5 NY Jets free agent targets the team should prioritize

1. NY Jets target: Calais Campbell, DL

The Jets said goodbye to the likes of Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd in free agency this offseason, leaving a gaping hole at the defensive tackle position that the re-signed Solomon Thomas can't exactly fill.

Aside from Quinnen Williams, the only other defensive tackles on the roster are the aforementioned Thomas, Tanzel Smart, and waiver-wire pickup Isaiah Mack. That's it. That's all the Jets have at the position.

There are a few intriguing defensive tackles still on the open market — players like Poona Ford and Matt Ioannidis come to mind. But none would be a more impactful addition than Calais Campbell.

The six-time Pro Bowler and potential future Hall of Famer is set to visit with the Jets this week, although they aren't the only team he's meeting with. Campbell reportedly already met with the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars and has a meeting lined up with the Buffalo Bills.

There is no shortage of competition for a player who, even at 36 years old, remains one of the better interior defensive linemen in football. Campbell is one sack shy of 100 in his career and has been ranked by PFF inside the top 15 interior defenders in the NFL in each of the last two seasons.

Campbell is still playing at a very high level and fills a major need for the Jets. Not only that, but signing him would prevent the Jets' division rivals, the Bills, from adding him to their shaky front seven.

The Jets need a starting center. They can really use some safety help. But the biggest priority for the team in free agency right now should be signing Calais Campbell.