New York Jets: Eric Berry would be perfect complement to Jamal Adams

The New York Jets desperately need a complement to Jamal Adams at safety. Here’s why Eric Berry would be a perfect fit on the green and white.

The New York Jets are in the midst of training camp and Marcus Maye is still on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.

Earlier this week Jets head coach Adam Gase revealed that Maye is dealing with a “nerve issue” from his shoulder surgery which makes his immediate future murky with the green and white.

With uncertainty at the safety position, the New York Jets need someone to complement their rising star in Jamal Adams.

Fortunately for the New York Jets, there’s the perfect answer to their problems still sitting in free agency: Eric Berry.

The 5-time pro-bowl safety was cut by Kansas City back in March after coming off a season where he only played two games in the 2018 regular season due to an Achilles injury. The reason he’s still a free agent in August is because of his inability to stay on the football field. Over the last two seasons, Berry has only suited up for three games.

Despite his inability to stay on the field recently, Eric Berry, 31, was named first-team all-pro in 2013, 2015, and 2016.

If Berry can stay on the field he can be the second-best player in the Jets secondary. The Jets defense struggled last year especially in the secondary. Under head coach Todd Bowles, the Jets were the 25th ranked defense in 2018 and gave up over 6,000 yards of offense.

Eric Berry would fit well in Gregg Williams’ defensive scheme. Eric Berry is a safety who can do it all: he’s great in coverage downfield and is physical in the box.

Gregg Williams is known for his aggressive defensive play-calling and he loves to blitz with the DB’s.

Berry is one of those safeties on a very short list who can both line up in the box and blitz and can also, play deep in coverage and go one on one with the tight end.

Jamal Adams and Eric Berry would go together like salt and pepper. Considering the lack of depth at corner for the Jets, having two above-average safeties could help mask those deficiencies. The Jets have the ninth most cap space ($22.4 million) in the NFL according to Over the Cap.