7 free agents who could reunite with Robert Saleh on the NY Jets

When the NY Jets hired Robert Saleh to be their new head coach two years ago, the expectation was that the former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator would bring over some of the players he coached at his old job.

After all, this is the NFL — it's a connections business. That's pretty much what happened as Saleh would reunite with the likes of Laken Tomlinson, D.J. Reed, Kwon Alexander, Solomon Thomas, Tevin Coleman, Marcell Harris, and others in New York.

Not all of those players were signed in year one, however. Saleh could still look to dip back into the ex-49ers player pool this offseason as he looks to plug further holes on the Jets' roster.

Let's take a look at seven soon-to-be free agents who could reunite with Robert Saleh on the Jets.

7. NY Jets target: Tarvarius Moore, S

The Jets will be looking to make some changes to their safety room this offseason with Lamarcus Joyner set to hit free agency. The team could also move on from players like Jordan Whitehead or even Ashtyn Davis to save some money.

49ers defensive back Tarvarius Moore wouldn't solve the Jets' safety concerns, but he could be a solid depth addition who could double as a core special-teamer. That's the role Moore has played in San Francisco over the last five seasons.

A former third-round pick, Moore has started 13 games in the NFL, with eight of those coming in 2020. An Achilles tear wiped out his 2021 season, but Moore returned in 2022 and played a rotational role on defense and was a regular on special teams.

This would be similar to the addition of Marcell Harris last offseason. A former 49ers draft pick who could come and compete for a roster spot while working under his former defensive coordinator.

6. NY Jets target: Kerry Hyder, DE

If there's one thing that Robert Saleh loves, it's defensive line depth. The Jets already reunited Saleh with one former 49ers defensive lineman in Solomon Thomas last offseason. Perhaps they bring in another this year.

Kerry Hyder was actually originally signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent back in 2014, but it was in Detroit that he first made a name for himself. That said, his best season didn't come until he joined Saleh and the 49ers in 2020.

Hyder finished that year with a career-high 8.5 sacks as a key part of the 49ers' dominant defensive line rotation. Unfortunately, he's managed just 2.5 total sacks in 31 games since then.

Saleh was a big supporter of Hyder during his time with the 49ers, and it would make sense for the two to reunite and try and recapture that spark in New York.

5. NY Jets target: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB

Robert Saleh and converting college safeties to NFL linebackers: name a better duo. Yes, Jamien Sherwood and Hamsah Nasirildeen weren't the first two former safeties to make the switch to linebacker under Saleh's watch.

Former undrafted free agent Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles underwent a similar transformation while working under Saleh in San Francisco. After spending his rookie season transitioning on the practice squad, Flannigan-Fowles made the team's Week 1 roster in 2020.

He's gone on to appear in all 34 games over the last two seasons, and while his defensive snaps have been rather limited (305 in three years), he's maintained a regular presence on special teams.

If Tarvarius Moore wouldn't be the Marcell Harris signing of this offseason, Demetrius Flanningan-Fowles would. He makes a ton of sense for the Jets.

4. NY Jets target: Mike McGlinchey, OT

Now, we get into the players who could legitimately fill important holes on the Jets' roster. Mike McGlinchey remains one of the most contentious players on the 49ers' roster.

The former ninth-overall pick hasn't quite lived up to his pre-draft expectations, which has opened the door to constant criticism, but he's still an average-to-above-average starting right tackle.

McGlinchey has finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 69.0 or higher in every year of his career and has ranked inside the top 25 of tackles in the NFL twice. He's never ranked higher than 19th, but he's also never finished ranked lower than 43rd.

McGlinchey's biggest flaw is his relative lack of athleticism, which is a drawback that limits his effectiveness against more athletic pass rushers. Still, he's a rock-solid starting tackle who is probably a better run blocker than a pass blocker at this stage.

If the Jets are looking to secure a big-name tackle in free agency, McGlinchey will likely be one of their top options.

3. NY Jets target: Daniel Brunskill, OL

You aren't going to find many more versatile offensive linemen in the NFL than Daniel Brunskill. The former undrafted free agent has seen substantial time at all five offensive line spots during the course of his four-year NFL career.

He's started 42 games over the last four seasons, including all 17 games at right guard in 2021 and all 16 games split between right guard and center the previous year. He's also started games at left and right tackle as well as left guard.

Brunskill can legitimately do it all, and that versatility might make him super valuable on the open market, even if he's never going to be an All-Pro offensive lineman.

The Jets need to make some additions to their offensive line room this offseason, and Brunskill can provide depth at all five spots. If the 49ers don't re-sign him, the Jets make sense as a landing spot.

2. NY Jets target: Azeez Al-Shaair, LB

The 49ers had the best linebacker room in the NFL in 2022, and while much of the attention goes to Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair is an often-overlooked member of San Francisco's excellent linebacker corps.

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Al-Shaair started nine games over the first two years of his career but was mostly seen on special teams. That changed in 2021 when Al-Shaair filled in for the injured Greenlaw.

Al-Shaair would start 13 games that season, proving to be a more-than-capable NFL linebacker. His snap share decreased significantly in 2022, but he still played over 40 percent of snaps in games he appeared in, filling a role as the 49ers' third linebacker in their base 4-3.

In fact, Al-Shaair was even better this past season, finishing with a PFF grade of 74.4 that ranked 18th out of all qualified linebackers. His 82.1 run-defense grade was top-10 at the position.

With Warner and Greenlaw locked into big-money extensions, the 49ers probably don't have room to pay for Al-Shaair. The Jets should make an effort to sign him as he would likely be an upgrade over the likes of Kwon Alexander and Quincy Williams.

1. NY Jets target: Jimmie Ward, S

Even ignoring the Saleh/49ers connection for a moment, Jimmie Ward is one of my favorite Jets free-agent targets this offseason. The Jets need to add a rangy free safety to (likely) pair with Jordan Whitehead, and Ward can be that guy.

The versatile Ward is a former nickel cornerback who has thrived mostly as a full-time safety in San Francisco (although he played some nickel again this season). His 80.6 PFF grade in 2022 ranked sixth among all safeties in the NFL, and he hasn't ranked outside of the top-16 since 2018.

When healthy, Ward has been one of the most underrated safeties in football. That said, health has been a bit of a concern for the longtime 49ers defensive back.

Ward has played every game in a season just once in nine years in the NFL. While his injury issues haven't been as prevalent in recent years, he still missed five games in 2022 due to injury.

Ward's experience with Saleh and his high-level play make him one of the best safeties set to hit the open market. The Jets should seriously consider making a run at the former 49ers first-round pick.