4 former NY Jets who still need a team for the 2022 season

2. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OG, NY Jets

Jets general manager Joe Douglas took advantage of a golden opportunity to add a proven starting guard virtually for free at last year's trade deadline trading for longtime Kansas City Chiefs starter, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.

Eyeing an upgrade at right guard with Greg Van Roten struggling, the Jets shipped backup tight end and special-teamer Daniel Brown to the Chiefs in exchange for a player who had started nearly 60 career games.

It was a move that seemed like a masterstroke at the time, and one that only looked better once Duvernay-Tardif was inserted into the starting lineup.

The 31-year-old went on to start seven games down the stretch, and while he was far from spectacular, he more than held his own as a starter, especially seeing as he hadn't played an NFL game in nearly two years.

Duvernay-Tardif was a legitimate upgrade over Van Roten even if he was still a below-average starter. The trade was made just that much more surreal once Brown rejoined the Jets only a few weeks later after he was released by the Chiefs.

Duvernay-Tardif is a fantastic depth piece for any NFL team and a low-end starting guard who's likely just weighing his options until after the draft.

Perhaps there's even a chance he returns to the Jets — it's something he's spoken about wanting in the past. Bringing him back as an upgrade over Van Roten as the team's top backup guard makes plenty of sense.