Joe Douglas wasted no time taking advantage of New York’s No. 3 spot on the waiver wire as he said he would during his introductory press conference, claiming former Oakland Raiders cornerback Montrel Meander on Wednesday.
Meander is Douglas’ first acquisition as Jets general manager and the first of what figures to be many waiver wire pickups.
An undrafted free agent out of Grambling State, where he recorded 49 tackles, two interceptions and two pass defenses as a senior in 2017, Meander spent the majority of his first season in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. In Cleveland, Meander worked with Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and spent 12 weeks on the team’s practice squad before finishing the season with the Raiders.
Meander is not the established cornerback New York needs heading into 2019, but he brings potential to the table. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Meander has an impressive frame and uses his length to his advantage. He is also familiar with Williams’ defensive scheme, which gives him a leg up on the other corners fighting for a spot on the Jets’ 53-man roster.
Regardless of whether or not Meander makes the team, expect Douglas to take a chance on various other waiving claims moving forward. Meander was the first and he will certainly not be the last.
