The best players set to hit free agency in any given year typically never make it to the open market.
Whether it be due to a contract extension or the franchise tag, cream of the crop talent seldom make it to free agency in today’s NFL. This hurts teams like the Jets who are trying to plug numerous holes and rebuild on the fly.
New York has already been burned by potential top free agent targets being taken off the board due to the franchise tag. Who are those targets? Let’s take a look at what could have been for the Jets if these players were available for the taking on the open market.
Matthew Judon
There is no better time to land an edge rusher when he is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. Thrust into a full-time starting gig with the Ravens in 2019, Judon performed well enough to establish himself as one of football’s upper echelon pass rushers.
Unfortunately for the Jets, they will not get the chance to convince him to join former teammate C.J. Mosley in the Big Apple. Judon was hit with the franchise tag on Friday, ensuring his stay in Baltimore for at least one more season.
Brandon Scherff
Scherff would have been an excellent fit for the Jets. The three-time Pro Bowler is just entering his prime and would have been an ideal candidate to replace Brian Winters at right guard.
The Redskins made every effort to lock Scherff up long-term this offseason, but the two sides failed to come to an agreement. It’s understandable that Washington used its franchise tag in order to get one last crack at signing him to an extension.
This puts the Jets behind the eight ball at right guard, as Scherff was undoubtedly Joe Douglas’ top target at the position. It also opens the door for Winters to return in 2020, as there are not too many enticing free agent right guards beyond Scherff.
Yannick Ngakoue
Ngakoue could have been the answer to New York’s pass rush woes, but it looks like the Jets will never find out what kind of an impact the Maryland product could have made playing in Gregg Williams’ defense.
The Jaguars tagged Ngakoue despite him making it clear that he has no intention of signing a long-term contract extension with the organization. It’s safe to assume Jacksonville will now look to trade the 24-year-old defensive end, which effectively puts the Jets out of the running considering how high the asking price for his services will be.
A.J. Green
The odds of Green making it to free agency this offseason were always slim to none, but that does not mean the Jets were not prepared to be a contender for his services if he did hit the open market.
Green missed all of 2019 due to injury, but is one of the most dynamic wide receivers in football when healthy. Given New York’s need for an established star receiver for Sam Darnold to work with, odds are Joe Douglas would have been one of the first general managers to pick up the phone and give Green a call.
Unfortunately for the Jets, another young quarterback, not Darnold, will be the one throwing to Green in 2020. With Cincinnati all but a lock to select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow No. 1 overall in the 2020 NFL draft, hitting Green with the franchise tag was a no brainer for the Bengals.
