but no unit was worse than New York’s cornerbacks.

Aside from Brian Poole, who is set to hit free agency, the Jets got little to no production out of their corners throughout the season. Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts were downright awful. Bless Austin showed some flashes of potential in his rookie year, but found himself benched by season’s end. Arthur Maulet and Maurice Canady had their moments, but are not exactly proven starters that New York can rely on entering 2020.

Fortunately for Joe Douglas and the Jets, there are plenty of solid free agent cornerbacks available this offseason. Likewise, there are some he should avoid at all costs. Who are those players? Let’s take a look.

Josh Norman

Norman is on the wrong side of 30, has been declining the last couple of seasons and is a zone corner who would not fit in Gregg Williams’ man-to-man heavy scheme.

It’s clear as day why the Jets should avoid targeting Norman this offseason. He’s not the player he once was and he’s not going to magically revert to All-Pro form playing in a defensive scheme that does not match his strengths. Douglas can do much better than the 32-year-old Norman.

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5 wide receivers the Jets should avoid in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at five wide receivers that the Jets’ front office should steer clear of in free agency.

The Jets need to find some receivers this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they should just go after any free agent pass-catcher.

Following a 2019 season that showed minimal production outside of Jamison Crowder and Robby Anderson, the Jets really didn’t get enough production from the position. Now, Anderson could walk in free agency, leaving the team even thinner at the position.

Joe Douglas has to do a better job than his predecessor in targeting playmakers who will help Sam Darnold. This year’s wide receiver free agent class is top-heavy, with Emmanuel Sanders being the prize target after Amari Cooper and A.J. Green are both likely tagged. With that, there are also players at the receiver position that the Jets shouldn’t touch.

Let’s take a look at five receivers the Jets should avoid come free agency.

Paul Richardson

On Valentine’s Day, the Redskins elected to part ways with Paul Richardson just two years after signing him to a massive five-year, $40 million deal.

The Redskins hoped Richardson could stretch the field for them. In two seasons, however, Richardson played just 17 of 32 games, catching 48 passes for 507 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2019, he was shut down with a shoulder injury and was placed on injured reserve for the second consecutive season after dealing with a nagging hamstring injury throughout 2018.

If the Jets allow Robby Anderson to walk in free agency, which seems more possible by the day, someone like Richardson could catch their attention. They’re better off either re-signing Anderson, targeting someone like Breshard Perriman or finding his replacement in the draft. It’s a hard sell to fans that you’re banking on an injury-hampered wideout — who seems like a product of Russell Wilson — to be your deep threat.

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4 left guards the Jets should avoid in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at four left guards Joe Douglas and company should steer clear of in free agency.

This offseason, the New York Jets are going to rebuild their offensive line.

Following a 2019 season that featured awful play in the trenches throughout the year, first-year general manager Joe Douglas is out to fill holes across New York’s line.

This year’s left guard market features some big-time names, which is good news for Douglas. There are also some players not worth touching with a 10-foot pole.

Who are they? Let’s take a look.

Mike Iupati

Iupati looked like he was done with how poorly he performed with the Cardinals in 2018. However, he bounced back with the Seahawks last season, earning himself Pro Bowl alternate consideration following his most productive season in a long time.

Iupati might seem like a nice short-term plug and play guard the Jets could use, but he is 33 and decline could be imminent. He has also dealt with back and knee injuries the last couple of years — arguably two of the most concerning injuries for any offensive lineman.

It wouldn’t hurt to give Iupati a look, but the Jets should make an effort to get a younger left guard with a cleaner bill of health as their next starter at the position.

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4 left tackles the Jets should avoid in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at four left tackles Joe Douglas and company should avoid in free agency.

If the Jets elect to move on from Kelvin Beachum this offseason, they will have plenty of options to replace him in free agency.

This year’s left tackle market is relatively deep, which is good news for Joe Douglas. There is also a chance Douglas elects to pluck a new starting left tackle from the 2020 NFL draft.

Regardless of what Douglas decides to do, there are some free agent left tackles New York’s first-year general manager should stay away from at all costs. Let’s take a look at who those players are.

Cedric Ogubehi

A former first-round pick of the Bengals in 2015, Ogubehi came to the NFL loaded with the potential to become an elite left tackle. Instead, the Texas A&M product finds himself for his third team in as many years this offseason.

Things never worked out for Ogubehi in Cincinnati. After struggling as a right tackle in the beginning of his career, Ogubehi shifted back to his natural left tackle position in 2017 when Andrew Whitworth departed in free agency. He failed miserably as a starter on the left side of the line and spent most of 2018 a healthy scratch before doing much of the same for the Jaguars last season.

The Jets should not pursue Ogubehi hoping that he will magically be able to turn the tide and reach his once sky-high ceiling. Joe Douglas’ time is best spent looking elsewhere.

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4 centers the Jets should avoid in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at four centers Joe Douglas and company should steer clear of in free agency.

It can’t get any worse than the production the Jets got out of their centers in 2019.

Ryan Kalil was a massive disappointment after coming out of retirement to join the Jets in August. The unit clearly lacked chemistry with Kalil at center and it suffered mightily as a result. By the time Jonotthan Harrison took over after Kalil went on injured reserve, it was too late for him to turn the tide and make a profound impact.

The bottom line is the Jets need more out of their next center. If Joe Douglas and company want to avoid repeating last season’s struggles at the position, here are some free agents they should avoid.

Jon Halapio

Halapio is a solid center and was mentioned as a possibility for the Jets in free agency last offseason. However, the circumstances are much different this spring.

The 29-year-old had an up and down 2019 campaign after spending all of 2018 on the shelf with a leg injury. Halapio could be in line for a bounce back 2020 season, but the Jets shouldn’t be betting on that happening at a position of need.

Halapio is also a restricted free agent and will likely wind up back with the Giants in some capacity. That, combined with his below average 2019 season, make him a player the Jets should not consider signing.

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4 right tackles the Jets should avoid in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at four right tackles that Joe Douglas should stay away from in free agency.

There is no doubt that the Jets need some help at right tackle.

Brandon Shell was downright disappointing in 2019 and Chuma Edoga still has a long way to go in his development before he can be considered for a starting job. Joe Douglas will likely use free agency to fill the void on the right side of New York’s offensive line, but the first-year general manager must be careful in his pursuit of a new starter in the trenches.

There are plenty of attractive right tackles available on the open market this offseason, but some should not be touched under any circumstance. Who are the right tackles Douglas and the Jets should avoid in free agency? Let’s take a look.

Dennis Kelly

Kelly has made 31 career starts and briefly overlapped with Douglas in Philadelphia, but his experience and minimal familiarity with New York’s general manager should not cause the Jets to heavily pursue the veteran tackle this offseason.

Kelly is not a full-time starter anymore for a reason. His experience on the line is good to have, but New York needs an established starter at right tackle. If the Jets go after Kelly as a backup that is all well and good, but odds are some team will throw starter-level money at him once free agency kicks off.

The Jets should not be that team. They can find better options at right tackle elsewhere.

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5 former Eagles Joe Douglas could target this offseason

Jets Wire takes a look at five of Joe Douglas’ former players that could take their talents from Philadelphia to New York this offseason.

We are now only a couple weeks away from Joe Douglas’ first crack at fixing a Jets roster that is littered with holes.

Free agency begins on March 18 and it’s safe to assume Douglas will be active from the start. There are numerous impact players available on the open market this offseason, which will make New York’s first-year general manager’s job a whole lot easier. There will also be some familiar faces looking for new homes that Douglas could turn to as he goes about shaping the Jets into a contender.

Douglas helped build a Super Bowl winner with the Eagles. Could he turn to some of his former players in an effort to recapture that magic in the Big Apple? Douglas shouldn’t target every free agent player from his days in Philadelphia, but there are definitely some who he could wind up going after.

Let’s take a look at who those players are.

Nigel Bradham

If this list was made a couple of days ago, Bradham would not be on it. The Eagles declined their option on his contract on Tuesday, giving the 31-year-old outside linebacker a head start on preparing for free agency.

Bradham’s production dropped drastically in 2019, as he recorded only 61 tackles and no sacks compared to 97 tackles and two sacks in 2018. He is also on the wrong side of 30, which could give Douglas pause when it comes to pursuing him.

Despite his age and drop in numbers, Bradham could be a valuable piece for the Jets. It’s not a coincidence that New York’s 2009 and 2010 playoff teams featured defenses that were littered with veterans. He’s not the most prolific pass rusher, but he is durable and would be a good locker room presence on a team that is filled with younger players still trying to find their way in the NFL.

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8 edge rushers the Jets should target in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at eight edge rushers the Jets should pursue in free agency.

It’s been a while since the Jets had themselves a dominant pass rusher.

Ever since John Abraham departed in 2006, New York has lacked an elite edge rusher that can consistently get to opposing quarterbacks. Jordan Jenkins came on nicely in 2019, but is set to hit free agency and it remains to be seen if he will be back with the Jets next season.

Who are some pass rushers general manager Joe Douglas and company can target to sole New York’s pass rushing problems? Let’s take a look at eight prime candidates.

Yannick Ngakoue

Ngakoue is more of a 3-4 defensive end than a traditional edge rusher, but he is by far the best pass rusher available on the free agent market this offseason.

At only 24, Ngakoue is just entering his prime and has already established himself as one of football’s elite pass rushers. He hasn’t been able to replicate his dominant 12-sack, six forced fumble 2017 pro bowl campaign the last two seasons, but has remained an upper echelon rusher nonetheless.

Ngakoue could be the one to solve New York’s pass rush woes. If you’re going to give any pass rusher a lot of money this offseason, it’s him.

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6 cornerbacks the Jets should target in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at six cornerbacks Joe Douglas and company should target in free agency.

The Jets struggled at multiple positions in 2019, but no unit was worse than New York’s cornerbacks.

Fortunately for Joe Douglas and the Jets, there are plenty of solid free agent cornerbacks available this offseason. Which ones should New York target? Let’s take a look.

Chris Harris

Although he is getting up there in age, Harris remains one of football’s upper echelon cornerbacks. Opposing quarterbacks seldom threw at the 31-year-old in 2019 as Harris anchored a Broncos secondary that ranked just outside the top 20 in passing yards allowed per game.

Harris is by far the best cornerback on this year’s free agent market. However, he is on the wrong side of 30 and will be worth around $11 million per year, according to Spotrac. The Jets have been burned handing out large contracts to aging corners in recent years, which could give the front office pause on pursuing the four-time Pro Bowler.

Will Douglas and company go all-in and take a shot at bringing Harris to the Big Apple? If New York deems the veteran worth his price tag, it will be firmly in the race for his services.

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Cap Cut Candidate: Should Jets move on from WR Josh Bellamy?

Jets Wire breaks down why wide receiver Josh Bellamy could be a salary cap casualty this offseason.

Before free agency kicks off in March, Jets general manager Joe Douglas is going to have some decisions to make on players already at One Jets Drive.

Along with New York’s 32 impending free agents, there are a handful of players who could be shown the door in an effort to free up salary cap space. The Jets have $53 million to spend right now, according to Spotrac. That number could grow exponentially if Douglas parts ways with players eating up a large chunk of Gang Green’s payroll.

Among those who are a candidate to become a cap casualty is wide receiver Josh Bellamy. Mike Maccagnan inked the special teams ace to a two-year deal last offseason and he performed well in that role, but he did not contribute much to New York’s aerial attack. Should Bellamy return in 2020? Let’s evaluate the situation.

Pros of keeping him

Bellamy thrives in the role that the Jets signed him to take on. He is excellent on special teams and is the leader of a unit that was among the league’s best in 2019.

New York wouldn’t be lost on special teams without Bellamy, but it’s safe to say the unit would not be quite as good. It often flies under the radar, but special teams is an important facet of the game. Finding guys like Bellamy who get the job done on kick and punt return coverage on a weekly basis is not easy.

Cons of keeping him

It’s nice that Bellamy is a special teams ace, but the fact of the matter is the Jets need weapons at wide receiver for Sam Darnold to work with. Bellamy contributed next to nothing lined up out wide last season, taking up a spot on the depth chart that could have been used for a more dynamic pass catcher.

All of Bellamy’s contract guarantees were in the first year of his deal. If New York cuts him, it saves $2.25 million. That’s not a ton of money, but enough to make a difference in free agency.

The verdict

This is another tough one, as Bellamy is integral to New York’s special teams operations. With that being said, Brant Boyer has proved he can coach up younger players to thrive in that facet of the game. The Jets can easily part ways with Bellamy, save some money and find a younger, cheaper player to fill his role.

We’re predicting that Bellamy is out the door this offseason.