5 NY Jets players who shouldn't be back in 2023

3. George Fant, OT, NY Jets

The 2022 season was a disaster for George Fant. The veteran offensive tackle was coming off a career year in 2021 that saw him finish as one of the best pass-blocking left tackles in the NFL.

There were discussions surrounding possible extension talks between the Jets and Fant, and it seemed as though the team had found their short-term left tackle answer.

Fant underwent offseason knee surgery to repair an injury he played through the previous year, and that surgery would prove to be the beginning of the end for him in New York.

Fant missed most of the summer but was able to return in time to start Week 1. That came after weeks of the 30-year-old lineman flipping back and forth between left and right tackle due to an injury to Mekhi Becton and the addition of Duane Brown.

The Jets started Fant at left tackle in Week 1 with Brown sidelined by a shoulder injury, and he remained in that role for the first three weeks of the season. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that Fant wasn't fully healthy.

Fant was placed on the injured reserve shortly after, and upon his return in Week 13, he was moved back to right tackle. He didn't fare much better at right tackle, even after he was given time to rest.

In total, Fant started seven games for the Jets in 2022, and his woeful 48.4 Pro Football Focus grade ranked 79th out of 84 qualified tackles. It's clear that Fant wasn't healthy this season, and the constant position switching certainly didn't help either.

The Jets will be making some changes to their offensive line this offseason. Expect one of them to be letting Fant walk in free agency.