The Jets haven’t exactly been the wisest of spenders in free agency over the past couple of years.
That’s why Mike Maccagnan is no longer in charge and Joe Douglas will shortly begin his first offseason of calling the shots. With team officials most likely tuning in to Sunday’s big game, they need to also make a list of players that just don’t make sense for Gang Green. It’s not necessarily that they’re bad players, but more so that the Jets don’t have the cap or roster flexibility to add them in free agency.
Yesterday, the Jets Wire made a list of six players the Jets should target in free agency. This time around, we will take a look at five players the Jets should avoid come March.
Chiefs: DL Chris Jones
While Chris Jones could be an intriguing option to supplement the Jets 3-4 scheme, they don’t have the luxury to add a player of Chris Jones’ caliber on the defensive line.
Jones is a versatile three-down lineman, who played at defensive end before Kansas City’s switch to a 4-3 base scheme this past offseason. In 2018, Jones recorded 15.5 sacks. Only 26, Jones seems like a likely candidate for a big payday on the open market, especially if he is able to help Kansas City raise the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday.
The former second-rounder has been tremendous at stopping the run and also has a knack for getting after opposing quarterbacks. In 13 games played this season, Jones totaled nine sacks to go along with 36 tackles and 20 quarterback hits.
It’s not to say that Jones wouldn’t be an excellent addition to their defensive front, but the Jets have too many other glaring needs at the moment. The additions of Henry Anderson and Quinnen Williams make Jones a luxury that New York simply can’t afford until they address the outside linebacker and cornerback positions first.
49ers: DE Ronald Blair
Ronald Blair played well in a reserve role for the 49ers this season, but he brings similar production to the table that the Jets can get out of Tarrell Basham, who already knows the defensive scheme.
Blair will not be active for Sunday’s game, as he tore his ACL back in Week 10. His 2019 campaign ended abruptly and he ended the season with 21 combined tackles, a fumble recovery and three sacks. In a full 16 games played in 2018, recorded a career-high 36 combined tackles and 5.5 sacks.
With Arik Armstead a potential Jets free-agent target, destined to leave because of the 49ers’ current cap situation, it seems unlikely that Blair will leave the Bay Area.
Chiefs: QB’s Chad Henne and Matt Moore
At this point in their careers, Chad Henne and Matt Moore are essentially one and the same. Two veteran quarterbacks that the Jets could consider to aid Sam Darnold’s development and potentially play in the event of an injury to New York’s franchise quarterback.
With Patrick Mahomes injured earlier this season, Moore stepped in and started two games for Kansas City. He led them to a 1-1 record and kept the team afloat, he completed under 65 percent of his passes for 659 yards and four touchdowns.
Moore seems the more likely veteran quarterback option here, due to his past experience with Adam Gase in Miami. Moore threw for 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions in eight games he played for Gase.
“I enjoyed my time with Coach Gase,” Moore told Newsday on Thursday. “I had some success with Coach Gase. I think he’s a great offensive mind. He might be a little different at the podium. He is who he is. That’s who he is. He’s there to coach ball, so I think anything else is like distracting him from coaching football. I don’t fault him for that. He loves the game. He’s a good offensive mind. I think he’ll be all right up there.”
In any event, neither Henne nor Moore is an upgrade over Trevor Siemian, who could be re-signed to backup Darnold for the second consecutive year.
49ers: DT Sheldon Day
Like Ronald Blair, Sheldon Day isn’t a player who put up astronomical numbers, but has thrived in a reserve role.
Day recorded 15 combined tackles and one sack in 16 regular-season games this season. He followed Robert Saleh from Jacksonville to San Franciso and at the very least provides depth to the team’s defensive line. Fortunately for Gang Green, the team doesn’t need any more depth on the defensive line.
The Jets already have more than enough defensive tackles on the team. With Steve McLendon, Quinnen Williams, Folorunso Fatukasi, Nathan Shepherd and Kyle Phillips, the Jets don’t have the roster flexibility to add someone like Day to the team’s depth chart.
