With the free agency about to begin, here are some last-minute notes and reflections on the Jets and this important period of free agency gathered from conversations with sources inside and outside the Jets:
1. It’s no secret, the Jets are at the helm of Patriots guard Joe Thuney. Last year they would have been suing if the Patriots hadn’t used it. This year will be one of the Jets ’main goals. However, the Jets are worried about a bidding war for Thuney. They see him as the top guard on the market with a huge drop behind him. They fear that this will lead some teams to overpay. The Jets don’t want to be dragged into a bidding war and are firm that they will stick to the value they have assigned to the players.
Another inside line man who will generate some fashion is Packers center Corey Linsley. The sense I have in Linsley is that the Jets are not as interested in him as they are in Thuney. If the Linsley market doesn’t develop and Joe Douglas sees value, he can jump in, but I don’t expect the Jets to be one of Linsley’s top contenders. An interesting dynamic with Linsley is the Jets ’new offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur. His brother Matt is the head coach of the Packers and knows Linsley well. You have to wonder how much information Mike on Matt on Linsley got.
The Jets don’t feel the need to replace center Connor McGovern. They thought he played better late last year last season. If they signed Linsley, they could kick McGovern, but their preference for strengthening the offensive line is to add Thuney.
2. The Jets will be big stars in the top market. An interesting name to watch is Buders, the Steelers pass runner. Dupree broke his ACL in December and it will be fascinating to see how his free agency works. Were it not for the injury, Dupree would get money from the market. Now, teams will be more reluctant to pay him money. Dupree and his agent can look for a one-year deal so he can be healthy and then return to the market next year. However, I can’t see the Jets doing that. You’re basically paying a player to rehabilitate him. Who knows when Dupree will be able to play and the players take two years to fully recover from an ACL tear.
3. The Jets will reach the areas of need for the free agency, but one big need they may not be able to address is the corner. This is a weak free agent class in position and Douglas may choose to sign some in-depth players instead of paying any of the best players available and then draft a corner. The Jets also feel good with young corners Bless Austin and Bryce Hall. The new coaching staff believes he could become good players. Austin and Hall have had good times and some bad ones at the beginning of their career. Probably at this point they are better suited to be the third and fourth corner than the first and second. But Douglas may have to roll with the young boys and wait for a high pass to help high school.
A wildcard in the corner is Richard Sherman. It is well known what he hears about new Jets coach Robert Saleh. It wouldn’t make sense to the Jets if it weren’t for the Saleh connection. Sherman would surely prefer to join a team that has chances in the Super Bowl this year. The Jets should not sign 33-year-old cornerbacks. But it makes sense for Saleh to want a respected player who knows his system to come in and help him teach him and help him in the locker room while he tries to build his program.