By Paul Newbold Edited by Peter Cordi
It was less then a week ago, the Jets were loaded with Cap space expected to be among the big time spenders in free agency. Fans had their eyes on stars like Dex Bryant, Byron Maxwell, and even Nadamukong Suh. Fans coveted WR's Randall Cobb and Demarious Thomas. In a blink of an eye, that all changed!
We are now on the fringe of things getting started, and all that once seemed possible, is gone. With all those players either re-signing with their clubs, or agreeing in principle to sign with others after Tuesday's start time.
The once-promising field of free agents is quickly drying up on the Jets. It's not all gloom and doom, but it is concernin. With the trade for Brandon Marshall, the Jets have been reduced to a 5-pick draft class. When they decide Percy Harvin's fate, we'll know where those picks fall, but currently, their draft ends after the 4th round. With picks 5 and 6 going in trades, and the 7th round being pretty much a "crap shoot". Should they keep Harvin, scratch the 4th and add a 6th.
Some of the recent trades and "agreements in principle" deals, will also have an effect on the division, and as such could change the Jets’ entire approach. Certainly, things around Jets’ headquarters are frantically busy!
Let's first look at the Suh deal. Big deal some fans are saying; "Miami over-spent for him and it will have little effect on the Jets." That thinking is very marginalized. First, the ridiculous amount of money thrown at Suh will have an impact on the pending Mo Wilkerson deal. The Jets’ organization has made their superstar wait for his pay day for quite some time. We were told the negotiations were a priority for the new regime, and the parties met at last month's NFL scouting combine.
It became quickly apparent that Mo's agents and the Jets wouldn't be signing anything until the free agency market set the price. While many have claimed Wilkerson is not in the same "class" as Suh, don't fool yourselves- Wilkerson's asking price just took a significant jump. The Jets are lucky that they can absorb the increase, but this deal should have gotten done last season. The Jets will now have to pay for making him wait.
The Suh deal also brings some more concerns for the Jets pertaining to their offensive line needs. The Jets were already looking at a need to replace veteran Willie Colon. The line was much maligned last year, and now with Suh in the division, it becomes that much more important. While second year man O'Day Aboushi, played well for the Jets last year, they can't seriously envision lining him up against Suh. If they do, whoever the quarterback will be in 2015, he won't last very long!
Competent offensive linemen don't grow on trees, and now the Jets have a further need. The Jets will now have to face former HC Rex Ryan with his stout defense in Buffalo, another up-and-coming defense led by Suh in Miami, and of course ,the New England Patriots; all in their own division. Suh's signing in Miami had ripple effects in NYC- make no mistake about it!
Next let's look at the corner market. A once sure-fire thing at corner for the Jets seemingly is drying up quickly. Kareem Jackson resigned with the Texans for a reported $34 million/$20million guaranteed 4-year deal. Brandon Flowers, in the meantime, signed a 4-year $36 million deal. Byron Maxwell has also been rumored to have reached an "agreement in principle" with the Philadelphia Eagles for a reported $54 million/$25 million guaranteed, 5-year deal.
Not only are the top players the Jets were rumored to have been targeting now beyond their reach, but you again begin to see the inflated market the Jets will find themselves in. With a record number of teams holding huge amounts of cash, expect the inflated contracts to continue. While there is still talent to be had at corner, the competition to sign them will be considerable. Just imagine what Revis asks if he hits the market!
The top wide receiver market has also seen a downturn in availability. While the Jets made a trade to bring in the 30 year-old Brandon Marshall, it would seem unwise to put all their eggs in one basket. Marshall is without a doubt one of the better WRs in the league, but he struggled with leg injuries all season last year before ending up on injured reserve with broken ribs and a punctured lung. We've all seen it before, a dynamic WR reaching that not so "magic number", leg issues developing and production falling off.
That is not necessarily the case with Brandon Marshall, as nobody can possibly predict such a thing, but the Jets would be wise to look to add to the WR group. Percy's Harvin's return is very much in question. The Jets have some young guys that may be able to be depended on in case of injury, but none have been proven by any stretch of the imagination.
Free Agency starts officially at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The landscape surrounding the market has changed dramatically. The Jets will still have a ton of cash to improve the roster, the number of candidates has been reduced and the competition will be high. It's not all gloom and doom, but Jet fans have been through this before. It's key that Mike Maccagnan becomes a very good salesman for the Jets going forward.
One other thing to mention here- the Jets’ own free agents. Do they intend to re-sign anyone? David Harris got his deal last week, but that is it. Most notable is the lack of a contract for Damon Harrison. “Snacks” was seen as a lock to return by many, yet the deal hasn't materialized; time is running out. They also need to decide on their intentions at running back, with Bilal Powell set to test the market. The Jets are running out of time to re-sign any of their remaining 17 free agents.
The Jets still have a promising offseason ahead of them. The job of making the right moves and getting them done at reasonable prices just became a little more difficult, however. The question remains; "Can Mike Maccagnan Get It Done?"
It was less then a week ago, the Jets were loaded with Cap space expected to be among the big time spenders in free agency. Fans had their eyes on stars like Dex Bryant, Byron Maxwell, and even Nadamukong Suh. Fans coveted WR's Randall Cobb and Demarious Thomas. In a blink of an eye, that all changed!
We are now on the fringe of things getting started, and all that once seemed possible, is gone. With all those players either re-signing with their clubs, or agreeing in principle to sign with others after Tuesday's start time.
The once-promising field of free agents is quickly drying up on the Jets. It's not all gloom and doom, but it is concernin. With the trade for Brandon Marshall, the Jets have been reduced to a 5-pick draft class. When they decide Percy Harvin's fate, we'll know where those picks fall, but currently, their draft ends after the 4th round. With picks 5 and 6 going in trades, and the 7th round being pretty much a "crap shoot". Should they keep Harvin, scratch the 4th and add a 6th.
Some of the recent trades and "agreements in principle" deals, will also have an effect on the division, and as such could change the Jets’ entire approach. Certainly, things around Jets’ headquarters are frantically busy!
Let's first look at the Suh deal. Big deal some fans are saying; "Miami over-spent for him and it will have little effect on the Jets." That thinking is very marginalized. First, the ridiculous amount of money thrown at Suh will have an impact on the pending Mo Wilkerson deal. The Jets’ organization has made their superstar wait for his pay day for quite some time. We were told the negotiations were a priority for the new regime, and the parties met at last month's NFL scouting combine.
It became quickly apparent that Mo's agents and the Jets wouldn't be signing anything until the free agency market set the price. While many have claimed Wilkerson is not in the same "class" as Suh, don't fool yourselves- Wilkerson's asking price just took a significant jump. The Jets are lucky that they can absorb the increase, but this deal should have gotten done last season. The Jets will now have to pay for making him wait.
The Suh deal also brings some more concerns for the Jets pertaining to their offensive line needs. The Jets were already looking at a need to replace veteran Willie Colon. The line was much maligned last year, and now with Suh in the division, it becomes that much more important. While second year man O'Day Aboushi, played well for the Jets last year, they can't seriously envision lining him up against Suh. If they do, whoever the quarterback will be in 2015, he won't last very long!
Competent offensive linemen don't grow on trees, and now the Jets have a further need. The Jets will now have to face former HC Rex Ryan with his stout defense in Buffalo, another up-and-coming defense led by Suh in Miami, and of course ,the New England Patriots; all in their own division. Suh's signing in Miami had ripple effects in NYC- make no mistake about it!
Next let's look at the corner market. A once sure-fire thing at corner for the Jets seemingly is drying up quickly. Kareem Jackson resigned with the Texans for a reported $34 million/$20million guaranteed 4-year deal. Brandon Flowers, in the meantime, signed a 4-year $36 million deal. Byron Maxwell has also been rumored to have reached an "agreement in principle" with the Philadelphia Eagles for a reported $54 million/$25 million guaranteed, 5-year deal.
Not only are the top players the Jets were rumored to have been targeting now beyond their reach, but you again begin to see the inflated market the Jets will find themselves in. With a record number of teams holding huge amounts of cash, expect the inflated contracts to continue. While there is still talent to be had at corner, the competition to sign them will be considerable. Just imagine what Revis asks if he hits the market!
The top wide receiver market has also seen a downturn in availability. While the Jets made a trade to bring in the 30 year-old Brandon Marshall, it would seem unwise to put all their eggs in one basket. Marshall is without a doubt one of the better WRs in the league, but he struggled with leg injuries all season last year before ending up on injured reserve with broken ribs and a punctured lung. We've all seen it before, a dynamic WR reaching that not so "magic number", leg issues developing and production falling off.
That is not necessarily the case with Brandon Marshall, as nobody can possibly predict such a thing, but the Jets would be wise to look to add to the WR group. Percy's Harvin's return is very much in question. The Jets have some young guys that may be able to be depended on in case of injury, but none have been proven by any stretch of the imagination.
Free Agency starts officially at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The landscape surrounding the market has changed dramatically. The Jets will still have a ton of cash to improve the roster, the number of candidates has been reduced and the competition will be high. It's not all gloom and doom, but Jet fans have been through this before. It's key that Mike Maccagnan becomes a very good salesman for the Jets going forward.
One other thing to mention here- the Jets’ own free agents. Do they intend to re-sign anyone? David Harris got his deal last week, but that is it. Most notable is the lack of a contract for Damon Harrison. “Snacks” was seen as a lock to return by many, yet the deal hasn't materialized; time is running out. They also need to decide on their intentions at running back, with Bilal Powell set to test the market. The Jets are running out of time to re-sign any of their remaining 17 free agents.
The Jets still have a promising offseason ahead of them. The job of making the right moves and getting them done at reasonable prices just became a little more difficult, however. The question remains; "Can Mike Maccagnan Get It Done?"