Grading all of the New York Jets' initial moves during the first wave of NFL free agency
The New York Jets have been busy in free agency without making a splash signing some might have expected. With limited salary cap space to work with, the Jets haven't been in the business of handing out huge contracts, instead sticking to mid-level and affordable contracts while addressing weaknesses on a roster and depth at […]
The New York Jets have been busy in free agency without making a splash signing some might have expected.
With limited salary cap space to work with, the Jets haven't been in the business of handing out huge contracts, instead sticking to mid-level and affordable contracts while addressing weaknesses on a roster and depth at certain positions.
How do those moves stack up? Here is how I grade New York's new signings in free agency with the first wave essentially over. For now I focused on the new players and not the re-signings.
Signings
OT Morgan Moses, Trade – Moses and pick 134 (4th) for picks 112 (4th) and 218 (6th)
Grade: B+
Breaking news update for anyone who is just now learning about the New York Jets, they need help along their offensive line. A lot of it.
The offensive tackle market was thin this free agency and the Jets needed to get creative to fill at least one of the two tackle spots. Moses started 16 games for the Jets in 2021, the first year of Robert Saleh’s tenure, and left to sign a three-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens the following year.
Moses is scheduled to make $5.5 million in base salary in 2024, the last year of his contract which is relatively cheap for a starting tackle in the league. Moses is 33 years old and is a band aid at the position, but there is nothing wrong with that.
He is one of the better run blocking right tackles in the league and is a decent pass protector. At the low cost, both of his salary and his acquisition, this is a low-risk, high-reward deal for New York.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Two Years/$18 million
Grade: B+
It was talked about from the owner on down to the offensive coordinator and every Jets coach and executive in between: the Jets needed a veteran backup quarterback. Now they have a guy who has been around the league and seen almost everything there is to see.
This will be the seventh team for Tyrod Taylor, who was with the New York Giants last season. The soon to be 35-year-old Taylor was once a Pro Bowler with the Buffalo Bills and he offers a resume with 58 career starts, 12,135 passing yards, 65 touchdown passes to 29 interceptions.
Taylor is as good a backup as any in the league except that he comes with some injury concerns of his own. Taylor started five games for the Giants last season but went down with an injury of his own and was replaced by Tommy DeVito.
There is no doubt that if Taylor had to come in for a game or two the Jets could count on him to keep them in games. If they were to lose Rodgers for an entire season to either an Achilles injury or perhaps a presidential race, then the Jets would be in trouble.
OG John Simpson, Two Years/$18 million
Grade: C+
Simpson started every game at left guard for the Ravens last year after joining the team in 2022. He was originally drafted by the Raiders in the first round in 2020 and spent his first three seasons there.
Simpson was not my first or second or even third choice for the Jets to rebuild their offensive line. But watching the contracts handed out to guys like Robert Hunt (five years, $100 million) and Damien Lewis (four years, $53 million) and Mike Owenwu (three years, $57 million), Simpson is a bargain.
Simpson is a road grater at the left guard spot. He needs to improve in his discipline (11 penalties last season) and he needs to improve his pass protection as it won’t be Lamar Jackson running around behind him, but a 40-year-old VP candidate coming off an Achilles injury.
Simpson is a high motor guy who will be the puller in the run game quite often, a big mauler in tight spaces who will clear some gaping holes for Breece Hall on occasion. If he turns out to be the weakest link on the offensive line the Jets will be fine, but if he is the standard, it will be another long season.
DT Javon Kinlaw, 1 year/$7.25 million
Grade: D
Originally, I was on board with the Kinlaw signing. A one-year flier on a guy who never quite lived up to his high draft stock. And then I saw the numbers on the deal, and I thought it was a type-o.
The 26-year-old Kinlaw reunites with Jets coach Robert Saleh, who was the defensive coordinator in San Francisco when the team drafted Kinlaw in the first round of the 2020 draft. Kinlaw has started 28 games for the 49ers over four years, including six last season. He has five career sacks, 3.5 in 2023.
The Jets gave Kinlaw over $7 million for a player who should be on a prove-it deal instead of a money making deal.
The Jets like to sign the players that have high upside and something to prove along their defensive front. Quinton Jefferson was a prove it player and he had a great season last year. Solomon Thomas was considered to be washed up and has had resurgence with the Jets.
Both of those players are now free agents and likely not to return to the Jets. The Jets set the market for often injured role player along their defensive front with Kinlaw and it will hurt them as they try and fill out their roster.
The Jets overpaid for a lottery ticket.
DT Leki Fotu, 1 year, $2.5 million
Grade: C
This is a depth signing at a depth price. Not great, not terrible.
Fotu is 25 years old out of the University of Utah and is a big run-stuffing tackle at 6-foot-5, 334 pounds. He appeared in 56 games for the Arizona Cardinals who drafted him in the fourth round and made 21 starts during that span, recording 3.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and seven QB hits.
Fotu appears to be in line to replace the Al Woods, who was the Jets big run stuffing defensive tackle last season before he got injured.
CB Isiah Oliver, 1 year deal, number unavailable at time of writing
Grade: B
Oliver signed with the Jets in an under the radar move like he was simply a special teamer, but Oliver is a really good corner back who also happens to play great on teams.
Oliver (6-0, 202) was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He played 62 games with 38 starts in five seasons with Falcons and recorded 2 interceptions, 34 pass defenses, 153 tackles and 2 sacks.
In 2020, he played under current Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich when Ulbrich was Atlanta's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
At the very least, Oliver provides excellent depth to a Jets' cornerback room that is set to lose former starter Bryce Hall this offseason.
Oliver would likely push for a starting job on a handful of teams around the league, and he should immediately slot in above Brandin Echols as the fourth cornerback on the team's depth chart.
Grade So Far
It is a long road from where the New York Jets ended last season to "Super Bowl Contenders" but this was a decent first step. They addressed the areas that needed to be addressed in the best way they saw fit.
Losing a guy like Bryce Huff hurts, but Joe Douglas had a top price he was willing to pay and he wouldn't go past it. Huff will not be easy to replace, but at $17 million a year, he needs to do more than rush the passer.
The Kinlaw deal is one I don't understand. He is a high ceiling player being paid like a consistent performer. He can't be counted on playing only 27 games in the last three seasons.
Stealing two-fifths of one of the best offensive lines in football last year in the Baltimore Ravens is a move I did not see coming, but if nothing else, the Jets should be able to run the ball better than they have in the past.
The work isn't done by any stretch and the assets the Jets have are only getting smaller and tighter. It will be important to be smart through the draft to have the best possible chance at ending the playoff drought.
Grade so far: B
Jets bring back former starter Morgan Moses in trade with Baltimore Ravens
The New York Jets had a very clear goal going into this off season. Improve the offensive line. What we didn’t know was that they meant to raid the Baltimore Ravens in order to get it done. The Jets agreed to a trade with the Ravens to send right tackle Morgan Moses to New York […]
