Predicting 5 players the NY Jets will sign in 2022 free agency

2. NY Jets target: D.J. Jones, DT

The Jets have interest in retaining Folorunso Fatukasi, but it seems highly likely that he's priced himself out of a return. Fatukasi's large market means the Jets will probably turn elsewhere to address their defensive interior.

One player who makes a ton of sense is D.J. Jones.

Most expected the Jets to raid the San Francisco 49ers of many of their pending free agents last offseason, but a full-on raid never really manifested. That doesn't mean they can't return to that well this offseason, however.

Jones was a Robert Saleh favorite during his time in San Francisco developing from a sixth-round pick into a bonafide starting defensive tackle. And unlike Fatukasi, he has experience playing, and thriving, in an attacking 4-3 defensive scheme.

At 6-foot, 321 pounds, Jones is a big-bodied one-technique defensive tackle who can fill that Fatukasi role in the defense. He's coming off a 2021 season where he finished with a 73.7 Pro Football Focus grade that ranked 18th out of all interior defensive linemen.

He's a plus run-defender who offers significantly more pass rush upside than Fatukasi does. His experience with Saleh only makes the move that much more likely.

D.J. Jones feels destined to be a top target of the Jets this offseason.