Left tackle might be the most important position on the offensive line, and the Jets could be looking to find an upgrade if they decide to not re-sign Kelvin Beachum.
It isn’t saying much to point out Beachum ranked highest among Jets linemen in 2019. Joe Douglas would be foolish not to at least explore the free agent market for a new left tackle if he thinks he can find someone who can better protect Sam Darnold.
The left tackle market is a little wonky. It basically consists of one young, elite talent, two aging veterans way past their primes and a couple of unproven or inexperienced players. Douglas should navigate this pool carefully before pulling the trigger on a high-priced tackle, especially considering how many other positions of need he has to bolster.
Here are the five best left tackles the Jets should target.
Anthony Castonzo
If protecting Sam Darnold is what Joe Douglas is looking for from a new starting left tackle, Colts free agent Anthony Castonzo is the best on the market. He’s the eighth-ranked left tackle in pass-protection with an 84.4 Pro Football Focus grade, and the fifth-ranked in dropback passing scenarios. Castonzo is also incredibly consistent, posting overall grades between 76.9 and 83.4 since 2012.
Castonzo is still relatively young – he’ll turn 32 in August – and has the ideal size at 6-foot-7 and 307 pounds for a premier tackle. He’d fortify the offensive line no matter who else Douglas brings in, but it would come at a premium. Castonzo will likely require somewhere between $14.5-$16 million per year, much like Titans tackle Taylor Lewan got in 2018 with a five-year, $80 million deal.
Jason Peters
Peters is the second-oldest free agent left tackle on the market but he’s still one of the best in the game. Despite turning 38 at the end of the 2019 season, Peters posted the sixth-best overall grade for a tackle at 82.8 and only allowed 25 total pressures with the Eagles.
He has 195 starts and 205 games under his belt, which is both a blessing and a curse for a lineman. Peters is incredibly experienced and his veteran presence would be huge for the unit if Douglas decides to bring in younger players, but it also means Peters comes with immense injury risk. He’s only completed a full 16-game season five times in his 14 years as a starter and the Jets may not what to risk another Ryan Kalil situation.
Peters is one of the best in the business and he has a connection to Douglas, but he’d be a short-term, high-risk solution if the Jets go down this route. There’s also a real chance Peters won’t leave Philadelphia in hopes of retiring an Eagle.
Andrew Whitworth
Whitworth is another wily veteran who wouldn’t be a long-term answer for the Jets despite his obvious ability. The 14-year pro turned 38 this past December and has started all but one game since 2014. He’s experienced, sure, but also posted his worst PFF grade since 2008 – 72.8 — in 2019.
Whitworth proved he has a little bit left in the tank, though, after only allowing one sack on the season and finishing with the seventh-highest pass-blocking grade among all tackles in 2019. He’s another cheaper option for the Jets to considering if they need a mentor on the line who can also play at a decently high level at left tackle.
D.J. Humphries
Humphries poses the biggest high-risk, high-reward option for the Jets given his injury history and age. He just turned 26, but also just completed his first full 16-game season as a starter. Previously, Humphries battled concussions and multiple knee injuries and missed 21 games between 2016-2018.
He’s developed much better as a pass-blocker since the Cardinals drafted him 24th overall in 2015 – Humphries only allowed two sacks and 30 quarterback pressures in 677 snaps in 2019. His run-blocking left a lot to be desired, though, and he committed a team-high 13 penalties this past season.
It’s impossible to tell what the Jets would get in Humphries after five inconsistent seasons in Arizona. They could get a young up and comer at a bargain price, or an injury-prone underperformer at a high price.
Chris Clark
Clark started seven games for the Texans, including the final five games of the 2019 season. He played mostly at right tackle, but also has experience at left tackle. Clark’s a little bit older than a few of the other free agent options at 34 years old, but he’s started 73 games in his 10-year career for three different teams.
Clark wouldn’t command a high salary and would be a solid low-risk option for the Jets should they want to allocate salary cap elsewhere.
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:
