As the old adage goes, one man’s trash can wind up being another man’s treasure.
The Jets benefitted from scouring the scrapheap last offseason. After the Falcons made the questionable decision to release Brian Poole, New York pounced. Poole wound up being Gang Green’s best cornerback in 2019, giving credence to the thought that going after other team’s cut players can pay off.
There are some enticing players now available for the taking on the open market after their former team decided to go in a different direction. Who are these players? Let’s take a look at four players that have been cut recently that can help the Jets next season.
Dion Lewis
This one should be a no brainer for Joe Douglas and his staff. The Jets need a backup running back that can compliment Le’Veon Bell. What better player to target than one of the best pass-catching tailbacks in all of football?
Lewis fell by the wayside with the Titans last season as Derrick Henry came out of nowhere to lead the NFL in rushing. Lewis’ production in both the run game and passing game dipped significantly, but that should not scare New York or any other team away.
When given the opportunity to make plays, Lewis can be a difference-maker. He might not be the kind of player to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark on the ground or catch over 100 passes, but he will produce when his number his called. That is exactly what the Jets need out of their No. 2 tailback.
Ryan Succop
Kicker is a position that the Jets struggled to get consistency out of in 2019. The season started with Kaare Vedvik costing New York its Week 1 matchup with the Bills and ended with Sam Ficken proving to be nothing short of inconsistent.
Succop is coming off the worst season of his career, converting only one of his six field goal attempts in between two stints on injured reserve. Succop’s rough 2019 doesn’t mean his leg is out of magic, though. He is only three years removed from a season in which he made 90 percent of his kicks and has been billed as one of the more accurate kickers in the league throughout his career.
Does Succop have at least one more good year of football left in him? It’s worth it for the Jets to find out. The worst-case scenario is they can part ways with him in the summer if things don’t work out.
Cordy Glenn
The Jets have needs at left tackle and left guard with Kelvin Beachum and Alex Lewis heading to free agency. Why not go after a player who can play both positions?
Glenn spent the bulk of his career playing left tackle before shifting to left guard last season. He graded out well at guard, which adds to his value on the open market.
Whether it be at tackle or guard, the Jets can plug and play Glenn at either position. Considering the current state of New York’s offensive line, pursuing the Georgia product would not be the worst idea.
Prince Amukamara
The Jets are arguably the thinnest they have ever been at cornerback. Could they turn to a player that has plenty of experience playing in New York to help solve those woes?
The Bears released Amukamara in February in an effort to free up salary cap space. This affords the Jets the opportunity to add a veteran corner who is familiar with the rigors of the New York market and still has some good football left in him.
Amukamara isn’t a No. 1 cornerback anymore, but the Jets don’t need him to be one. The 30-year-old could be a very solid No. 2 for New York in 2020 if it chooses to pursue him.
