Lets Get Tampering
Jets get off the mark with a key offensive line signing.
Good evening Jets fans. With the start of free agency, I’ve decided to change the timing of the newsletter to send it a little later in the day. This will allow me a chance to really look at the moves and analyze them properly, instead of quickly sending something first thing in the morning.
I know as soon as I press send on this the Jets will sign someone big, so if news breaks that the Jets sign someone within 5 minutes of receiving this email, you’ll know who to thank!
Jets sign Laken Tomlinson
At the start of the day I said I wanted Laken Tomlinson, that was my priority #1 free agent for the Jets, and NY secured that signing within 2 hours of the tampering period opening.
This signing makes sense on so many levels. Tomlinson is extremely durable, he hasn’t missed a game since 2015 when he appeared in 15 of 16 contests. He already has knowledge of the Jet’s offensive system due to Mike LaFleur’s time in San Francisco and has been one of the better guards in football over the last few years.
The Jets will likely slot Tomlinson in at right guard, and his presence will not only improve the play from that position, but it will also help Connor McGovern at center. it’s much easier playing next to a talent like Tomlinson than someone like GVR.
Tomlinson allowed 2 sacks and 24 pressures over 598 pass-blocking snaps last season and was graded positively in the run game as well.
The deal is for three years and $40 million with $27 million guaranteed (could rise to $41.2 million with incentives) which is a good deal for a talent like Tomlinson. The Jets have put considerable resources into the offensive line in terms of free agency $$$’s and draft picks, so they need to be one of the top units come 2022.
Fant, AVT, CMG, Tomlinson, and Becton certainly look like a unit capable of opening holes and protecting Zach Wilson.
A+ deal for me.
Jets Re-Sign Braxton Berrios
I was looking for this one, fan-favorite Braxton is heading back to NY on a good deal for both sides. Earlier in the day there were rumors that he would be getting $8 million a year, which always seemed a touch far-fetched. Instead, he returns for $6 million per year.
Braxton was a standout performer for the Jets as a punt and kick returner in 2021 and developed some rapport with rookie Zach Wilson towards the end of the season, especially on 3rd down.
When you have a rookie QB heading to his 2nd year, it’s a good idea to return players who he developed chemistry with. Braxton should be given the opportunity to stake a claim to that starting slot receiver position with the Jets and Jamison Crowder expected to part ways.
Berrios averaged 30.4 yards per kick return (2nd in the league among players who returned 15 or more kicks) and 13.8 yards per punt return (1st in the league among players who returned 15 or more punts).
Braxton also caught a team-leading 76.7% of passes thrown his way and also had a 2.1% drop rate, which was the lowest among Jets receivers who were mainstays in the offense.
Foley signed with Jacksonville
The first bit of Jets news was in relation to a player who decided to leave and sign elsewhere.
This should come as a surprise to nobody, Foley was a good run-stuffing nose for the Jets, but struggled when asked to do more in the Robert Saleh system, his run defense fell off a cliff and he was unable to get persistent pressure on the QB.
Although the Jets have conversations with Foley’s representatives, it was expected that he would move on and find a home in a system more suited to his style of play. He’ll get that opportunity in Jacksonville, and the Jets will look to sign someone who can offer both run support and some interior pass rush.
Nick Bawden is back - The Jets decided to re-sign the former Detroit Lion.
Bawden, a former 7th round pick out of San Diego State was cut by the Lions on June 3rd (2021) and found his way to the Jets practice squad in September.
He was active for 8 games in 2021 and while he only recorded one catch and 0 carries, he became a fixture on special teams.
In total Bawden appeared in 223 snaps for the Jets with 166 of those snaps coming on special teams.
Chances are it’ll be a low-cost deal which won’t prevent them from looking for an upgrade at the position through the draft.
Around the League Free Agent Deals
Here are some of the notable deals that have gone down so far today.
The Bengals somehow managed to get a deal done with Alex Cappa within a minute of the legal tampering period starting, go figure. They should just let the free agency frenzy start immediately after the Superbowl had concluded, pretty sure that’s when teams start tapping up agents.
Miami got some running back help. I quite like Edmonds, his career 4.7 yard average per carry is pretty impressive and he has 128 receptions over 4 years in the league. The Jets don’t always defend receiving running backs very well, so this is notable for a division rival.
The Steelers inked QB Mitch Trubisky to a 2-year deal, this doesn’t mean the Steelers won’t take a QB in the draft, but it does make it more unlikely they will trade up for one. Trubisky was decent when he last started in the league for the Bears in 2020, completing 67% of his passes for 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. According to Jeremy Fowler, it came down to the Steelers and Giants for Mitch, and he chose Pittsburgh.
The Seattle Seahawks kept one of their own signing Quandre Diggs to a 4-year contract worth $40 million. Diggs has been a ball hawk for Seattle registering 5 interceptions in both 2020 and 2021. He would have been a nice addition to the Jets, but it wasn’t to be.
Jacksonville signed the biggest name on the market when it came to guards. The Jaguars grabbed pro-bowk guard Brandon Scherff who is one of the best OG’s in the game when he’s healthy. The issue is he rarely is fully healthy, he played just 11 games last season and hasn’t made a full season of starts since 2016. Staying healthy doesn’t get easier as you head into your 30s as Scherff has.
The Jaguars continued splashing the cash by signing former Falcons linebacker Foye Oluokun. The former Yale product was a scheme fit for the Jets and had a history of working with Jeff Ulbrich, but at that price I’m happy the Jets stayed away. There’s a reason it’s called “Free Agent Frenzy” and that’s because a lot of guys get more money than their play warranted. I’m happy for Foye, but would hate my team to sign that deal.
Jacksonville wasn’t done there, they also reportedly agreed to a “large” deal with Christian Kirk. The former Cardinal caught 77 passes for 984 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2021, but he also had 6 drops to his name. When the numbers surfaced I was stunned, 4 years and $84 million for Kirk seems like a serious overpay.
Another player who may have helped the Jets decided to stay with his current team. B.J Hill a defensive tackle who can generate pressure on the QB decided to return to the Bengals. With Foley leaving there is a spot available on the Jets interior, B.J. would have been a nice plug there, but we move on.
One name that popped up a lot recently in connection with the Jets was De’Vondre Campbell, the Packers managed to retain one of the better linebackers in football last season. Campbell finished the year with 111 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT and a minuscule missed tackle rate of 2.9%.
I have little doubt that the Jets are in the veteran TE market, but the Colts locked up one of the better blockers at the position by handing out a 3 year $18 million deal to Mo-Alie Cox. That’s a good signing for the Colts and Mo-Alie gets rewarded for his consistency.
One of the biggest names in free agency JC Jackson is making his way to the Chargers, a team rumored as a possible destination all off-season. JC Jackson has been one of the best corners in the game and the former UDFA is about to get his well-deserved payday. As a rule, you tend to be wary of any defensive players the Patriots let his free agency, so it’ll be interesting to see how he performs once he gets paid. The deal was for 5 years and $82.5 million.
Another name that constantly came up for the Jets was Tampa Bay corner Carlton Davis, but rumor is the Jets were never really involved in the negotiations and didn’t seriously consider him an option. The Jets do need corner help and the deal he signed with Tampa was reasonable, but there are no guarantees the Jets could have got him at that price. Tampa with Brady is a championship contender right now, players will sometimes take less for an opportunity at a chip.
Uzomah TE & Tevin Coleman finish up the day. Very nice signings, contract structures of all four players deserve examination. Jets now have a lot more flexibility in the upcoming draft.
Smart signings, Offensive Line could be top ten. Jets are going to run the Ball. Benton has the horses he needs. Berrios at market rate Win/Win. Jacksonville started the day with 39 million in CAP space, spending like a drunken sailor. Can’t comprehend. Two contrasting approaches.