With the way New York’s secondary performed in 2018, it’s safe to say the Jets need to add some talent on the back end this offseason.
Jamal Adams was excellent at safety and, when healthy, Marcus Maye was productive. However, prized free agent acquisition Trumaine Johnson was a disaster at cornerback and he wasn’t the only Jet to struggle at the position a year ago.
Morris Claiborne was solid and managed to stay healthy, but he did not match his level of play from 2017. Buster Skrine was inconsistent in the slot, Darryl Roberts was so-so and New York’s other depth at the position was suspect.
Skrine is on his way out the door and Claiborne could very well follow suit. Fortunately for the Jets, though, there are plenty of other talented cornerbacks on the free agent market this offseason. With that being said, here are a few corners New York should target in free agency.
Kareem Jackson
Tasked with a new role in 2018, Kareem Jackson had a career resurgence last season and is now arguably one of the top free agent defensive backs on the market.
In previous seasons, Jackson had struggled as an outside cornerback. Bill O’Brien made the decision to use him inside as Houston’s nickel corner and it paid dividends. O’Brien also employed Jackson as a safety in certain sub packages.
With Skrine’s time in New York up, the Jets need a nickel corner. Jackson would be the perfect addition. His versatility would also allow defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in an assortment of ways.
Steven Nelson
Nelson had a breakout 2018 season with the Kansas City Chiefs, establishing himself as a reliable outside corner.
After struggling as a rookie, Nelson has steadily progressed and the 25-year-old is now arguably a top-20 player at his position. Last season was his best from a playmaking standpoint, as he recorded four interceptions and deflected 15 passes.
With Trumaine Johnson entrenched as one of New York’s starting cornerbacks, Nelson is an ideal free agent option for the Jets. He would compliment Johnson well and is entering the prime of his career.
Ronald Darby
Under normal circumstances, Darby would be far and away the best cornerback in this year’s free agent class. His ball skills are top-notch and his film speaks for itself.
However, injury concerns have Darby’s future in flux. Over the past two seasons, the Florida State product has dealt with injuries that have kept him on the sideline for extended periods of time. Those health concerns, coupled with such a small sample size of film to evaluate over the past two seasons, will cost Darby a lot of money on the open market.
There’s a chance Darby winds up signing a one-year prove-it contract as Morris Claiborne did with the Jets a couple of years ago. The talent is there, but Darby’s ability to stay healthy has not been. Now, it comes down to whether or not general manager Mike Maccagnan would be willing to take a risk on a very good player.
Pierre Desir
After an up-and-down start to his career, Desir came into his own with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. A starter at corner, Desir helped lead Indianapolis back to the playoffs with some strong play on the outside.
Was Desir’s performance in 2018 a flash in the pan or a player finally figuring it out? That is the question general managers will need to answer this offseason. Desir has the length to be a very good outside cornerback, but he has yet to do it consistently. There are also concerns that Desir is a product of the Colts’ Cover 2-heavy scheme.
Should the Jets be able to get past those concerns, Desir could wind up being a nice addition. He’s a player to keep an eye on, but an unlikely candidate to wind up in New York given the Jets will likely be eyeing players with more of a track record of success.
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