New York Jets: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time

The New York Jets have made quite a few memorable free agent signings throughout their history. Here are the team’s 15 greatest free agent acquisitions of all-time.

Free agency is the NFL’s manufactured auction period, where franchises bid on prospective players they think would be welcome additions to their rosters. The New York Jets have had varied success in the past with their free agent signings.

For every top-tier All-Pro talent, there has been a Neil O’Donnell. For every under-the-radar diamond in the rough signing, there has been a Darrelle Revis.

The Jets’ 2018 free agency haul, unfortunately, left much to be desired. The team’s major signing, cornerback Trumaine Johnson, struggled for much for the season, failing to live up to his massive five-year, $72.5 million contract. Others such as Spencer Long and Terrelle Pryor are no longer even on the roster.

But we aren’t here to dwell on pessimism.

The Jets have made numerous wise decisions in the two-and-a-half decades that the NFL’s current free agent system has been in place. Some of these moves have served as the backbone for some of the franchise’s best years. Others have simply been smart signings of players who were a reliable presence on the team for years.

The following 15 players fit either one or both of the above criteria. Anything and everything dealing with the signing has been taken into account, including player performance, contract duration and price tag. Moreover, we will be counting undrafted free agents for the sake of this list, as they were technically signed as free agents.

This list will also only contain players who had signed with the team after the current free agent system was put into place, so those signed prior to 1993 will not be included, as free agency wasn’t what we know it as today. Thus, all-time greats such as Don Maynard and Winston Hill will not be considered, despite their contributions to the organization’s early years.

With that, let’s take a look at the top free agent signings in Jets’ history starting with No. 15.

Honorable Mentions: Robby Anderson, David Barrett, Eric Decker, Mike DeVito, Kris Jenkins, Kerry Jenkins, Pete Kendall, Steve McLendon, Buster Skrine, LaDainian Tomlinson

Next: No. 15

• Signed four-year, $19.1 million contract w/Jets in 2015


• 58 career games started w/Jets


• Blocked for top-12 rushing attack (2015-16)


• Pro Football Focus‘ “Secret Superstar” in 2016

James Carpenter is the only player on this list still currently a member of the team, although that is likely to change this offseason. After four seasons served as the Jets left guard, Carpenter is likely to depart the team the same way he joined them back in March 2015.

Via the ever-changing cycle that is NFL free agency.

But none of that should take away from what was ultimately a successful free agent signing. Carpenter enjoyed a couple of solid seasons while donning the green and white, even earning a single All-Pro vote for his 2016 season.

Originally drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Carpenter spent four years with the Seattle Seahawks before being outcast as a first-round bust. He was so much of a disappointment that the Seahawks didn’t even opt to exercise his fifth-year option, something that nearly two-thirds of teams do.

However, Carpenter was able to rejuvenate his career with the Jets putting together back-to-back good seasons during his first two years with his new team. Although his play has dropped off in recent years, the Alabama product still served his purpose with the team and played a pivotal role in the Jets’ excellent rushing attacks in 2015 and 2016.

He may not be the flashiest choice to be on this list, but Carpenter squeaks in due in part to his solid production playing on a bargain deal for the team. And it’s pretty hard for any team to argue with those results.

Next: No. 14

• Signed by Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2012


• Started 48 consecutive games w/Jets from 2013-15


• 193 career tackles w/Jets


• Pro Football Focus‘ No. 1 run defender in 2015

With Damon Harrison, we reach our first undrafted player on this list. In many ways, Harrison shows what it means to find a true diamond in the rough.

The massive nose tackle was brought into training camp as an undrafted free agent out of the little-known William Penn University. To put how small that school is into perspective, consider that fact that there are just over 1,000 students currently enrolled at the university. Now consider that they are not even a part of the NCAA, instead competing in the non-affiliated NAIA.

To say that Harrison’s road to success in the NFL was a longshot would be an understatement.

Regardless, he signed on with the Jets as an undrafted free agent and transitioned to the team’s full-time starter by just his second NFL season. Harrison would play for three seasons as the team’s starting nose tackle, quietly earning a reputation as one of the league’s best interior run defenders.

This culminated with Pro Football Focus naming Harrison the No. 1 run defender in the NFL for his stellar 2015 campaign solidifying his status as one of the very best at his position in the league.

Despite this, the Jets opted to let Harrison walk in free agency with money being tight after the hefty extension given to Muhammad Wilkerson. The William Penn product signed with the crosstown rival New York Giants and continued to build his legacy as perhaps the best true nose tackle in the league.

Allowing Harrison to leave via free agency is one of the Jets’ biggest regrets in the past couple decades, but it doesn’t take away from his fantastic play in the three seasons he started for the team.

Still, Harrison’s story with the Jets will always be a tale of what could have been rather than what was. That’s just the sad reality of the situation.

Next: No. 13

• Signed a one-year, $545K contract w/Jets in 2010


• 104 career games w/Jets


• Career 82 percent FG percentage w/Jets (175-of-213)


• Jets’ all-time leader in FG percentage (min. 65 attempts)

Although his production has seemingly fallen off a cliff in recent years, it wasn’t too long ago that Nick Folk was considered one of the best kickers in the entire NFL. In fact, it’s very easy to argue that Folk was the greatest kicker in Jets history, whether fans realize it or not.

The Arizona product ranks second all-time in field goals made with 175 and connected on 82 percent of his field goals, the highest of any Jets player with a minimum of 65 attempts. His field goal percentage is a whole 11 points higher than the Jets player with the most made field goals of all-time in Pat Leahy, making Folk the most efficient kicker in team history.

Folk originally entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 and enjoyed his share of early success kicking for “America’s Team.” The now-34-year-old managed to make the Pro Bowl during his rookie season and followed that up with a stellar 2008 campaign that saw him connect on 91 percent of his kicks.

But Folk hit a wall in 2009 and was released before the season’s end after making just 64 percent of his field goals. The Jets gave Folk a chance and he repaid them with seven strong seasons, the best of which coming in 2013, where he made 33-of-36 of his kicks for a superb 92 percent field goal percentage.

The team opted to go in a different direction signing Chandler Catanzaro after the conclusion of the 2016 season. After a tumultuous tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Folk now finds himself kicking for the Arizona Hotshots of the AAF.

Folk is proof that you don’t have to play at a high-profile position to make a lasting impact.

Next: No. 12

• Signed a five-year, $15 million contract w/Jets in 1996


• 58 career games started w/Jets


• 84 total career games w/Jets


• Caught three-yard TD pass in the famous “Monday Night Miracle” game

Jumbo Elliott‘s illustrious 14-year career, six of which came with the Jets, will forever be overshadowed by one magical play on one magical night.

Elliott had started 58 games for the Jets over four seasons as the team’s left tackle and had a career dating back over a decade prior with the New York Giants. But on one fateful night in October 2000, one play became forever synonymous with Elliott’s name.

The famous “Monday Night Miracle” game took place in 2000, one year after Elliott had been replaced as the team’s starting left tackle. At 35-years-old, the Long Island native served a role as the team’s backup swing tackle. But on this night, he was also an eligible receiver.

Trailing the rival Miami Dolphins by 23 points heading into the fourth quarter, the Jets had little hope for a comeback with the game seemingly all but over. That was until Gang Green fought back and scored 30 points in the final 15 minutes to force an overtime period, where they would eventually emerge victorious.

The likes of Vinny Testaverde, Curtis Martin and Wayne Chrebet powered the Jets back, but it was a legacy-defining play from Elliott that secured the game-tying touchdown. With the fourth quarter winding down, Elliott lined up as an eligible receiver and hauled in a two-yard reception to complete the comeback and send the game to overtime.

It was Elliott’s only career catch.

The Michigan product was a reliable starter for four seasons with the Jets protecting the blindside, but none of that will ever live up to the play he made as a backup tackle/eligible receiver. Elliott makes this list due in part to both his starting seasons and his famous touchdown, but one is undoubtedly more memorable than the other.

Next: No. 11

• Signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract w/Jets in 2004


• 64 career games started w/Jets


• 421 career tackles w/Jets


• 10.5 career sacks w/Jets

Eric Barton was never the flashiest or most high-profile for any team he was on, but he was always a reliable starting linebacker who played well in all facets of the game.

Barton was originally drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Despite spending his first three seasons in the league primarily as a special teamer, Barton was finally given his chance to start ahead of the 2002 season and he didn’t disappoint.

The Maryland product broke out totaling 125 tackles, six sacks and four forced fumbles in his first year as a starter with Oakland. After another solid 2003 season in which he tallied a career-high 132 tackles, Barton departed via free agency to the Jets ahead of the 2004 season.

In his first season with the team, Barton tied for the team-lead in tackles with 107 making his presence felt early on. He would end up starting 64 games for the Jets at linebacker securing 421 tackles over five seasons with the team.

While he would primarily play second-fiddle to the likes of Jonathan Vilma and David Harris during his tenure, he still managed to once again lead the Jets in tackles during his final season with the team in 2008.

Barton was eventually replaced by another member of this list prior to the 2009 season and the veteran finished out his career with the Cleveland Browns after two solid seasons with the Dawg Pound.

Barton was never the most gifted athlete nor did he leave the most notable legacy behind, but his steady, reliable play make him a very impressive free agent signing in the team’s history.

Next: No. 10

• Signed five-year, $25 million contract w/Jets in 2008


• 45 career games started w/Jets


• Blocked for Jets No. 1 rushing attack in 2009


• Blocked for a top-10 rushing attack w/Jets (2008-2010)

Damien Woody was a part of the glory days of the Jets offensive line. Just a bit of a spoiler, the five-man, star-studded unit of the late 2000s will be heavily featured on this list.

Woody served as the Jets starting right tackle for three seasons after joining the team via free agency before the 2008 season. Prior to signing with the Jets, the powerful offensive lineman had spent nine seasons with the New England Patriots and the Detroit Lions building an upstanding reputation as one of the better linemen in the league.

Woody was a two-time Super Bowl champion and one-time Pro Bowler before ever suiting up in the green and white, making the signing a big deal at the time. It’s safe to say that Woody lived up to expectations of his contract helping lead the way for a top-10 rushing attack in each of his seasons with the Jets.

His 2009 season was particularly strong, as the Jets put together their best rushing season in team history totaling the most rushing yards as a team by the season’s end. Woody was a major part of this accomplishment and his excellent blocking sealing off the right side of the offensive line was instrumental in running back Thomas Jones’ 1,402 rushing yards that season.

The current ESPN analyst would rank higher on this list if his tenure with the team was longer, but unfortunately, a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the 2011 postseason ended his NFL career early at the age of 33.

Still, he remains one of the key pieces of the Jets 2009-2010 AFC Championship runs.

Next: No. 9

• Signed a five-year, $40 million contract w/Jets in 2008, highest paid OL at the time


• 2x Pro Bowl (2008-09)


• Second-Team All-Pro (2008)


• Blocked for Jets No. 1 rushing attack in 2009

Just one spot after Woody, another member of the Jets dominant late 2000s offensive line finds himself on this list. Although Alan Faneca didn’t have as long of a tenure with the team as most of the others on this list, the impact he made during his short time should still be spotlighted.

Faneca joined the Jets prior to the 2008 season after spending a decade as one of the most dominant linemen in the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before joining New York, Faneca was selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls and had been named a First-Team All-Pro six times.

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The success and accolades didn’t stop after signing a five-year, $40 million contract — the largest at the time for any offensive lineman — with the Jets. Faneca was named to the Pro Bowl in both seasons with the Jets, extending his consecutive total to nine years, and was named a Second-Team All-Pro in his first year with the team.

The LSU product was a part of the reason the Jets completely turned their team around from a 4-12 season in 2007 to a 9-7 season in 2008. The following season, Faneca helped lead the way for the No. 1 rushing offense in the NFL, as the Jets made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game.

While the Jets opted to release Faneca after just two seasons, his impact was clear as his release was the beginning of the end for the “Fab 5.” Vladimir Ducasse was drafted to take his place and the Haitian native struggled to fill the massive shoes Faneca had left behind, both figuratively and literally.

Faneca is still awaiting his ticket to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it would be surprising if he didn’t eventually make it in. And his two excellent seasons with the Jets certainly don’t hurt his case.

Next: No. 8

• Signed a six-year, $48 million contract w/Jets in 2009


• 60 career games started w/Jets


• 299 career tackles w/Jets


• 9.0 career sacks w/Jets

There may be no player that better personifies the Rex Ryan-era Jets than linebacker Bart Scott. His trash-talking off-field attitude complimented his brash, hard-hitting on-field play nicely, as Scott served as a defensive leader for four seasons while with Gang Green.

It makes sense that Scott so closely resembled Ryan’s persona, as the former Baltimore Ravens linebacker jumped ship to the Jets in free agency when Ryan was announced as the team’s new head coach prior to the 2009 season. Scott would wind up starting 60 games over the next four seasons serving as one of the faces of a dominant Jets defense.

He may have never been the most gifted player on a defense that consisted of the likes of Darrelle Revis, Shaun Ellis and David Harris, but Scott, in many ways, encompassed the true attitude of the unit. He played with a chip on his shoulder all the time and was the boisterous, no-nonsense player that the team needed.

His rant after the Jets victory in the 2010 AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs against the team’s arch-rivals New England Patriots, became legendary in Jets lore. Scott’s chastising of the franchise’s “non-believers” is just as memorable as his signature “can’t wait” line has become.

Scott was a member of the Jets glory days on defense and quite honestly, the closest thing to Jamal Adams they have ever had. That said, his play did trail off in his final years and he made plenty of enemies along the way.

But Scott will be remembered for his “in-your-face” attitude and leadership abilities that made the Jets defense one of the most revered units in the league while he was playing. And for that, it’s impossible not to include him on this list.

Next: No. 7

• Signed by Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1993


• Member of New York Jets’ All-Time Four Decade Team


• Led NFL with 165 total tackles in 1996


• 108 career games started w/Jets

We’ve reached our second undrafted free agent signing of the list with longtime Jets safety Victor Green. Green’s career with the Jets spanned nearly a decade, as the Akron product was able to establish himself as one of the most accomplished Jets defensive players in team history.

Green barely manages to squeak on to the list, as his signing came in the first year of the current free agent period making him just eligible. But make no mistake about, Green’s play very much qualifies him for this list.

Perhaps one of the most underrated and underappreciated Jets of all-time, Green originally joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 1993. After spending two seasons primarily as a special teamer, the Georgia native earned the starting safety job during the 1995 season and never looked back.

Green would start all 16 games in every season for the remainder of his Jets career from 1996 all the way until his departure in 2001. For his efforts, Green would be named to the New York Jets All-Time Four Decade Team with the likes of other greats such a Joe Namath, Joe Klecko and Don Maynard.

It was an incredible honor for one of the unsung heroes of the late 1990s Jets teams. Green may have never been an All-Pro player, but he spent seven years as a starting safety for the Jets racking up over 800 tackles and 100 career starts with the team.

Not bad for an undrafted rookie out of Akron.

Next: No. 6

• Signed a six-year, $42 million contract w/Jets in 2008


• 116 career games started w/Jets


• 46 career sacks w/Jets


• 426 career tackles w/Jets

Calvin Pace is proof that it’s never too late to change your legacy, and that statement holds true in both sports and life alike. Pace was originally cast off as a first-round bust, but managed to completely turn that label around by becoming one of the most productive edge rushers in Jets history.

Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 18th pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, Pace was initially miscast as a defensive end and struggled through his first four seasons, managing just 7.5 sacks during that time span.

But a breakout 2007 season was in order after the Cardinals switch to a 3-4 defense. Pace was able to play as an outside linebacker transforming his game and allowing him to land a hefty contract with the Jets in free agency prior to the 2008 season.

The Wake Forest product would wind up playing in 120 games with the Jets over the following eight seasons, serving as a dependable defensive piece over multiple generations on defense. Pace was there for the dominant Rex Ryan defenses of the late 2000s and early 2010s and he remained a starter even until the days of Ryan Fitzpatrick under center.

In many ways, he was one of the only holdovers from a different time of Jets football.

Pace would retire after the 2015 season, but his legacy would live on as he currently ranks fifth all-time in career sacks and third in forced fumbles with the team.

That’s certainly one way to rewrite your own legacy.

Next: No. 5

• Signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract in 1998


• Pro Bowl w/Jets (1998)


• Led Jets to a 12-4 AFC East division title in 1998


• 57 career games started w/Jets

The Jets franchise doesn’t have the greatest history with quarterbacks. From the signal-callers of yesteryear in Richard Todd and Ken O’Brien, to the recent draft busts of Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith, the Jets have been unable to secure a solid starting quarterback for much of their team’s history.

But the Jets did manage to get some surprisingly solid production out of journeyman quarterback Vinny Testaverde after they signed him prior to the 1998 season. Much like players such as Calvin Pace and James Carpenter already discussed on this list, Testaverde was hailed as a draft bust long before he joined the Jets, a title he never could quite shed.

After all, he was the first overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, meaning he had high expectations to live up to. While he didn’t live up to his lofty draft projection, Testaverde played for two decades in the NFL, finding his best success arguably with the Jets.

Testaverde managed to lead the Jets to a 12-4 record in his first season with the team, securing their first AFC East title since the merger. For his efforts, Testaverde was selected to his second Pro Bowl, putting together the best season of his NFL career.

While an Achilles tear would keep him out of essentially the whole 1999 season and his play would trail off in the following years, Testaverde arguably put together the best season by any Jets quarterback not named Joe Namath.

Given that he was 35-years-old at the time of his signing and he had signed a dirt-cheap contract, that’s pretty significant value for a player hailed as a journeyman draft bust.

He could never recapture the magic of his 1998 season again, but Testaverde will forever be in Jets fans hearts for his unexpected success with the team.

Next: No. 4

• Signed by Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2002


• Pro Bowl w/Jets (2011)


• 142 career games started w/Jets


• Blocked for Jets No. 1 rushing attack in 2009

We’ve reached the final member of the famed late 2000s Jets offensive line with homegrown guard Brandon Moore. And with that, we’ve also reached our third undrafted free agent signing.

Moore initially joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2002, but was actually released after spending a little time on the practice squad. Looking for a job, Moore bounced around in the Arena Football League and even had a small stint in NFL Europe before rejoining the Jets in 2003.

The rest, as they say, is history. Moore would become the Jets’ regular starter at right guard in the 2004 season and would end up starting 141 consecutive games for Gang Green.

Just think about that for a second.

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For eight straight seasons, Moore played all 16 games becoming the ultimate model of reliability and consistency. Offensive linemen find themselves injured all the time. It’s rare for a lineman to play even three consecutive seasons without missing a game. Moore managed to do so for eight seasons and 141 games.

That’s basically the football equivalent of Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,632 consecutive games streak, or maybe just a step below it.

Moore didn’t just play in those games, he played at a very high level. For nine seasons, Moore served as one of the best offensive guards in the NFL finally receiving his due with a Pro Bowl appearance in 2011 in what would be his second-to-last season.

Unfortunately, many will remember Moore for his part in the infamous “Butt Fumble” play on Thanksgiving Day in 2012. But his legacy should not be tarnished for simply putting the “Butt” in “Butt Fumble.”

Moore was the model of consistency and was a key member of the Jets’ AFC Championship runs of 2009 and 2010. And that alone must trump any embarrassment from his involvement in NFL infamy.

Next: No. 3

• Signed by Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1995


• Member of New York Jets Ring of Honor


• 2005 Ed Block Courage Award recipient


• 152 career games played w/Jets

We’re down to the final three and the last of the four undrafted free agents on this list in longtime Jets great Wayne Chrebet. There may be no player more beloved in Jets history than Chrebet, as his underdog persona resonated with the average fan watching from home.

A local Hofstra product, Chrebet was never given a fair chance to succeed from the get-go, not receiving really any NFL interest to speak of due to his 5-foot-10 stature. After a failed tryout with the Canadian Football League, the New Jersey kid earned a tryout with the Jets who still trained at his former campus in Hofstra at the time.

Despite entering training camp ranked 11th out of 11 receivers on the team’s wide receiver depth chart, Chrebet managed to make the 53-man roster against all odds. From there, Chrebet would only continue to prove his doubters wrong.

The future Hofstra University Athletic Hall of Famer would finish each of his first eight NFL seasons with at least 45 receptions and 600 receiving yards, including a 726-yard rookie campaign. His most productive season came in 1998 when the then-25-year-old hauled in 75 grabs for 1,083 yards and eight touchdowns.

Chrebet became the 14th individual to be entered into the New York Jets Ring of Honor in 2014. Although his No. 80 jersey has not officially been retired, it has not been worn by any member of the team since his retirement.

In many ways, Chrebet revolutionized how the NFL looks at undersized slot receivers. Players such as Wes Welker and Julian Edelman have since enjoyed similar success in recent years, but Chrebet managed to make his mark first.

Chrebet will forever be admired by Jets fans who saw the scrappy underdog develop from an undersized NFL longshot to a legitimate Jets legend. As such, he remains one of the most successful free agent signings in team history.

Next: No. 2

• Signed a five-year, $17 million contract w/Jets in 1998, highest paid center at the time


• 6x Pro Bowl w/Jets (1999-2004)


• Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019


• Member of New York Jets Ring of Honor

Although he was one of the most dominant centers in the NFL for nearly a decade, it seems as if Kevin Mawae has only recently been given the credit he truly deserves. Perhaps taken for granted during his playing career, Mawae’s recent induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame has given fans the opportunity to shed light on what was an incredible career.

While he will be remembered best for his time with the Jets, New York isn’t the place that he first called home in the NFL. Mawae was originally drafted as a second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 1994 and he spent the first few seasons of his career playing at offensive guard.

Mawae was shifted over to the center position and soon signed with the Jets ahead of the 1998 season to a 5-year, $17 million contract, making him the highest paid center at the time. It wasn’t until he joined the Jets that Mawae truly began to flourish as a professional.

The LSU product would serve as the Jets starting center for the better part of the next eight seasons, being named to six Pro Bowls and five First-Team All-Pro honors during his incredible run. Mawae led the way for the Jets’ supreme running game at the time led by the No. 1 entry on our list.

The former Seahawk was not only named to the New York Jets Ring of Honor for his efforts, but was named the starting center of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, securing his spot as the best of his era. Mawae will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest offensive linemen of the 2000s and one of the greatest free agent signings in Jets history.

But he isn’t the best signing.

Next: No. 1

• Signed a six-year, $36 million contract w/Jets in 1998


• Member Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2012


• 2-time First-Team All-Pro w/Jets (2001, 2004)


• New York Jets’ all-time leading rusher (10,302 rushing yards)

Not only is Curtis Martin the greatest free agent signing in Jets history, but he’s one of the greatest players in the entirety of the team’s history. His signing changed the fortunes of the both the Jets and the New England Patriots, the team who Martin had been signed away from. If anything, it added yet another chapter in the storied rivalry between the two franchises.

Martin had quickly established himself as one of the premier running backs in the league with the Patriots, but was set to become a restricted free agent ahead of the 1998 season. Despite the Patriots having little concern that they would lose the Pro Bowl running back, Martin’s agent reached out to the Jets and the two sides agreed to an offer sheet that would make him the highest paid running back in the league at the time.

The Patriots had no choice but to rescind their offer and allow Martin to sign with the Jets, as the team had run into some cap trouble. Although they had to give up first and third-round draft picks, the signing was undoubtedly worth it.

The Jets had just one losing season during Martin’s tenure with the team, as the Pittsburgh product rushed for seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, including an incredible 1,697 yards in 2004, still a franchise record.

Martin is the organization’s all-time leading rusher with over 10,000 rushing yards with the team. His 14,101 career rushing yards ranks fifth all-time in NFL history ahead of NFL greats such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Jerome Bettis and Eric Dickerson.

Martin was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and his No. 28 jersey has been retired by the Jets. He is one of just five players to have his jersey officially retired by the organization.

Given the success he had following his time with the Patriots, it’s fair to assume that New England wishes they made a more concerted effort to keep him. Instead, Martin wound up becoming one of the most successful players in Jets history, running all over the Patriots for almost a decade, a rare victory for the Jets in this typically one-sided rivalry.

After all these years, Martin may very well be the best skill position player the Jets have ever had. He’s undoubtedly one of the most accomplished players to ever wear the green and white.

At the end of the day, Martin is unquestionably the greatest free agent signing in Jets history.