The hype that comes along with free agency is centered around star players such as Le’Veon Bell, but what about the role players who will not be cashing in on massive contracts come March?
These are the players that fill out rosters and can make the difference between a pretender and a contender. They are not household names, but they are solid in their roles and can be relied upon when needed the most.
There’s no doubt that the Jets have their sights on making a splash or two in free agency this offseason, but there are plenty of role players on the open market who can help New York get back to the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade.
With that being said, here are four role players the Jets should target in free agency.
Bryce Callahan
Before suffering a season-ending injury, Callahan was one of the best nickel cornerbacks in all of football. In 13 games, the former undrafted free agent registered 45 tackles, six pass deflections, two sacks and two interceptions. He also played clean in the secondary and was one of only three cornerbacks with 300-plus regular season snaps to not draw a single flag in 2018.
Adam Gase has already indicated that the Jets will be in the nickel the majority of the time on defense. Callahan is one of the best players in the league lined up in the slot and he would be a major upgrade over the penalty-happy Buster Skrine. The 27-year-old has also been linked to New York as the free agency rumor mill begins to pick up.
Callahan would be the perfect role player acquisition for New York’s defense. He won’t come on the cheap, but he won’t be all that expensive, either. If the Jets want to target an upper-echelon nickel corner in free agency, Callahan should be their guy.
Dante Fowler Jr
Fowler was a player that many Jets fans wanted general manager Mike Maccagnan to make a move for when it became apparent that the Jacksonville Jaguars were shopping the former first-round pick. Now, he will be available for the taking on the free agent market.
When Fowler was dealt from Jacksonville to the Los Angeles Rams before the trade deadline, he wasted no time in becoming an integral part of Wade Phillips’ defense. As a pass-rush specialist, Fowler can’t do much else other than getting to the quarterback coming off the edge, but he is very good in his role.
Fowler would be perfect in New York’s 3-4 defense. He is not necessarily a game-changing player, but one that could help solve Gang Green’s pass-rush woes.
Tyler Kroft
Chris Herndon is entrenched as New York’s No. 1 tight end following a standout rookie season, but the Jets need a blocking tight end to compliment Herndon’s pass-catching prowess. Given his versatility, Kroft stands out as a player that Mike Maccagnan should be interested in this offseason.
Kroft did an admirable job filling in for the injured Tyler Eifert in 2018 with 42 receptions for 404 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he is known more as a blocking tight end and has also contributed on special teams in the past.
The Rutgers product is coming off season-ending foot surgery, but that shouldn’t scare the Jets away. Kroft would be an upgrade over Eric Tomlinson and if last season was any indication, he would be an ideal backup given his ability to step in and start in a pinch.
Trevor Siemian
With Sam Darnold under center, New York’s days of searching for a franchise quarterback are over. However, the Jets cannot afford to avoid the quarterback market this offseason.
Josh McCown’s playing days are likely coming to an end. New York needs someone to serve as Darnold’s backup in the event that the USC product succumbs to an injury as he did in 2018. Out of all the free agent quarterbacks other than Teddy Bridgewater, who will likely wind up as a starter somewhere next season, Siemian fits the job description to a tee.
With experience as a starter, the Jets would not have to worry much about Siemian taking snaps under center in the event of a Darnold injury. He’s not a world beater throwing the ball and he did lose his starting job in Denver, but Siemian is a solid, proven passer.
As the old saying goes, you’re only as good as your backup quarterback. If the Jets land Siemian in that role, they’ll be in pretty good shape.
