Jets

What are the New York Jets getting in TE Tyler Kroft?

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The New York Jets have added another offensive playmaker to the fold. This time in the form of 28-year-old former Bills tight end Tyler Kroft. Kroft has been with Buffalo as part of their tight end room for the past two seasons totaling 18 receptions for 190 yards and 4 TDs. Kroft now joins the Jets, where he will likely walk into a decent-sized role.

What does this mean?

The former Rutgers product joins the green and white after two seasons in Buffalo, where he did not play as well as he did in his original home of Cincinnati. After being selected with the 85th pick in the 2015 Draft, Kroft spent four years in Cincinnati.

In that time, Kroft played some pretty good football, but his best year came in 2017, his lone year as a starter. In that season, Kroft started all 16 games putting up 42 receptions for 404 yards and 7 scores. Kroft was an animal in the red zone and provided a key threat to that Bengals offense. When given a chance to show what he can do, Kroft has shown flashes of starting-level talent.

Now, as the Jets enter a new season with a new offense and potential new quarterback, the tight end position is all the more important. The Jets will hope for a resurgence from former breakout star Chris Herndon, but they will now have Kroft in the mix to compliment him. Kroft will bring another good red zone threat into the fold while also providing some experience for Herndon to lean on. Kroft will be a nice addition for gang green as it is a one-year deal.

New York Jets to sign safety Lamarcus Joyner (Report)

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The New York Jets are signing safety Lamarcus Joyner to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Joyner, who was formerly with the Rams and Raiders, has played both safety and cornerback during his time in the league. This offers some versatility for new head coach Robert Saleh and the defense.

During his seven-year career thus far, he has totaled four interceptions, five sacks, 33 passes defended and 420 combined tackles. He will bring his experience and versatility to a new-look Jets defense this upcoming season.

Joyner now becomes the fourth new addition to the Jets defense during free agency.

New York Jets to sign offensive lineman Dan Feeney (Report)

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New York Jets

The New York Jets are expected to sign offensive lineman Dan Feeney to a one-year deal, per NFL insider Adam Caplan.

Feeney, a former 3rd-round pick, has started 57 games across his four seasons in the league and all 16 each of the last three. He was called for zero holding or false start penalties last sason.

The ex-Charger has spent most of his time at left guard but has played center as well. His exact role with the Jets is not yet determined.

*This story will be updated

BREAKING: Jets sign DE Carl Lawson to 3 year deal

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For the first time in years, the Jets have signed a legitimate edge rusher. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the New York Jets have signed Carl Lawson to a three-year deal worth 45 million. Lawson, a fourth-round pick in 2017, has spent the past four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, earning 20 sacks in that time span.

What it means for the Jets:

Carl Lawson ranked amongst the top pass rushers in the league over the past few seasons. With a pass rush productivity rank of 8.5 by Pro Football Focus, Lawson ranked as the ninth-best. Lawson also had 32 QB Hits in 2020, which was second-best in all of the NFL. He has 83 in his career, which ranks in the top 15 in all of football. Lawson had his best year in 2017 with 8.5 sacks.

The 25-year-old is viewed around the league as one of the best-untapped edge rushers in the game. Reports have come out that the Bengals did not let Lawson use all the moves in his arsenal either. If Lawson is let loose under Robert Saleh, then the opposing quarterback better hope it isn’t all gas and no brakes, or he is going to the turf. Lawson has the potential to be the Jets’ first legitimate pass rusher in over a decade, and the young player will likely be a massive piece of the defense over the next three years.  The Jets now have added a talented receiver and proven disruptor to the fold, and it looks like they are not slowing down soon.

BREAKING: Jets Sign WR Corey Davis to 3-year deal

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New York Giants, Corey Davis

The Jets have made their first big move! The team has reached a deal with WR Corey Davis for 3 years and 37.5 million, with 27 million guaranteed. The Jets lacked a true number one wideout, and with Davis, they have one. Davis, at 26 years old, is coming off a career year with the Tennessee Titans. Now, the Jets will hope the former fifth overall pick can repeat that success in the green and white.

What This Means

Corey Davis had a quiet start in his first year in the league with only 34 receptions for 375 yards. However, in his sophomore year, he put up 891 yards and four scores. Then, the receiver had a down third year eclipsing 600 yards with two scores. This past season though, Davis lit it up. Davis finished the season with 65 receptions for 984 yards and 5 TDs. He also hit career highs in yards per reception and receptions per game. Davis is a big-bodied receiver at 6 foot 3, 209 pounds, and his big frame should compliment Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder very nicely.

The Jets finally have a legitimate target for whoever their quarterback is at the start of next season. This opens things up for the entire offense and gives the Jets a sense of comfort heading into next season. The work should not stop here, though. With more money to spend, the team will likely look to make an upgrade at the edge position. Look for Trey Hendrickson as a potential target at the spot.

What a perfect New York Jets free agency haul would look like

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New York Jets, Joe Thuney

The New York Jets approach a free agency period with the second-most cap space in the NFL. Last offseason, the Jets played it relatively safe with short-term low money deals and a load of stopgaps. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network recently went on the Moose & Maggie show on WFAN, where he said adamantly he expects the Jets to be active players in this go-around. The Jets are rumored to be gunning for a massive offensive line upgrade, an addition at receiver, and a boost at the edge. So, how will Gang Green handle free agency? Well, here are my predictions.

Three players the New York Jets should be in on:

CB K’Waun Williams

The Jets will likely let Brian Poole walk this offseason. Instead, they can opt to go after someone who has familiarity with the defense in nickelback K’Waun Williams. Williams has played for Saleh in San Francisco and produced at a very high level. As a consistent piece of the 49ers defense, he put up 73 tackles, 7 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 5 Forced Fumbles, and 2 INTs over the last two seasons in a span of 23 games. Williams has the obviously Saleh connection, but the New Jersey native could opt to come back to his roots with gang green. Williams would immediately bolster their secondary and provide a sense of stability at the nickelback role heading into next season. 

G Joe Thuney

Last offseason, the Jets were ready to back up the brinks truck for Joe Thuney, with the 28-year-old set to hit the open market, it’s reasonable to expect they make a run at him. I firmly expect the Jets to ink Thuney. Thuney is a consistent and productive lineman who also provides versatility. The incredibly intelligent former state champion has had success everywhere he has gone, both on the field and off. He graduated early with prestige from NC State, got selected by the Patriots, and went on to win two rings with the team. Thuney would provide a veteran presence, high caliber play, and stability to a rebuilding unit. Thuney is the player the Jets NEED to come away with this offseason in order to truly commit to the offensive line rebuild. 

WR JuJu Smith Schuster  

The New York Jets can go two routes with addressing the receiver position. They can target a young WR2 type player and pair him with Denzel Mims and rely on Crowder in the slot. Or, they can swing big and go for a legit WR1. JuJu Smith Schuster can be that WR1. He will command big money and a high level of attention. Last season JuJu received a lot of scrutiny for the way he handled himself and his off-the-field Tik Tok endeavors. Despite all the negative attention, JuJu remained relatively unfazed. I think JuJu can handle himself well in New York on and off the field. Schuster would be a good complementary receiver one, and he could do massive things in the LaFleur offense, so I see the Jets taking a shot on the receiver.

Edge Yannick Ngakoue 

This is a move I’ve gone back and forth on heavily. The Jets desperately need to upgrade the edge, and I believe they will try to in free agency. How the Jets upgrade the position will depend on how the market falls. The edge group is deep, and Ngakoue is arguably one of the best of the bunch. The Jets reportedly coveted him last offseason when he was traded, and at 25 years old, he still holds immense value. With 45.5 career sacks, 18 forced fumbles, 49 TFLs, and 96 QB Hits, Ngakoue is an absolute force off the edge. I expect Ngakoue to look for a long-term deal and find a permanent home. I think the Jets with Robert Saleh would be a great fit for the former Pro Bowler. The Jets have not had a legitimate presence off the edge in decades, and by taking a shot at Ngakoue, they can finally establish a presence.

New York Jets franchise tag Marcus Maye

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The New York Jets have franchise-tagged standout safety Marcus Maye, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Maye and the team have been negotiating a new contract, but this news puts an end to that discussion for now.

After the departure of Jamal Adams, Maye took on a much larger role with the Jets defense. He set career-highs in sacks, tackles, tackles-for-loss and forced fumbles, to name a few. He will now have another chance to showcase himself before attempting to land a new contract.

The franchise tag allows the Jets to keep him on their roster without agreeing on a much higher salary with a new contract.

Maye is set to make around $10.5 million this year under the franchise tag. At least for the upcoming season, the Jets will have their defensive leader back on the field.

UPDATE: New York Jets cut DL Henry Anderson

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The New York Jets have released defensive lineman Henry Anderson. Anderson was brought over in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts just 3 years ago. The deal was for a 7th round pick, and it ultimately lead to success in his first season with the Jets. Anderson put up 7.0 sacks, 7 TFL ‘s, and 35 overall tackles. This prompted the former front office to offer him a three-year, $25.2 million dollar extension. The deal has been an utter failure.

Anderson’s Struggles

in the past two seasons, Anderson has combined to put up a measly 1.5 sacks, 7 TFL ‘s, and only 77 tackles. Anderson has consistently underperformed, and for the money he was worth, he failed to live up to expectations as a whole, only starting 22 of 32 of games since resigning.

The guaranteed money blocked the Jets from cutting him last offseason and allocating resources elsewhere, now with the availability to free much more cap, the team has released him, freeing up $8.2 million.

The Jets have a plethora of young and talented defensive linemen behind him with Quinnen Williams, John Franklin Myers, Foley Fatukasi, and Nathan Shepherd, who will all see increased playing time now. Anderson is older and less likely to fit the Saleh/Ulbrich defense, making him an easy cap casualty. The move also pushes the Jets closer to the Jaguars for the most cap space in the league as they look to reconstruct the roster this offseason. As for Anderson, he hits the open market, and for a team that still sees potential in the veteran, he could be a tempting depth option. 

New York Jets linked to Russell Wilson trade rumors

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The New York Jets have been linked to star quarterback Deshaun Watson for some time now. However, they are now linked to another star: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson.

Trade rumors have been flying around the former Super Bowl-winning QB ever since he expressed his “frustration” with some of Seattle’s decision-making a few weeks ago. This, naturally, caused speculation around the league.

Michael-Shawn Dugar, Mike Sando and Jayson Jenks of The Athletic reported the trade rumors and linked teams early Thursday.

“Some people around the league think a trade could happen, if not this offseason then sometime in the near future,” according to the report.

The report has the Jets linked to the situation, along with the Dolphins, Saints and Raiders. A trade is unlikely to happen, though, as Seattle will likely not ditch their franchise quarterback.

The star quarterback led Seattle to a 12-4 record this past season while throwing for 4,212 yards and 40 touchdowns.

If a trade were to occur, Wilson would join Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz as high-profile quarterbacks to change teams. All of this is purely speculation at this point, but anything could happen.

Should the New York Jets pursue star New England offensive lineman in free agency?

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New England Patriots, Joe Thuney

Heading into last offseason, one of the hottest commodities projected to hit the market was two-time Super Bowl champion and all-pro offensive guard Joe Thuney. The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins were reportedly set to back up the brinks truck to Thuney in hopes he would anchor his offensive line. Then, the Patriots threw a wrench in those plans by tagging Thuney. Now, Thuney will reportedly be allowed to seek a new home this offseason. With Mekhi Becton as the solidified anchor of the offensive line at left tackle, here is why Joe Thuney can give the Jets one of the best tackle/guard combos in football.

Who is Joe Thuney?

Joe Thuney grew up in Ohio and was one of four children. Thuney was not a stranger to success early in life, he was a member of two state championship football teams, he was named offensive lineman of the year in the Greater Catholic League, and was class president in his senior year of high school. Thuney was well-liked on and off the gridiron, and this led to an opportunity to play at NC State. At NC State, Thuney played all over the offensive line taking snaps at center, both tackle spots, and guard during his time with the program. Thuney graduated NC State in three years and received All American honors.

After a successful beginning to his football career, Thuney was selected with the 78th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. In five seasons, Thuney has played every single game, not only that, but he has been a team-first guy being adaptable this past season and making the switch to tackle with Marcus Cannon opting out and creating a void. Thuney has been both a depiction of stability and success, winning two rings during his tenure with the Pats.

Why The Jets?

Thuney will command a monster deal this offseason. As one of the most reliable and consistent linemen in the game, he will be paid as such. Now, Joe Douglas has been rather set in his evaluations of certain players in the past, but offensive linemen have been his most focused entity in his brief tenure as general manager to this point. The potential of having two beasts on the offensive line for the long-term future in Thuney and Becton is something the well-traveled exec may not be able to pass up. Not only that, but as we saw just a few weeks ago with Patrick Mahomes, if you don’t have protection, the entire rhythm of the game plan is thrown out the window.

On a relatively young team, Thuney would slot in as a leader and building block for the future. We are talking about a durable, smart, and versatile piece that fits the mold of everything Douglas seems to look for in the guys he wants to fill out his roster with. Add all that into the fact that he is successful no matter the stop. Thuney could be used anywhere on the line, but the idea of Becton and Thuney anchoring the left side could be too much to pass up. No matter where you put him on the line, Thuney would be a massive addition to the team and someone the Jets should not let slip away.