7 cheap and realistic free-agent targets for NY Jets this offseason

4. The NY Jets could sign S Darnell Savage

• Contract Projection: 2 years, $10 million ($6 million guaranteed)

If the Jets are looking for a younger, inexpensive safety target, former Packers first-round pick Darnell Savage makes a great deal of sense. Yes, Savage is another former Packers player, but the logic here extends well beyond whatever connection he might have to Aaron Rodgers.

Savage rebounded nicely in 2023 following a shaky first few years in Green Bay. The Maryland product finished with a career-best 75.5 PFF grade, which ranked 15th among 95 qualified safeties.

It was a significant step in the right direction for a player who had been declared a bust prior to that season. Savage showcased excellent coverage and ball skills, and he now hits the open market coming off his best season as a pro.

Even ignoring any potential ties to Rodgers, Savage is a young, high-upside, low-cost free-agent target who would improve the Jets' safety room.

3. The NY Jets could sign TE Marcedes Lewis

• Contract Projection: N/A (likely veteran's minimum)

One final Aaron Rodgers connection is veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis. It's easy to scoff at the idea of adding a soon-to-be 40-year-old tight end in free agency, but Lewis is genuinely still an effective player.

The 18-year NFL veteran has showcased remarkable durability, appearing in 15+ games in every season since 2017. In his nearly two decades in the NFL, Lewis has only played fewer than 15 games in three seasons.

It's not just durability that makes him appealing, either. Lewis is still one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, registering a 73.7 PFF run-block grade in 2023 that ranked third among all tight ends with at least 250 run-block snaps.

The Jets could be in the market for a new TE3 following C.J. Uzomah's release. Lewis should be available for the veteran's minimum, is a reliable and consistent offensive contributor, and is well-known to be buddies with Rodgers. It almost makes too much sense.