Jeremy Kerley signing adds a needed presence to Jets

The New York Jets have signed Jeremy Kerley, and it’s a good signing for a team in need of veteran depth, especially at wide receiver.

When the New York Jets released Eric Decker, there was clamor all over social media. The media bashed the move, saying they needed Decker’s veteran presence in the locker room. Now, the Jets have added two veterans in less than a week, Jermaine Kearse (via trade) and Jeremy Kerley.

The move can be crucial to young players, especially ArDarius Stewart, Charone Peake, and Robby Anderson. He can help those players with their particular skill set, which is speed. He can show Stewart and Peake what it takes to play from the slot as well.

In addition to being able to work with the wide receivers, Kerley gives the Jets a viable return man. They lost return specialist Lucky Whitehead to a broken foot during the offseason so this signing could potentially help when it comes to returns.

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The contracts of Kearse and Kerley will be lower than those of Brandon Marshall and Decker. The contracts of Marshall and Decker would’ve cost the Jets $14.75 million.

That space they save can now be carried over to next year, which, according to Spotrac estimations, the Jets could have $72.8 million in cap space, and be a viable player in free agency. They’ll have plenty of money to hopefully spend wisely.

This move works out well for future development of the young talent as well as the present team. It also allows for the use of two tight end sets, once Austin Seferian-Jenkins returns to pair up with rookie Jordan Leggett or newly acquired Will Tye.

Even though the 2017 Jets are about building toward the future, not here and now, this move is perfect for forward thinking, while also building a winning mentality for 2017. They can establish something here moving forward.