When the Jets traded for Kelechi Osemele last offseason, it looked like they were getting their starting left guard for the next two seasons.
Instead, Osemele lasted half a season with New York, suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery and led to his release in late October. That left Alex Lewis and Tom Compton to man the position from November on — a duo that was not exactly up to snuff.
Joe Douglas now has a chance to right the Jets’ wrongs at left guard in free agency. There are plenty of intriguing options available on the open market, including a big fish that has the potential to change New York’s entire look in the trenches.
With that being said, here are four left guards the Jets should target in free agency.
Joe Thuney
New York’s pursuit of a new left guard begins with Thuney. A former third-round pick out of NC State in 2016, he has become one of football’s elite offensive linemen, earning second-team All-Pro honors last season.
Thuney has not only established himself as a reliable run and pass blocker, but as a durable option on the line as well, not missing a single game since getting drafted. Thuney’s 64 career starts have afforded him ample experience early in his career and at only 27-years-old, he still has a lot of room to grow.
Thuney comes with a hefty price tag, but it’s safe to assume Douglas is willing to meet it considering the need to improve in the trenches. Expect New York’s first-year general manager to do whatever it takes to steal him away from New England.
Andrus Peat
A Pro Bowler the last two years, Peat has overcome injuries to re-establish himself as one of football’s star left guards.
Peat’s athleticism and still sky-high ceiling at only 26 years old make him an extremely intriguing option for the Jets if they miss out on Thuney. The Saints will likely make an offer that tempts the Stanford product to remain in New Orleans, but New York has the salary cap space to give Peat a deal he cannot refuse.
Greg Van Roten
After bouncing around the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Pennsylvania in 2012, Van Roten found a home with the Panthers in 2017.
He became a full-time starter at left guard in 2018 after spending his first season with Carolina as a backup and performed well. He continued in that role for the first 11 games of 2019 before a dislocated toe landed him on season-ending injured reserve.
If the Jets miss on Thuney, Van Roten would not be a bad Plan B option. He has the experience as a starter to give New York a reliable left guard to work with.
Quinton Spain
Spain didn’t have his best season with the Bills a year ago, but history indicates his 2019 season was likely an outlier.
Spain helped solidify the Titans’ offensive line as their starting left guard for three seasons. In 2016, Spain stood out as one of the stars on an offensive line that many felt was among the best in the league that season. Considering he is only 28, there is every chance Spain can return to that form.
The good news for the Jets if they elect to pursue him is Spain will come relatively cheap. He might warrant nothing more than a one-year prove it deal, which would allow New York to land a starting left guard and spend more on other positions.
Want to read about more potential free agent targets for the Jets? We’ll be breaking them down position by position as we approach free agency:
