4 positions the NY Jets could still upgrade in free agency

3. The NY Jets could upgrade offensive tackle

The Jets aren't going to be looking for a player who can step in as a starter at offensive tackle. The hope is that George Fant and Mekhi Becton will help hold down the fort at one of the sport's most important positions.

There are some concerns with that, however.

The primary concern, of course, centers around the health and availability of Becton, who has made plenty of headlines over the last 12 months. It's hard to know what to expect from the former first-round pick.

Becton is still recovering from a significant knee injury and has faced criticism for his worth ethic and commitment in recent months. The Jets' reported "frustration" with Becton doesn't help his case either.

It would be foolish to expect Becton to play a full 17 games in 2022, and it's not like Fant is a guarantee either. The soon-to-be 30-year-old is coming off a statistical outlier of a season in which he was legitimately one of the best pass-blocking left tackles in the NFL.

On top of that, Fant is recovering from offseason knee surgery and it's unclear what his recovery timetable looks like. All of this is happening while the Jets have lackluster tackle depth with Conor McDermott, Chuma Edoga, and rookie Max Mitchell next in line to start.

The Jets have been connected to veteran Riley Reiff over the last few months, and they'd be wise to bring him in on a permanent basis. Tackle depth is crucial, especially given the Jets' situation.