NY Jets expected to be ‘much more aggressive’ in free agency this year

NY Jets‘ general manager Joe Douglas was understandably cautious in his first offseason with the organization a year ago. Playing it relatively safe with a weak crop of free agents, Douglas didn’t target many of the top names on the market.

But this time around, things are expected to be very different.

Douglas and the Jets are expected to be “much more aggressive” in free agency this offseason. At least that’s the sentiment shared by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo who joined WFAN’s Moose & Maggie on Tuesday to discuss the Jets’ free-agent plans.

Garafolo insisted that Douglas is “going to open up the checkbook in free agency” and that he expects the Jets to target some of the premier players on the market.

One player he specifically mentioned by name was Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley who he believes the Jets will “have significant interest in.”

The NY Jets will be more aggressive in free agency

Sitting on over $75 million in cap space at the moment, the Jets have the financial flexibility to do some serious damage this offseason. Especially given the fact that financial flexibility is at a premium this year.

With the NFL salary cap expected to shrink for only the second time in league history, more than half the league finds itself in a tricky cap situation. The Jets are one of the few teams that could take advantage of this unorthodox free-agent market.

The likes of Joe Thuney, Kenny Golladay, and others are already expected to hit the market in what promises to be a star-studded free agency period.

Throw in others such as Trey Hendrickson, Bud Dupree, Corey Linsley, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and possibly even Shaquil Barrett and you have one of the most stacked free-agent classes in recent memory.

With holes all over the Jets’ roster, it comes as no surprise to hear that Douglas will be more active in free agency this year. Even if his preferred method is to build through the draft, this is an opportunity he can’t pass up.

Garafolo said that he expects the Jets to address the offensive line as well as sign a pass-rusher and wide receiver in free agency. Given that those are three of the biggest holes on the roster, this comes as no surprise.

The Jets aren’t going to settle for one-year, cheap deals this offseason. Instead, expect Douglas and the Jets to be active and aggressive in pursuit of an upgraded roster.