5 NY Jets free agent targets the team should prioritize

The NY Jets have mostly steered clear of the high-profile free agent signings this offseason. Aside from the addition of wide receiver Allen Lazard, the Jets have almost exclusively signed depth players to short-term deals.

Part of that has been due to the Jets' tight cap situation, partially spurred on by the pending Aaron Rodgers trade. Players like Corey Davis and Carl Lawson remain on the roster at their current cap hits, even though both seem unlikely to play at that price tag in 2023.

The Jets don't have a ton of cap space at the moment, but they have more than enough financial flexibility to make a few moves. That's evident in their pursuit of players like Orlando Brown Jr., Fletcher Cox, and Jake Brendel.

The Jets are trying to land bigger names, but they haven't been able to yet. With that in mind, here are five remaining free agents the Jets should prioritize as we enter the third week of free agency.

5. NY Jets target: John Johnson III, S

The Jets may have traded for Chuck Clark in an excellent value swap earlier this month, but they shouldn't be done adding to the safety position yet. The duo of Clark and Jordan Whitehead isn't a particularly inspiring safety tandem.

Both players occupy the same role, leaving the Jets without a true replacement for Lamarcus Joyner. Barring a Kevin Byard trade, the best option remaining on the open market could be John Johnson III.

Johnson was released in a cap-saving move earlier in March, and the former Los Angeles Rams third-round pick could be an excellent addition in the latter stages of free agency.

He's coming off a down year, but Johnson earned a Pro Football Focus grade north of 81.0 in three out of four seasons between 2017 and 2020. Johnson is a natural free safety who, along with Clark, could provide a significant upgrade over the safety duo the Jets had last year.