There’s a new high-end receiver for the Jets to contemplate in free company.
Mike Williams, who was minimize Wednesday by the salary-cap-strapped Chargers, is likely one of the few choices accessible who represents a sure improve over Allen Lazard as a No. 2 receiver.
Lazard was certainly one of final offseason’s free-agent prizes however didn’t reside as much as expectations (23 catches for 311 yards and one landing) on his four-year, $44 million contract.
Williams, 29, topped 1,000 yards in 2019 and 2021, and has averaged 15.6 yards per catch over seven seasons.
The danger, as is the case with many free brokers, is damage concern.
Williams’ quick begin final season — 19 catches for 249 yards and a landing in three video games — was minimize brief by an ACL tear in his left knee Sept. 24. He additionally has handled various levels of ankle, again, hamstring and shoulder accidents all through his profession.
The Jets by no means seemed to be within the recreation for high free-agent receiver Calvin Ridley — who reportedly agreed to a four-year, $92 million take care of the Titans.
Simply two different receivers agreed to important offers, and each the Jaguars’ Gabe Davis and Falcons’ Darnell Mooney really feel like overpays at $13 million per yr.
Odell Beckham Jr., who underachieved on a $15 million contract with the Ravens final season, is on the market once more after flirting with the Jets final offseason. Like Beckham, Michael Thomas has been higher than Williams at his peak, however each have crimson flags to out-rival Williams’.
Different productive choices embrace Tyler Boyd, D.J. Chark, Aaron Rodgers’ former Packers teammate Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the launched Hunter Renfrow.
Punter Thomas Morstead, a fan favourite, re-signed.
The 2-year deal is price greater than $5 million, per experiences.
Morstead averaged 48.8 yards per punt, the second-best mark of his 15-year profession, and dropped 36 of his NFL-high 99 makes an attempt contained in the 20-yard line final season.
Two years after he left the Buccaneers for the Jets, security Jordan Whitehead goes again within the different route.
Whitehead, 26, reportedly agreed to return to Tampa Bay on a two-year, $9 million contract that may very well be price as much as $10.5 million.
It’s smaller than the two-year, $14.5 million deal he signed with the Jets in 2022.
The Jets have been snug letting Whitehead depart after the event of starter Tony Adams final season then re-signing Chuck Clark this week.
Clark, who began 63 of 96 profession video games for the Ravens, was acquired by the Jets final March however missed all the season with a torn ACL.
There are nonetheless beginning choices accessible on the saturated security free-agent market. It’s doable free agent Ashtyn Davis returns as a backup and special-teamer.
DT Javon Kinlaw’s one-year contract is price $7.25 million, together with $6.91 million assured.
It’s a surprisingly excessive quantity provided that Kinlaw has 5 sacks in 41 profession video games (3.5 in 17 video games final season) with the 49ers, however he was a first-round draft choose in 2020 when Jets head coach Robert Saleh was the defensive coordinator.
TE C.J. Uzomah formally was launched with a failed bodily designation.
