The start of the NFL’s new league year is upon us.
The league’s legal tampering period begins Monday, March 10, which means pending free agents are allowed to enter preliminary contract negotiations with teams throughout the league.
However, new contracts cannot be signed until the new league year starts on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.
The Jets have 28 players who will be impending free agents. So, needless to say, they have a lot of holes to fill on both sides of their team.
With that in mind, let’s answer some questions in the latest Jets mailbag.
Will the new Jets regime spend big on big-name FAs or fill the roster w/ high high-upside cheaper contracts? -@li_jets
Currently, the Jets have $51.8 million in salary cap space after the team released wide receiver Davante Adams on Tuesday, according to Over the Cap. The team will gain another $6.6 million if the they release Allen Lazard, which is widely expected after the team permitted him to seek a trade.
Releasing Lazard would give the Jets $58.4 million entering free agency. It’s not a ton of money, but it’s enough to fill some of the Jets’ many holes this offseason.
Because of the lack of salary cap room, I wouldn’t expect general manager Darren Mougey to spend recklessly in his first offseason with the Jets. Nor should he, because the Jets are not an offseason away from becoming contenders.
After going for it with Aaron Rodgers and company the last two seasons, this is a reset for the Jets. I expect the team to explore signing some widely known free agents and add lower-cost players on contracts they can get out of the next two years.
That probably doesn’t make many fans happy following a 5-12 season and 14 consecutive years without making the playoffs. But many of the void contracts former general manager Joe Douglas administered won’t help the Jets as they try to move forward.
How many starters can the Jets find in this free-agent class? – @TalkJetsRadio
Before I answer that, it is worth noting all the holes the Jets will have at the start of free agency. Along with the quarterback position after releasing Rodgers, which is obvious, the Jets will need multiple new wide receivers after releasing Adams, two new tight ends, and a right tackle, and that’s just on the offensive side of the team.
Defensively, the Jets could use another defensive tackle opposite Quinnen Williams, who consistently gets double-teamed. They also could use multiple linebackers, a cornerback opposite Sauce Gardner, and two new safeties.
I say all this to say that it will be hard for the Jets to fill every hole, but the 2025 NFL Draft can help. This is an excellent year to draft a defensive lineman, and the depth and talent there are the best in any draft in recent memory.
I’m sure Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn do not want or need my advice, but I believe they should be able to find at least a quarterback, a wide receiver, a right tackle, and a safety to help them next season.
I guess we will all find out who those players will be during the next few weeks.
Bart Scott has always said you need a fatty in the middle of your DL. Which DT free agent do you see the Jets signing or drafting? -@rommy_rome
Considering the abundance of talent in this draft class at the defensive tackle position, I would probably add a cheap veteran and draft a player who could be a long-term solution. If that is the case, I have a couple of names Jets fans should keep an eye on.
Derrick Nnadi is a veteran player who could make sense and wouldn’t demand much money. He was a starter on a Chiefs team that has won three Super Bowls since 2019.
Nnadi has been a solid run stuffer during his seven seasons in the league. But he was a reserve last year for Kansas City after Nnadi was a defensive stalwart for six straight years.
Regarding draftable players on the defensive line, Arkansas’ Eric Gregory would make sense for the Jets on Day 3. He started 12 regular season games for the Razorbacks and registered career highs in tackles (42), tackles for losses (five), and had three sacks. At 6-3, 320 pounds, Gregory would be a good two-down defensive tackle developmentally player who could help the Jets immediately.
What is the most overlooked position by fans that the Jets are going to attack in free agency? -@BoyGreen25
I’m not sure many people have said this regarding needs, but I believe the Jets need another pass rusher.
Before some of you Jets fans direct obscenities in my direction, hear me out for a minute. Will McDonald did have a tremendous sophomore campaign after registering 10.5 sacks. But outside of that, Gang Green’s pass rush could improve after lacking consistency a season ago.
Jermaine Johnson is coming off an Achilles tear that sidelined him for all but two games last season. Some players can return slowly after a significant injury like Johnson’s, so adding another pass-rushing option would be wise.
Some draft analysts have the Jets selecting a pass rusher in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. But a guy like Marcus Davenport makes sense if they want to add a cheap free-agent option.
Glenn is familiar with Davenport both from his time as a defensive backs coach with the Saints (2018-20) and when he was the defensive coordinator of the Lions last season. Whoever it might be, expect the Jets to add some players in the hopes of getting more consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
