Transactions

How the Chiefs-Ravens trade could affect the New York Jets’ draft plans

by

Baltimore and Kansas City’s deal might give the New York Jets some extra clarity at the 23rd overall pick in Cleveland next weekend.

A deal between contenders could have ripple effects on a team that’s desperate to join them.

The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs swapped assets and names on Friday, six days before the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft will be staged in Cleveland (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/NFL Network). Pro Bowl-nominated blocker Orlando Brown Jr. will join the refurbished wall in front of Patrick Mahomes while four picks, including the 31st overall choice on Thursday, move on to Baltimore. Two Raven draft picks also come over with Brown, the first of which will be a second-rounder on Friday.

One can argue that a trade between a pair of playoff teams should have little effect on the New York Jets, who are ready for a potentially franchise-changing weekend. But New York will turn in three draft cards within the first 34 selections next Thursday and Friday. The Chiefs and Ravens’ gambit could set them up for what they plan to do with the latter pair.

The Jets’ first pick, second overall on Thursday, is more than likely accounted for: unless they plan on starting James Morgan or Mike White in September, they’re taking a quarterback. But debate rages on in what they’ll do with the 23rd overall choice, obtained from Seattle last offseason. The Ravens also own their regularly scheduled pick in the 27th slot, giving them two picks before the Jets pick again at No. 34, the second pick of the second round.

This de facto Baltimore sandwich…including the 31st pick from Kansas City traditionally bestowed to the Super Bowl runner-ups…only strengthens the case that the extra metropolitan first-rounder could behoove the Jets to address their offensive issues with each of their first two selections.

Baltimore is at an interesting point on its franchise timeline. They’ve earned at least 10 wins in each of the last three seasons and won a playoff game for the first time since 2014 in the Wild Card round in January. Barring a jaw-dropping transaction, they’re set with Lamar Jackson at quarterback for the foreseeable future. Their ground game enjoyed a significant jolt with rookie JK Dobbins working with Gus Edwards (1,528 yards, 15 touchdowns combined).

 Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

With Jackson’s great power comes even greater responsibility (wrong city, we’re aware). Jackson is capable of beating teams both through the air and on the ground (1,005 rushing yards). His mobile prowess, however, leaves him open to sacks and injuries. The trade of Brown, a blindside blocker, leaves a mediocre offensive line (16th in Pro Football Focus’ final 2020 rankings) in somewhat dire straights. Former All-Pro Ronnie Stanley is expected back, but he’s coming off a brutal ankle injury suffered in November.

Additionally, Baltimore may also look to surround Jackson with more weaponry. They’re set with the young pair of Dobbins and Edwards in the backfield but their receivers leave something to desired. Is there a No. 1 receiver in this bunch? Marquise “Hollywood” Brown has potential (58 receptions, 769 yards, 8 touchdowns) but even if the Ravens want to roll with him, major questions reside behind him. Second receiver Willie Snead left for Las Vegas, leaving behind the unproven Miles Boykin and Devin Duvernay. Veteran Sammy Watkins was welcomed in this offseason, but he’s not somebody who’s going to be the difference in wrangling away control of the AFC from Kansas City or Buffalo.

Thus, it’s very possible that the Ravens could be going offense with each of their first two picks. From a Jets standpoint, it’s thus less likely they can afford to wait until Friday to address a non-quarterback need. Had Kansas City kept Thursday’s penultimate pick, it was more likely to see them addressing their pass rush woes. It’s quite possible Baltimore could go offense with each of their Thursday couple. Several teams between 23rd and 34th (Pittsburgh, Green Bay) already appear to be leaning toward an offensive pick as well. Baltimore’s extended prescience should at least help narrow the Jets’ choices. Several defensive talents should still be around by the time Friday’s proceedings start, but some elite blockers (Tevin Jenkins, Alex Leatherwood, Christian Darrisaw, Landon Dickerson) and weapons (Travis Etienne, Rashod Bateman) could be gone with another offense-seeker injected into the fold.

New York Giants, Rashod Bateman
 Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Granted, the Jets are working so far from behind that there’s almost nowhere to go but up when it comes to day one of the draft. But while the Jets will likely have to address defensive woes sooner or later, they’re about to put a big investment in one of the non-Trevor Lawrence passing talents of a strong 2021 passing class. Whether it’s Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Trey Lance, or an unknown party, they can’t lead the Jets’ resurrection on their own. They need help, namely on the offensive line after not doing too much to upgrade over the offseason.

Secondary and edge help will be around in the second round. Thursday should be a day dedicated to the new quarterback and getting him as comfortable as possible before the hard part begins. Giving him a more attractive offensive depth chart to look at before he makes his Florham Park entrance requires an offensive mindset in the earliest stages in Cleveland next week.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Jets: The case for (and against) a Sheldon Richardson reunion

by

Former first-round draft pick Sheldon Richardson is back on the open market. Should the New York Jets stage a reunion?

As the New York Jets inch toward their future, a remnant of their not-so-distant past is seeking a new opportunity.

Sheldon Richardson, part of the last draft where the Jets had multiple first-round picks prior to next Thursday’s proceedings (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/NFL Network), hit the free agent market last Friday, released by the Cleveland Browns after two seasons. Richardson, 30, has spent the past four years in Seattle, Minnesota, and Cleveland after his Jets career ended with a trade to the Pacific Northwest prior to the 2017 campaign.

Should the Jets stage a reunion, allowing fans to break out their old No. 91 jerseys? ESM investigates…

Why They Should

Though Richardson never reached the heights he hit in New York, he still proved to be serviceable, especially in terms of pressure. His 12 quarterback hits (including two in Cleveland’s AFC Wild Card win in Pittsburgh) earned last season would’ve been the third-best tally on the 2020 Jets, behind Quinnen Williams and a tie between John Franklin-Myers and the departed Tarell Basham. Richardson also came up big during Cleveland’s crucial December win over Tennessee, picking up a game-changing fourth-and-one stop and later forcing a fumble from Derrick Henry. Both takedowns led to Browns touchdowns.

His continued contributions were no surprise to All-Pro Myles Garrett.

“He is a big-time player. That’s why he is here,” Garrett said of Richardson following a dominant defensive win over the Giants in December, per team video. “We see him do it time and time again, and I expect nothing less out of him.”

The Jets have been inspired by the play of their young front seven, particularly through Williams’ 2020 breakout. But with yearly dates with mobile threats Josh Allen looming indefinitely, they can use all the help they can get when it comes to invading the pocket.

New York management could also be interested in a Richardson reunion because of his recent endeavors in the 4-3. They haven’t run it as a primary defensive set since the Herm Edwards day but are expected to make a transition with previous practitioners Roberts Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich at the helm. Richardson struggled when the Jets employed the set during his earlier days (his 2014 Pro Bowl appearance came through his work in the 3-technique) but appeared to gain a new appreciation for it in Cleveland under defensive coordinator Joe Woods.

“The main part is being in the right place at the right time, and you’ll get all the production you’ll need,” Richardson said of Woods’ philosophies, per team reporter Anthony Poisal. “It’s D-line friendly. Everybody has an opportunity on the D-line to make plays without being wrong.”

Why They Shouldn’t

The Jets are currently $24 million under the cap, the third-highest in the NFL (behind Jacksonville and Denver). While some of their neglected needs (offensive line) can be somewhat satisfied in the draft, they still need some veteran renovations. Picking up a veteran backup quarterback to both guide the incoming rookie and relieve him in case of an emergency should be on their spring checklist. The Jets could also use some veteran assistance in the secondary, which may be headlined by young projects Bless Austin and Bryce Hall.

One could argue that Richardson provides veteran mentorship to players like Williams, but the Jets have already brought in some experienced front seven options like Sheldon Rankins, Jarrad Davis, and Carl Lawson. The Jets have enough pressing needs as is. Do they really need to bring in a defender that’s already in his 30s? They already welcomed 32-year-old Vinny Curry to the fold. If they do wish to further remodel their front seven, their remaining offseason funds are perhaps better spent on younger projects.

Richardson’s price tag could also scare some teams away. One of the primary factors behind Richardson’s release was the creation of cap room ($11 million) to afford Jadeveon Clowney. With so many other pressing needs to fill, it would perhaps be wiser for the Jets to look elsewhere.

One also has to wonder if Richardson would even seek out a developing team like the Jets. He has plenty of talent left and could well be the “missing piece” for a team on the cusp of contention. Cleveland’s pair of playoff games in January were the first of Richardson’s NFL career. Granted a taste of postseason action, it’s certain he’s hungry for more. The Jets may have improved, but it wouldn’t be fair to anyone…even the Jets themselves…to call them playoff contenders just yet.

Verdict

Any potential discussion around bringing Richardson in may soon be rendered null. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski remarked that he “hope(s) that there’s a scenario” to bring Richardson back (per Browns Wire’s Jeff Risdon). Richardson also remarked in an Instagram post bearing the bad news that Cleveland was “starting to feel like home” after single-season stints in Seattle and Minnesota.

From a Jets standpoint, getting Richardson back at an affordable price would be one of the more subtly effective moves of the offseason. From a Jets standpoint, however, there is a case to bring Richardson back. The run defense got a lot better with the additions of Rankins and Lawson and could reach potentially elite levels if Richardson arrived with the same power he had in 2020.

But, for better or worse, the Jets can’t afford to make Richardson a priority right. There are too many scary voids on this roster, ones that can’t fully be solved at the draft next weekend. If they can get Richardson back, maybe on a “hometown” discount of sorts, they should. But the more likely scenario probably has Richardson moving on to another contender.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Jets sign Buffalo Bills LB Del’Shawn Phillips

by
New York Jets

Phillips, a former JUCO star, joins the New York Jets after making his NFL debut with an AFC East rival last season.

The New York Jets announced the signing of linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips on Tuesday. Phillips comes over their AFC East rival Buffalo Bills, who waived him on January 19.

Phillips, 24, made his NFL regulars season debut last season through two games with the Bills, ironically making his debut against the Jets during the teams’ get-together in Week 1. Alas for Phillips, a quadriceps injury limited to only one other game in November. All 14 of his snaps came on special teams.

The Buffalo arrival was the latest step on Phillips’ most unusual journey to the NFL. He was originally committed to Western Michigan’s football team (set to join fellow new Jet Corey Davis) but was ruled academically ineligible. After a year away from the game, Phillips joined up with Garden City Community College in Kansas. He’d pick up seven sacks in his freshman season and earned 95 tackles the following year as the Broncbusters topped Arizona Western College to capture the NJCAA National Championship.

Phillips later saw his Division I dreams realized through a new chance at Illinois. He would go on to tally 180 tackles, including 10 for a loss and 2.5 sacks, in two seasons. During his senior campaign, Phillips was tied for second in the Big Ten with a quartet of interceptions. Phillips also held defensive captaincy honors during his final season in 2018.

Though Phillips was undrafted after his time in Champaign, he joined up with the Atlanta Falcons during the 2019 preseason, earning 21 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries over five exhibitions (including the Hall of Fame Game). He was part of Atlanta’s final cuts, but was signed to the Bills’ practice squad just over a month later.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Jets LB Jordan Jenkins moves on to Houston

by
New York Jets, Jordan Jenkins

Jordan Jenkins, the longest-tenured member of the New York Jets, is moving on to the Houston Texans on a two-year deal.

A New York Jets staple is moving on to the Lone Star State.

Per the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, linebacker Jordan Jenkins is moving on from the Jets to the Houston Texans through a two-year, $8 million deal. Jenkins, 26, had been the longest-tenured member of the Jets at five seasons.

The defender bid farewell to New York in a heartfelt Twitter post, which included a photo of Jenkins walking through the halls of MetLife Stadium clad in his No. 48 uniform.

“Put it all out there on the field during my time with the Jets, battle through torn labrums, bruised ribs, etc,” Jenkins wrote. “Will always be thankful for the (Jets) for drafting me. Excited to start this new chapter in life.”

Jenkins began his career as a third-round pick (83rd overall) out of Georgia. He would go on to earn 189 tackles in five seasons, including 22.5 sacks. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2019 with a career-best eight sacks, which earned him a new one-year deal at $3.75 million. Alas for New York, Jenkins failed to build on that prior season and would up landing on injured reserve with a shoulder injury in December.

He had four multi-sack games in green, including two big takedowns of Daniel Jones in a November 2019 win over the New York Giants.

With Jenkins’ departure, the title of longest-tenured Jet now belongs to Marcus Maye, who accepted his franchise tag at just over $10 million. Maye is thus set to enter his fifth season with the team. Jenkins also closes the book on the Jets’ underwhelming 2016 draft class, which also included Darron Lee, Christian Hackenberg, Juston Burris, Brandon Shell, Lachlan Edwards, and Charone Peake.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Jets set to add WR Keelan Cole on one-year deal (Report)

by
New York Jets

Cole, having created a respectable NFL career since emerging from Division II Kentucky Wesleyan, is set to join the New York Jets.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the New York Jets are set to add receiver Keelan Cole on a one-year, $5.5 million deal, Cole, an alum of Division II Kentucky Wesleyan, scored a career-best five touchdowns last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, also earning 642 yards on 55 receptions.

Cole, 27, has developed into a strong threat in the slot despite a seemingly endless stream of quarterback changes in Jacksonville. He memorably burst onto the scene with a 97-yard touchdown in his preseason debut against the New England Patriots. Since his 2017 arrival, he leads all Jaguars receivers with 2,242 receiving yards and was second in receptions (159, one behind Dede Westbrook).

Like fellow new receiver Corey Davis, Cole is a rare Jets representative with postseason experience, partaking in the Jaguars’ surprise run to the AFC title game during the 2017-18 playoffs. Notably, Cole earned a 45-yard reception in the fourth quarter, one that set up a Jacksonville touchdown to give them a two-possession lead. Cole is also well-known for a jaw-dropping, one-handed grab earned in the conference championship rematch with New England the following season. It was part of a 116-yard day as the Jaguars earned a quantum of revenge through a 31-20 triumph.

Cole’s arrival comes on the same day Breshad Perriman left for Detroit, the latter signing a one-year deal with the Lions. The Jets previously welcomed in his former AFC South foe Davis on a three-year, $37.5 million deal and have high hopes for second-round choice Denzel Mims, who showed some promise after dealing with early injuries. Cole could work in the slot with Jamison Crowder, who has been by far the Jets’ most consistent offensive weapon in the last two seasons.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

RB Josh Adams returns to the New York Jets on new deal

by
New York Jets

The New York Jets have retained rusher Josh Adams, a Notre Dame alum and former Philadelphia Eagle who previously worked with Joe Douglas.

The New York Jets have announced the re-signing of running back Josh Adams. Adams, 24, earned over five yards a carry last season with 157 total yards on 29 attempts, two of which went for scores.

Adams burst onto the national scene with a stellar career at Notre Dame, departing South Bend as the program’s fifth all-time leading rusher (3,201 yards in three seasons). He went undrafted, but finished amongst the top ten in rookie rushers after collaborating with current Jets general manager Joe Douglas, then working in the Philadelphia Eagles’ front office. Adams earned 511 yards and three scores as the Eagles went to the playoffs and earned a win in the Wild Card round over Chicago.

The Jets added Adams to their roster when the Eagles dismissed him at the end of training camp in 2019. He had only eight carries in three games during his debut year but found an opportunity to impress when injuries and departures depleted the New York rushing attack. Adams would go on to partake in one of the most prolific Jets rushing days in recent memory when he had 74 yards to go with Ty Johnson’s 101 in December against the Raiders at MetLife Stadium. He was the Jets’ top rusher during their season final in New England, picking up 47 yards on 11 carries, one of which went for a touchdown, in the 28-14 defeat.

With Adams re-signed, the Jets now have him paired with Johnson and La’Mical Perine, each of whom is under contract. Veteran rusher Frank Gore, currently third on the NFL’s all-time rushing list at exactly 16,000 yards, remains a free agent. Gore, the Jets’ top rusher from last season after Le’Veon Bell’s release, is 726 yards away from tying Walter Payton for second place behind Emmitt Smith.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Jets will bring back WR Jeff Smith (Report)

by

Smith, a former quarterback, earned 167 yards on 17 receptions in a dozen games with the New York Jets last season.

Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the New York Jets are bringing back receiver and exclusive rights free agent Jeff Smith. The former quarterback is set to enter his third NFL season after going undrafted from Boston College in 2019.

Smith has earned 179 yards on 18 receptions over his two New York seasons. His rookie year was marred by an injury shortly after earning his first career NFL reception, but he served as a depth option last year, partaking in 12 games (starting four of them). Smith’s most notable contributions came in a nationally televised loss to Denver in October through an 81-yard performance on seven receptions, each setting new career-bests. He originally appeared on the Jets roster in 2019 despite a hamstring injury shortening his training camp experience.

Smith is the second Jets free agent receiver to ink a new deal with the team, joining the unrelated Vyncint Smith. Breshad Perriman is the only receiver that has yet to re-sign in New York.

After a freshman season as BC’s quarterback, Smith moved over to receiver, though he was still used to throw on occasion through trickery, notably throwing a touchdown pass in the Eagles’ Quick Lane Bowl victory over Maryland in 2016. Smith’s speed has drawn positive reviews in New York and could help him earn a roster spot. Super Bowl XL MVP and former Jets offensive assistant Hines Ward offered Smith a positive review during training camp activities last season.

“The potential’s there with Jeff,” Ward said in a report from the Associated Press. “It’s just a matter of getting some reps with the first team and getting that experience. Sometimes, being an undrafted guy, you put more pressure on yourself to go out there and perform with the first group. And sometimes it’s almost too much pressure that he puts on himself.”

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

The ghosts of the Adam Gase era still haunt the New York Jets

by
New York Jets, Adam Gase

The Adam Gase era lasted two seasons, but the burden left behind creates an uphill battle for the New York Jets.

At what point does a new football regime officially “own” its respective organization’s ledger? The unspoken accords of college football appear to dictate that if his team isn’t performing by his third season at the helm, he’s to seek employment elsewhere. The leash is even shorter in the NFL with patience wearing especially thin in the New York/New Jersey area.

Both the Jets and Giants bid two of their respective head coaches farewell after two seasons of futility. The blue representative, Pat Shurmur, quickly found work as the offensive coordinator in Denver, while Adam Gase’s redemption story has yet to be greenlit.

The January firing of Gase has allowed the tenure of general manager Joe Douglas to officially begin. Douglas wasn’t the one who hired Gase…that general manager, Mike Maccagnan, was let go before Gase ever wore a New York headset. Thus, the former Philadelphia Eagles executive has a bit of a restart button through the hiring of Robert Saleh, a hire that received positive reviews both domestically and abroad. The pair have admitted that it will take some time, but that they are committed to getting the Jets back in contention.

But, through little fault of their own…particularly Saleh and his clean green slate…the new unit remains sidelined by the ghosts of the Gase era.

As star-crossed as the Jets’ fortunes have been, few coaches reached the levels of futility seen during the Gase era. Among those that lasted two full seasons on the Jets’ sidelines, only Rich Kotite’s cursed squads posted a lower win percentage (9-23 vs 4-28). Gase’s group even managed to best Kotite’s dubiousness in some aspects. For example, the 2020 Jets lost their first 13 games…even Kotite’s notorious 1996 team (1-15) managed to secure a win by Halloween.

The Jets have managed to keep busy with the NFL’s legal tampering period well underway. Over the past 48 hours, the Jets have upgraded their defense, their offensive weaponry, and their special teams. Each of their acquisitions makes the Jets a better team. Sure, part of the reason for that is because there’s little room to truly fall further, but a plethora of cap space has created shrewd deals that have yielded a rising talent in the front-seven (Carl Lawson), an affordable audition for a former first-round linebacker with 4-3 experience (Jarrad Davis), a reliable weapon for the quarterback, be it Sam Darnold or otherwise (Corey Davis), and a defender to help pin opponents deep on punt coverage (Justin Hardee).

Yet, it’s not like Jets fans soothed themselves in 2020 with dreams of adding Jarrad Davis. With a plethora of cap space, the time seemed right to make a truly big splash, one that could welcome fans back to MetLife Stadium with open, hopeful arms. Even if it wasn’t the type of addition that tore up box scores, the Jets could’ve used the money to bolster their blocking, a long-gestating and neglected endeavor that got off to a strong start through the drafting of Mekhi Becton. Even Patrick Mahomes was neutralized when key pieces of his protection were lost prior to the Super Bowl.

But that’s when the reminders of the Gase era began to rise and create further losses for the Jets.

Jets fans have no doubt kept track of Joe Thuney’s career over the last two years. The team expressed interest in him when he was up for free agency last season, but the interior blocker was franchise tagged by his New England employers before anyone else could make a move. Thurst onto the open market this time around, Thuney was indeed lured away from the Patriots…through a five-year, $80 million contract from Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Former Green Bay Packer Corey Linsley switching shades of green could’ve helped the Jets resolve a center situation that has been in limbo since Nick Mangold’s retirement. The defending All-Pro, however, will instead hit the west coast and join the Los Angeles Chargers.

These early developments…the operative term being early…should be viewed with a bit of an asterisk. There’s plenty of time for the Jets to recover and earn themselves a stronger grade, all while acknowledging that an instant fix before the offseason lets out probably isn’t going to happen. But the Gase era has left this team in a precarious position.

Name-brand recognition through a city alone isn’t a selling point in this day and age. The NBA’s New York Knicks have spent the past decade learning this lesson the hard way. The Jets were a bit of a tough sell as it was; they’re the current owners of the longest postseason drought in the NFL and social media has amplified every little green mistake into viral disasters.

But it isn’t just the on-field woes from the Gase era that have the Jets reeling. What elite free agent is going to look at the way Gase handled things and declare “I want in on that”?

Every week, Gase had to be armed with two gameplans: one for the opponent and one for whichever superstar was feeling disgruntled. The usual suspects were Le’Veon Bell and Jamal Adams, a talented pair who have long abandoned their Jets equipment. Before the 2020 season began, Bell had to publicly insist that he and Gase “like(d) each other“. Less than a month later, Bell was bound for Kansas City. The lasting effects of the Gase era can well be witnessed through comments by Marcus Maye’s agent. Apparently disgruntled with the way the Adams situation was handled, Burkhart went on a mini-rant that has gotten only a quick passing reference since Maye was franchise tagged earlier this month. The comments showed just showed how a sense of mistrust has risen throughout the organization since Gase arrived in 2019.

The fact of the matter is that Douglas can bestow a big contract and evaluate talent with better resources than anyone in football. But the damage left behind in the wake of the Gase era has put the Jets in an even tougher situation. That might not fully be on Gase, but, as the most public face behind this most recent stretch of struggling, he’ll ultimately be the face behind it…even if he’s not the one who winds up suffering from it.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Jets add CB/specialist Justin Hardee (Report)

by
New York Jets

Hardee worked as a special teams standout over the last four years in New Orleans before signing a three-year deal with the New York Jets.

Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, the New York Jets are set to sign cornerback Justin Hardee to a three-year deal. Hardee, an undrafted fifth-year man out of Illinois, has developed a strong reputation as one of the better special teams defenders in the league.

Hardee, 27, is officially listed as a cornerback but has truly made a name for himself on special teams. He has earned 44 special tackles over the past four seasons, including eight in 2020. Hardee is likely best known for taking a blocked punt back for a touchdown in a 2017 win over Tampa Bay, an endeavor that earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Though Hardee has only 115 defensive snaps to his name in the NFL, he also earned an interception during a Monday night win over Washington in 2018.

Formerly a receiver in college (earning 841 yards and a touchdown over four seasons with the Illini), Hardee knows what it’s like to pull off some special teams trickery at MetLife Stadium. During a September 2018 win over the Giants, Hardee united with Taysom Hill to earn a fourth-down conversion through a fake punt that continued an eventual New Orleans scoring drive.

The defender partook in 10 games last season, missing six due to a groin injury that put him in injured reserve.

Hardee should help the Jets’ coverage game, one that needed punter Braden Mann to pull off touchdown-saving-tackles. The Jets were one of nine teams to allow over 10 yards on opposing punt returns, finishing sixth-worst at 11.7. In their purge of Adam Gase’s staff, the Jets retained special teams coordinator Brant Boyer, who has held the role since the Todd Bowles regime.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

BREAKING: LB Jarrad Davis to New York Jets on one-year deal (Report)

by

Davis, a former first-round pick in Detroit, has reportedly joined the New York Jets on a one-year deal worth $7 million.

Per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, the New York Jets have agreed to a one-year deal with linebacker Jarrad Davis, formerly of the Detroit Lions. The deal is reportedly worth $7 million. Davis, chosen 21st in the 2017 draft, earned 305 tackles, including 10.5 sacks over four years in the Motor City.

Davis, a 26-year-old Florida alum, never reached his first-billing with the Lions, but some felt that he was not properly utilized in Detroit. His experience under a 4-3 defense in Gainesville will help under the transition under Robert Saleh, who ran the format in San Francisco. Davis would often play the Mike under then-co-defensive coordinators Geoff Collins and Randy Shannon, earning 17 tackles for a loss over his latter two seasons at a Gator.

Davis’ best season in Detroit came in 2018, when he earned 100 tackles (10 for a loss), six sacks, and a fumble recovery. He earned 46 tackles over 14 games this past season, briefly spending time on the COVID-19 list. Davis was also named to the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie team at the end of his rookie campaign the year before (96 tackles and an interception).

The addition of Davis helps the Jets shore up their linebacker corps. Separate, respective reports from Vacchiano and Connor Hughes indicate that team likely won’t retain Tarell Basham and Harvey Langi. Another report from NFL Network’s Tom Pellissero has also claimed that the Jets have received calls on C.J. Mosley, who has been limited to two games in a five-year, $85 million contract. Other linebackers potentially on the market for the Jets include Jordan Jenkins, Neville Hewitt, Frankie Luvu, Patrick Onwuasor, and Bryce Hager.

Davis joins Vyncint Smith and Marcus Maye in terms of the 2021 transactions thus far. The former was re-signed on Sunday while Maye was franchise tagged earlier this month.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags