The Jets dominated the headlines in the opening days of free agency by signing running back Le’Veon Bell and linebacker C.J. Mosley. As a result, some of New York’s other free agent acquisitions flew under the radar.
Throughout free agency, the Jets added several players who are primed to serve as key contributors in 2019. They might not be the biggest names, but New York did well to make some shrewd moves while other teams engaged in bidding wars for the biggest names on the market.
Here’s a look at four of Gang Green’s most overlooked offseason additions.
Trevor Siemian
New York’s quarterback situation revolves around Sam Darnold, but it doesn’t hurt to have a veteran signal caller serving as his backup.
Siemian isn’t as experienced as previous backup Josh McCown, but he has proven he can get the job done throughout his career with the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. In the event of an injury to Darnold, the Jets would be in good hands under center.
Not only is Siemian a reliable plug-and-play option at quarterback, but he is also someone who has been around the block enough to serve as Darnold’s mentor in 2019. Darnold still has plenty to learn and with Siemian in the mix, things will be a lot easier for him in that regard.
Jamison Crowder
Jamison Crowder is far from an unknown commodity. During his tenure with the Washington Redskins, Crowder established himself as one of the most reliable slot receivers in football. However, with much of the focus surrounding the Le’Veon Bell signing, Crowder’s name often falls by the wayside when discussing the weapons New York has on offense.
Crowder isn’t a true No. 1 wideout, but he is a target Sam Darnold can rely on. When all else fails, Crowder has a knack for finding a soft spot in the defense thanks to his top-notch underneath route running skills.
He might not be a star, but Crowder is exactly what the Jets have been missing in the slot.
Tom Compton
Since being taken by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft, Tom Compton has been nothing but solid on the offensive line.
Compton comes to New York with positional versatility, which makes him even more valuable to the Jets. The South Dakota product has started at tackle and guard before, so he will be able to fill in at almost any position on the line if need be.
New York has lacked solid offensive line depth in recent years. In Compton, the Jets get a former starter who has a track record of consistent production. It doesn’t get much better than that when it comes to signing backup offensive linemen.
Brian Poole
Poole is often forgotten simply because he joined New York well before free agency started. Once the regular season kicks off, Jets fans will be reminded of how good Poole is in the slot.
The 26-year-old is a hard-hitting nickel corner who is solid in both run support and pass coverage. Poole is also playing the best football of his career right now, as he set career highs in sacks and interceptions a year ago.
Poole is a playmaker who has the ability to help solidify the Jets secondary this upcoming season. If he can replicate what he did with the Atlanta Falcons in 2018, Poole is in for a big first season with Gang Green.
