The Jets may have upgraded on John Simpson for half the price

The New York Jets parted ways with veteran guard John Simpson this offseason, as the former Raiders draft pick was handed a three-year, $30 million contract with $17.5 million guaranteed by the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.

Simpson was a reliable starter for the Jets over the last two seasons, but his play declined in 2025, and the team decided it was best to go in another direction. It was a risky decision, especially given how expensive the offensive guard market had gotten around the league.

But Jets general manager Darren Mougey may have struck gold with Simpson's replacement.

Day 29 of your Jets Camp Countdown belongs to the Menace from Memphis, the Parhamedic, I Beg Your Parham, and perhaps the best value addition on the Jets' roster...it's Dylan Parham.

The Jets signed Parham to a two-year deal worth $16 million, with less than half the guaranteed money Simpson received. The move didn't generate much attention at the time, but it has a chance to become one of the best pieces of business the organization completed all offseason.

1. Where Dylan Parham stands entering Jets training camp
2. Dylan Parham was the Jets' best value signing of the offseason
3. What would make 2026 a success for Dylan Parham
4. Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

Where Dylan Parham stands entering Jets training camp

Parham enters training camp as the projected starting left guard, stepping into the spot Simpson occupied over the last two seasons. The Memphis product started all four years in Las Vegas, proving to be one of the team's most promising young offensive linemen.

He arrives in Florham Park with 61 career starts under his belt and won't turn 27 until next year. That's what makes it all the more surprising that the Jets were able to sign him to a deal with just $7.5 million in guarantees.

The Jets spent much of the offseason focusing on retaining and extending their young core. Parham fits well into that timeline. He's young enough to remain part of the team's plans beyond 2026 while bringing the experience of a veteran starter.

Most of the attention on the offensive line naturally falls on the likes of Armand Membou, Olu Fashanu, and Joe Tippmann, but Parham has a chance to become an important part of that conversation.

Dylan Parham was the Jets' best value signing of the offseason

The contract comparison alone should be enough to raise eyebrows. Simpson received three years and $30 million with $17.5 million guaranteed. Parham signed for two years and $16 million with just $7.5 million guaranteed.

Parham is younger and has almost inarguably been better than Simpson throughout their respective careers. His 2024 season still stands out as the best year of his NFL career.

The former third-round pick posted a 74.3 Pro Football Focus grade in 2024, ranking among the top 10 qualified right guards in football. He moved to left guard last season and saw that grade dip to 63.6, but that still ranked 14th among qualified players at the position. Simpson finished 20th among left guards.

Of course, he was also forced to deal with a disastrous situation in Las Vegas. The entirety of the Raiders' offensive line regressed in 2025 due in large part to abysmal offensive coaching (ask any Raiders fan about Brennan Carroll), a toxic environment, and poor quarterback play.

Now, we don't have to talk about who said quarterback was if we don't want to.

Through all of that, Parham remained arguably his team's best lineman. He was the only Raiders offensive lineman who played at least 500 snaps and was still ranked inside the top 16 at his position by PFF.

The Jets aren't exactly banking on untapped potential here. They've signed a player who has already shown he can perform at an above-average level in the NFL.

What would make 2026 a success for Dylan Parham

The Jets are hoping that Parham can continue to provide average-to-above-average-caliber guard play in New York, which is what he's done for most of his career to this point.

One area where Parham should immediately help is discipline. He committed just eight penalties over the last two seasons combined and has never been flagged more than five times in a single year. Simpson committed 11 penalties by himself last season.

Parham also brings rare athleticism for a player his size. At the NFL Combine back in 2022, he ran a blazing 4.93 forty-yard dash at 311 pounds and posted a 1.66-second 10-yard split. For comparison, Jets rookie edge rusher David Bailey recorded a 1.62-second split despite weighing roughly 50 pounds less.

Those movement skills helped Parham overcome concerns about his size when he entered the league. He's since added over 20 pounds without sacrificing the athletic traits that made him such an intriguing prospect.

Two years ago, the Jets found tremendous value when they signed another former Raiders mid-round pick in John Simpson. This front office believes it has found similar value in his replacement.

If Dylan Parham plays the way he did in 2024, the Jets will not only replace Simpson, but they could end up upgrading the position while spending significantly less money. This might be my personal favorite Jets signing of the offseason.

Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

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