NY Jets: 3 players the team might still re-sign in free agency

The NY Jets are experiencing a ton of roster turnover this offseason. But these three players could still re-sign with the team in the coming weeks.

The NY Jets and the rest of the NFL have seen the first wave of free agency come and pass. The initial excitement of the start of the brand new league year has subsided and the league’s transaction log has quieted down.

After two weeks of major trades and huge free-agent splashes, we could all take a breather. But just because the initial excitement has worn off, doesn’t mean that there aren’t still moves to make.

The Jets were relatively quiet in free agency as compared to recent years with no true major free-agent signings. Perhaps their most notable was the signing of center Connor McGovern as the offensive line overhaul was in full swing.

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But the Jets still have some more work to do and while the majority of that work will be done in the 2020 NFL Draft, the team could still explore the free-agent market a little more.

Gang Green brought back a few familiar faces in free agency including the likes of Brian Poole, Alex Lewis, and Jordan Jenkins. But there’s still room for a few more re-signings.

Let’s take a look at three players the Jets will likely consider re-signing in the coming weeks and months.

Next: 3. Rontez Miles

3. Rontez Miles, S

The Jets have one of, if not the best safety duo in the NFL in Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye — they don’t need to be making any acquisitions there. But behind them, the depth is severely lacking.

The team thought they had landed their ideal third safety in former Los Angeles Rams special-teamer Marqui Christian when they reportedly signed him to a one-year, $2 million deal last Thursday.

Unfortunately, the contract was never signed and the deal reportedly fell through.

That leaves the Jets without a surefire, experienced backup to Adams and Maye. At the moment, 28-year-old journeyman Bennett Jackson and CFL signing Anthony Cioffi as the only other safeties on the roster.

Jackson entered the league in 2014, but didn’t record his first tackle until last season. Meanwhile, Cioffi excelled in the CFL but is yet to play in an NFL game. For that reason, don’t be surprised to see the Jets kick the tires on a familiar face in veteran Rontez Miles.

Miles has spent the last seven seasons with the Jets’ organization making him the second-longest-tenured player behind another player on this list. He may be 31-years-old and he may have run into some injury trouble the last two seasons, but his veteran leadership is invaluable.

The Jets love Miles for his leadership qualities and he remains one of the most popular players in the locker room. He might not be the only solution, but he’s certainly a player worth bringing back for cheap.

Expect the Jets to give Miles another look following the fallout of the Marqui Christian mishap.

Next: 2. Demaryius Thomas

2. Demaryius Thomas, WR

The Jets have a serious problem at wide receiver right now and the signing of Breshad Perriman isn’t going to fix things. At the moment, the Jets are slated to have Perriman and Quincy Enunwa as their two starting outside receivers.

And that’s assuming Enunwa, who has missed two of the last three seasons with injury, is cleared for football activities.

Of course, the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft will go a long way towards rebuilding a barren wide receiver core, but they could use some additional depth at the position. And one player that could give them that is veteran Demaryius Thomas.

Thomas was acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots early last season and the four-time Pro Bowler went on to start 10 games for the Jets hauling in 36 catches for 433 yards and a touchdown.

At 32-years-old, Thomas is obviously a shell of his former self. But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t serve as dependable veteran depth at a major position of need.

Quarterback Sam Darnold developed solid chemistry with Thomas last season and given that much of the receiver core is expected to be different next season, it wouldn’t hurt to bring back a familiar face.

Signing him to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract would make a ton of sense as the Jets look to fill their receiver depth chart with reliable targets.

Next: 1. Bilal Powell

1. Bilal Powell, RB

Earlier we mentioned how Rontez Miles was the second-longest-tenured member of the Jets. Here is the longest-tenured player.

Bilal Powell has spent the last nine years playing with the Jets — a truly remarkable feat for any running back. And at age 31, he showed in 2019 that he hasn’t really lost a step.

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Powell remains the model of consistency rushing for 229 yards on 59 carries while serving as Le’Veon Bell‘s primary backup. On top of that, he didn’t fumble a single time — a common trend for a player with just eight fumbles on 850 carries over nine years.

The Jets currently have four running backs on the roster behind Bell, believe it or not, but there’s a good chance that none of them make the team come training camp.

Kenneth Dixon and Jalin Moore are likely just camp bodies and Trenton Cannon is on his last leg. Perhaps Philadelphia Eagles castoff Josh Adams has the best shot at a roster spot, but that’s far from a guarantee.

Head coach Adam Gase loved what Powell brought to the table last year and it would be surprising to see him suit up for another team if the Jets showed interest.

He’ll be 32-years-old in October, but Powell is still an incredibly valuable member of the roster and could serve as either a depth running back option or as Bell’s primary backup.

This one seems obvious, bring Bilal Powell back for a 10th season in green and white and make it a full decade.