6 free agents who could follow Nathaniel Hackett to the NY Jets

The NFL is very much a "who you know" league. Coaches hire coaches they're familiar with and bring in players they have experience with. The NY Jets are proof of that.

Nearly the entirety of head coach Robert Saleh's staff consists of coaches he has prior experience working alongside. From Jeff Ulbrich to Nathaniel Hackett to Ron Middleton to Taylor Embree, Saleh's staff is a who's-who of his former and present-day colleagues.

This is commonplace throughout the NFL — it's hardly just exclusive to Saleh and the Jets. One look at the team's roster provides further proof of this philosophy.

The likes of D.J. Reed, Solomon Thomas, Marcell Harris, Vinny Curry, Nate Herbig, Kwon Alexander, etc. all have ties to the Jets' regime in some way. It's not uncommon for new coaches to lure former players over to their new jobs.

Saleh did this when he was first hired, signing running back Tevin Coleman, while showing interest in a number of other former San Francisco 49ers players. The additions of Reed, Thomas, Harris, and Alexander came the following year.

That's why it's worth considering which former players new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett could look to bring with him to the Jets. Hackett is an interesting case too, seeing as he's recently spent time with both the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers.

Much like Saleh, the former Packers offensive coordinator has been revered as a player's coach and is beloved by nearly everyone he has worked with. Perhaps that will work in the Jets' favor.

We're only talking about free agents for this list, so guys like Aaron Rodgers won't be included. Let's take a look at six pending free agents who could follow Hackett to the Jets.

6. NY Jets target: Darius Phillips, CB/KR

Darius Phillips spent the 2022 season working under Hackett while with the Broncos. The former fifth-round pick spent the first four years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals where he maximized his opportunities.

Phillips appeared in 12 games in 2020, starting eight, and actually finished as Pro Football Focus' No. 18 ranked cornerback in the NFL that year. Despite this, additions to the Bengals' secondary, combined with his own injury troubles, reverted him to a reserve role the following season.

That's essentially the role he played with the Broncos this season. Phillips was a core special teamer before his season was, once again, cut short due to injury.

Phillips has experience as a kick and punt returner which could come in handy if the Jets part ways with Braxton Berrios this offseason. His experience with Hackett is a bonus.

5. NY Jets target: Andrew Beck, FB

It's been a while since the Jets have regularly used a fullback in their offense, but Hackett utilized the position quite a bit during his time in Green Bay, with the likes of Danny Vitale and Josiah Deguara both filling the role.

Once Hackett got to Denver, he transitioned backup tight end Andrew Beck to a role as a full-time fullback. With Beck set to be a free agent this offseason, perhaps he could follow Hackett to his next destination.

The former undrafted free agent would hardly be a high-profile addition, and he would most likely compete for a roster spot, but if Hackett wants a tight end on the Jets' roster in 2023, Beck makes sense.

Hackett could lean on someone like Jeremy Ruckert to fill that role, but the Jets might want to see more of Ruckert as a traditional in-line tight end next season. Beck could be a target for that reason.

4. NY Jets target: Billy Turner, OT

No player in the NFL has spent more time with Nathaniel Hackett over the last four years than Billy Turner. Turner signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Packers in 2019, joining Hackett for his first year in Green Bay.

The two would spend three years together in Green Bay before Hackett left to become the head coach in Denver. Following Turner's release from the Packers, he quickly reunited with Hackett in Denver and started seven games in an injury-riddled campaign.

Turner is a quality swing tackle with experience playing every position on the offensive line except center. He started 61 games over the last five seasons and would be excellent offensive line depth for the Jets.

Perhaps the trend continues and Turner joins Hackett in Florham Park.

3. NY Jets target: Dalton Risner, OG/C

If the Jets are looking for more of a starting-caliber offensive lineman in free agency, look no further than Dalton Risner. Risner has spent the last four seasons as the Broncos' starting left guard.

He was one of the only pieces of stability and continuity along the Broncos' offensive line this past season, starting 15 games and playing at a pretty high level, despite injuries around him.

What makes Risner even more appealing is that he has experience playing center, dating back to his days in college. He was initially seen, by many, as a center prospect before the Broncos moved him to guard.

Connor McGovern is set to be a free agent and the Jets could consider moving Alijah Vera-Tucker to right tackle which would leave an opening at right guard. Risner could feasibly fill either one of those holes.

2. NY Jets target: Randall Cobb, WR

Now, we get into the Packers players. If Aaron Rodgers is on the move this offseason, it would make sense if his favorite targets from Green Bay looked to follow him to his new home. Perhaps that could be the Jets.

No current NFL player has been thrown more passes over a longer period of time than Randall Cobb. Cobb has spent 10 of the last 12 years catching passes from Rodgers, and he's still a quality rotational piece at age 32.

Cobb is hardly the player he used to be, but 62 catches for 792 yards and six touchdowns over the last two years suggest he can still have a role in an offense.

Even if the Jets don't get Rodgers, it would make sense for Cobb to reunite with his former offensive coordinator in New York. Don't be surprised if this reunion happens, especially if the Jets trade for Rodgers.

1. NY Jets target: Allen Lazard, WR

Even aside from the Hackett/Rodgers connections, Allen Lazard makes a ton of sense as a free-agent target for the Jets this offseason. Lazard figures to be one of the top names in a relatively weak crop of free-agent wide receivers.

The former undrafted free agent has developed into a very capable starting-caliber wide receiver for the Packers, and while he may not be a true No. 1 as he was this past season, you could do a lot worse than Lazard as your second or third option.

Lazard would be an ideal replacement for Corey Davis if the Jets do decide to cut ties with him this offseason, as they are expected to do. He's a big-bodied, physical X receiver who also doubles as one of the best run-blockers in football.

Lazard has also been more durable than Davis, having appeared in 15 or more games in three of the last four seasons. The Hackett connection makes sense. The Rodgers connection would add another layer of experience.

But more than anything, Lazard is a fit for what the Jets are looking for in the wide receiver market. He should be the team's Corey Davis replacement.