Jets could look to former Aaron Rodgers teammate to fill massive hole on roster
The Jets offensive line is in shambles, and it needs to be fixed. That should be their first, second and possibly even third priority this summer. New York is likely to lose both starting tackles to free agency or retirement in the case of Duane Brown. The tackles currently on the roster are decent but […]
The Jets offensive line is in shambles, and it needs to be fixed. That should be their first, second and possibly even third priority this summer.
New York is likely to lose both starting tackles to free agency or retirement in the case of Duane Brown. The tackles currently on the roster are decent but not ones I would trust to protect a 40-year-old coming off a main injury.
Along the interior of the line, Laken Tomlinson’s best trait is that he always plays. His worst trait is that he isn’t very good. AVT has not played a single snap after Halloween the last two years and Joe Tippmann is a promising sophomore.
All that is to say that the Jets need to bring in AT LEAST two starting offensive lineman this offseason that are worthy of a small-window championship run with Aaron Rodgers at the helm.
I have stated on numerous occasions that one of the offensive linemen will come in the first round of the NFL Draft. Whether it be at the 10th pick or after a trade down is the only mystery left to be solved when it comes to the Jets draft.
What about the other tackle? Most think the Jets will find that in free agency and I tend to agree. But if you look at the current offensive tackle free agent class, it is very underwhelming. At least, for now.
There is a name that Jets fans and Rodgers have been eyeing since last year that would solve a lot of issues for Aaron Rodgers’ blind spot: David Bakhtiari.
Currently, Bakhtiari is still under contract with the Green Bay Packers but rumblings have started to grow louder that the 32-year-old might find himself a cap casualty in the coming weeks as the Packers look to continue their impressive youth movement.
Bakhtiari, one of Rodgers' longtime friends and blindside protectors, is at the tail end of his career and is coming off a fourth knee surgery in three years but could look to join Rodgers on a quest for one more Super Bowl in New York before riding off into the sunset.
The Jets could also trade for the three-time Pro Bowler, and it likely wouldn’t cost them much more than a late round pick, but trading for him would also mean taking on his massive contract that Green Bay is trying to shed. That likely won’t happen in New York as the Jets are dealing with their own cap issues.
Much more likely is the Jets waiting until Green Bay cuts the former All-Pro and then leaning on Rodgers to convince his friend to take a team-friendly contract in order to get one more season together.
While Bakhtiari is Rodgers’ friend, and a clear upgrade at the position, it would be another example of the Jets ignoring the injury history and relying on a guy who is simply not reliable to suit up every week. Bakhtiari has already been very vocal about his reluctance to play on MetLife Stadium’s field turf and even if he does decide to sign with the Jets, how many games can they really count on him to play?
At a low-risk contract, I could see the Jets bringing in Bakhtiari and pair him with a first round rookie along the new offensive front, but I would be sure to have plenty of depth at the position before I start planning Super Bowl parties.
Jets Offseason Road Map: Three players to avoid in free agency
After another heartbreaking year and extending their North American sports leading playoff drought to 13 seasons, it’s time for the Jets to focus on the offseason. The Jets won’t be looking at any major changes to the coaching staff, so they will be focused solely on the draft and NFL free agency to finally end […]
