Latest NY Jets free-agent signing has fans scratching their heads

The New York Jets made a few notable splashes on the first day of free agency, landing quarterback Justin Fields, cornerback Brandon Stephens, and safety Andre Cisco. But by Tuesday, the organization went silent and didn't make a single signing.

That changed on Wednesday when the team reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former Tennessee Titans edge rusher Rashad Weaver. Weaver is the Jets' first reported signing since Monday, but it's not exactly one fans were expecting.

The Jets do need to bolster their defensive line and add depth to an edge-rush room that was among the worst in the NFL last season. The issue is that Weaver is a very confusing signing at this stage of free agency.

Teams usually use the first few days of free agency to sign notable starters and important depth pieces — not practice squad players fighting for roster spots. The Jets seem to have taken a different approach.

Who is new Jets DE Rashad Weaver?

A fourth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in the 2021 NFL Draft, Weaver suffered a broken fibula and appeared in just two games as a rookie. He returned and showed plenty of promise in 2022, racking up 5.5 sacks in 16 games.

Unfortunately, that would prove to be the peak of his career to this point. Weaver saw his role diminish significantly in 2023, playing just 24 percent of defensive snaps and failing to record a single sack. He managed just seven pressures and was a major liability in run defense, missing 20 percent of his tackle attempts.

The former fourth-round pick was waived by the Titans this past August and signed to the Houston Texans practice squad. He'd go on to appear in three games for the Texans, recording no stats, before he was released again and signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad, where he spent the rest of the year.

A Titans source I spoke to also explained how Weaver "occasionally rubbed coaches the wrong way," which likely contributed to his premature departure.

Weaver is likely little more than a minimum-contract flier at this stage. The former Pittsburgh standout will probably compete for a roster spot this summer in a new-look Jets defensive line room.

It’s not necessarily a bad signing — there’s no reason to get worked up over a low-risk addition like this. But the timing is what has fans scratching their heads in confusion.

Perhaps the Jets can unlock the potential Weaver showed in 2022, or perhaps he won't even make the 53-man roster. Either way, it's a low-cost, low-risk signing that doesn't change much about the Jets' offseason plans.

Latest NY Jets free-agent signing has fans scratching their heads

Who is new Jets DE Rashad Weaver?

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