5 former NY Jets we’d like to see return in 2024

2. The NY Jets could sign Sheldon Rankins

Sheldon Rankins left the Jets last offseason to sign a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Houston Texans. Rankins had been a rock-solid defensive contributor over the last two seasons, but the Jets were never going to compete with that offer.

The former Saints first-round pick was excellent in his lone season with the Texans, racking up six sacks and 42 pressures — the most since his breakout 2018 season in New Orleans.

Rankins is once again set to be a free agent this offseason, and with the Jets potentially in the market for defensive tackle depth, a reunion makes plenty of sense for both sides.

Quinton Jefferson and Solomon Thomas are both free agents for the Jets. If Rankins' price tag is reasonable, a return to New York could be the ideal landing spot for the eight-year pro.

1. The NY Jets could sign George Fant

Another Texans free agent who could make his way back to the Jets this offseason is George Fant. Fant similarly signed a one-year deal with the Texans last offseason, and he went on to start 13 games for the team in 2023.

Primarily playing right tackle, Fant finished the year with a very respectable PFF pass-block grade of 68.4, which ranked 34th among 81 qualified offensive tackles. He was still an average starting-caliber player.

The Jets enter the offseason with just two locked-in starters on their offensive line and zero definitive tackles at the moment. Fant may not be one of the top players on the market, but he would represent an upgrade.

The former undrafted free agent started 36 games over three years with the Jets and was genuinely a very good left tackle in 2021. Re-signing Fant on an affordable, short-term contract is one low-budget way to upgrade the offensive line this offseason.