New York Jets should pursue Vic Beasley in free agency

The New York Jets have been searching for an edge rusher for years and former top draft pick Vic Beasley could be the answer to their pass rush woes.

Another season down, another season without a competent edge rusher. This has been a lingering problem for the New York Jets since the team traded John Abraham way back in 2006.

You may remember a piece about investing in the offensive line being the proper way to go in free agency. This still holds true, but with just about $50 million in cap space to play with (as of the time of writing), the Jets do not have to be beholden solely to the trenches.

A potential remedy to this issue is currently in Atlanta (but not for much longer). Pass rusher Vic Beasley has played his final down for the Atlanta Falcons, as the team has decided not to pursue negotiations with him as he enters free agency.

One of the reasons Beasley likely fell out of favor in Atlanta was after the Falcons picked up his fifth-year option, he did not work with Dan Quinn as many expected him to do that offseason. “…His decision to work away from the team didn’t seem to sit well with the organization.”

The 27-year-old would still be a solid contributor in spite of not putting together a season as he had in 2016 when he posted a career-high Pro Football Focus grade of 76.8.

That season he amassed 16 sacks and six forced fumbles. If the Jets sign Beasley and find a competent edge rusher in the mid-rounds, it would go a long way to solving the most glaring hole on the team’s defense in quite some time.

For his position, safety Jamal Adams was a sack artist last year. He came 1.5 sacks away from tying Adrian Wilson‘s record for most sacks in a season by a defensive back set at eight back in 2005.

To have one of the elite safeties in the league put up production the way he has in sacks is a tremendous luxury, but not one that the team should have to be reliant on to be successful.

Shoring up the pass rush will allow Adams to focus on doing what he does best deep down the field. Additionally, it may even open things up in the backfield for him to make a number of plays. When Adams does get in the backfield for a sack, it will certainly be a treat.

Vic Beasley could be a huge contributor to the team in 2020. It seems as if there have been a number of offseasons where fans are looking forward to when the team has an insane amount of money to spend only to be let down by the return on investment.

Investing in the edge rusher position with Beasley would go a long way to devoting valuable draft capital to helping surround quarterback Sam Darnold with young players he can grow with.