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

1. NY Jets target: Carlton Davis, CB

If the Jets don't make a splash at the safety position, it's probably because they went all-in on one of the top cornerbacks on the market. And of those top cornerbacks, no player feels more likely to be a Jets target than Carlton Davis.

A second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2018 NFL Draft, Davis has been a plus-starter in Tampa really since he entered the league. He's started 50 games over the last four seasons quickly earning a reputation as one of the NFC's best cornerbacks.

The Bucs obviously wanted to keep Davis in Tampa Bay, but the team decided to place the franchise tag on wide receiver Chris Godwin instead, allowing their young star cornerback to test free agency.

At just 25-years-old, expect Davis to have a very large market. Davis leads the NFL with 49 passes defended since 2019 despite the fact that he's missed 11 games over that timespan.

He has excellent ball skills, is an aggressive cornerback who — despite a reputation as a physical man-cover cornerback — has thrived in zone coverage, and is someone who only turned 25-years-old less than three months ago.

The Jets appear likely to steer clear of J.C. Jackson's market. Jackson might be the top available free agent at any position this offseason, but he'll come at a very steep price and isn't a great fit for the Jets' zone-heavy scheme.

Davis, on the other hand, will be slightly cheaper (although still expensive) and fits what the Jets are looking for on defense.

If you're banking on the Jets making one major splash in free agency, put your money on Carlton Davis.