5 NY Jets free agent targets the team should prioritize

2. NY Jets target: Ben Jones, C

General manager Joe Douglas has insisted on making the offensive line a point of emphasis since he arrived in Florham Park. Despite this, the Jets' offensive line still has some noticeable holes.

The most prominent of those holes is currently at the center position. The Jets signed veterans Wes Schweitzer and Trystan Colon in free agency, but neither projects as a viable starting option in 2023.

Connor McGovern remains a free agent, but the Jets showed more interest in players like Jake Brendel and Graham Glasgow before both were signed. The Jets need a center, and there's one name on the market that would provide them with a sizable upgrade.

Longtime Tennessee Titans center Ben Jones was a surprising cap casualty this month, and he remains the top center on the open market. The 33-year-old has long been one of the most unheralded offensive linemen in football, and it was long overdue when he was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2022.

Jones has been the model of durability and consistency throughout his career as, before missing five games in 2022 due to a concussion, Jones had missed just one game in his prior 10 seasons in the NFL.

He also has ties to new Jets offensive line coach Keith Carter dating back to their time together in Tennessee. The Jets have reportedly expressed interest in signing Jones, although the exact level of interest is unclear.

The 2023 NFL Draft presents the Jets with a different avenue to address the center position, but they aren't going to find a better short-term option than Jones. He should be a priority for the team.