NY Jets are in ‘hot pursuit’ of OT Jack Conklin at NFL Combine

The NY Jets are in ‘hot pursuit’ of offensive tackle Jack Conklin at the NFL Combine. Here are all the details and how much it could cost.

When NY Jets general manager Joe Douglas said he would make the offensive line a priority moving forward, apparently he wasn’t kidding.

The latest rumors at the NFL Combine suggest the team is in “hot pursuit” of offensive tackle Jack Conklin, per Tony Pauline of the Pro Football Network.

Conklin is considered one of the top options ahead of free agency in 2020 on the offensive line and isn’t expected to re-sign with the Tennessee Titans.

Jack Conklin is 25 years old (will be 26 by the start of the 2020 season) and is coming off of a career year in 2019. In four seasons with the Titans, Jack has started 57 out of 64 possible games.

The Titans took a risk by not exercising his fifth-year option prior to the 2019 season and it didn’t pay off for Tennessee. Now Conklin is expected to find a long-term deal on the open market to make him one of the highest-paid right tackles in all of football.

Per Spotrac, his “market value” projects he’ll receive a six-year deal for over $90 million which averages out to $15 million per season. That would make him the third highest-paid right tackle in the NFL only behind Lane Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles) and Trent Brown (Las Vegas Raiders).

This would immediately plug the gaping hole at right tackle on the roster for the NY Jets. Brandon Shell and Chuma Edoga held down the role last year. Shell is a goner in free agency and Edoga, in theory, could be a nice swing tackle option from the bench or worst case could slide in at guard for Gang Green in 2020.

Also, it’s worth noting if the NY Jets swing and miss on Conklin that Tony Pauline also revealed what Joe Douglas’ plan B would be:

“If the Jets don’t land Conklin, their back-up plan could include Halapoulivaati Vaitai of the Philadelphia Eagles, who general manager Joe Douglas is familiar with. Vaitai is a versatile offensive lineman that’s played several positions for the Eagles and as someone from the organization told me he can be a “solid starting right or left tackle” in the NFL.”