The Jets were big spenders last offseason, using $202.4 million to sign 31 free agents – second most in the NFL this past season. Almost a year later, some of those signings have panned out, while others already look like mistakes. Regardless, the Jets still have plenty of moves to make in 2019 to solidifying Adam Gase’s team, especially with $102 million in cap space remaining.
New York’s 2018 free agent class ranged from integral to surprisingly skilled to downright awful. Small signings like Andre Roberts and Jason Myers ended up among the most important players on the team, while bigger deals for Spencer Long and Trumaine Johnson didn’t work out nearly as well as the team would have liked given their contracts.
Here is how New York’s top free agent acquisitions fared in 2018.
CB Trumaine Johnson
This was the big splash of the 2018 free agency and so far, it has looked much more like a belly flop than a graceful dive.
The Jets gave Johnson a five-year, $72.5 million contract with $45 million in guaranteed money. In return, Johnson gave back an injury-plagued, substandard season. While his four interceptions led the team, his 40 tackles and five defended passes were among his career worsts. His coverage skills also left a lot to be desired.
Johnson effectively has two more years on his deal before the Jets could cut bait, so there’s hope Gregg Williams can find a way to turn Johnson into a better version of himself in 2019.
LB Avery Williamson
Williamson ended up being one of those under the radar great signings for the Jets in 2018. The former Tennessee Titan ended up leading New York with a career-high 120 tackles after the team gave him a three-year, $22.5 million deal with $16 million guaranteed.
Not only did Williamson prove to be a great linebacker for the Jets, but he was also a mentor for Darron Lee in the middle of the front seven. The duo worked well together and seemed to develop a solid relationship and mentorship. Hopefully, that bond continues in 2019.
RB Isaiah Crowell
Crowell appeared to be the perfect complement to Bilal Powell at running back after the Jets signed him to a three-year, $12 million contract, but the former Brown ended up having an up-and-down season in New York.
Though Crowell began the year with a spring in his step with a 102-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Lions in Week 1, he only rushed for more than 100 yards one other time in 2018 (though it was a 219-yard explosion against the Broncos). Crowell finished the season on injured reserve with a toe injury and amassed only 685 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
C Spencer Long
Long struggled mightily in his first season with the Jets. Picked as the next great Jets center, Long signed a four-year, $27.4 million contract, but was cut after the season to save $6.5 million in cap room.
Long played so poorly in 2018 that he was briefly benched and eventually moved to guard to back-up center Jonotthan Harrison, who cost only $880,000. The Jets will certainly be in the market for a better center this offseason after the Long debacle.
KR/PR/WR Andre Roberts
There was no one in the NFL who returned kicks better than Roberts in 2018. In one of the most underrated signings of the season, Roberts finished as the best return specialist in the NFL after the Jets signed him to a one-year, $1 million contract.
Not only did Roberts lead the NFL in kick return yards (1,174) and yards per punt return (14.1), he scored two special teams touchdowns and caught 10 balls for 79 yards and a touchdown as a wide receiver. Roberts was also one of two Jets special teamers to make the Pro Bowl.
K Jason Myers
Another special teams standout, Myers looked like an immediate upgrade over offseason kickers Cairo Santos and Taylor Bertolet. Like Roberts, Myers also earned a Pro Bowl selection after a career season.
Myers made 33 field goals (third-best in the league) and converted 17-of-19 kicks from 40-plus yards, including five from 55-plus. Myers kept New York in almost every game with his kicking and proved integral to the Jets in their victories.
QB Teddy Bridgewater
The Jets took a gamble on Bridgewater, signing him to a one-year prove-it deal for $6 million. While Bridgewater looked to be in the running for starting quarterback after a tremendous preseason, the Jets ended up trading him to the Saints for a third-round pick.
The move didn’t help the Jets in 2018, for obvious reasons, but the signing did amount to an extra early-round pick in the 2019 draft, something that should hopefully benefit the team this season.
WR Terrelle Pryor
Picked to be the Jets’ red zone target to Sam Darnold, Pryor failed to live up to stand out among the team’s wide receiver corps. The Jets signed Pryor on a one-year, $4.5 million deal, but released him after 10 games following a groin injury.
Pryor finished his short stint with the Jets with 252 receiving yards on 16 receptions and two touchdowns before signing with the Bills for the rest of 2018.
