Grading every move the NY Jets made in the first wave of free agency

The NY Jets have completed their first wave of free agency. There will be some more activity in the weeks leading into and after the draft next month, but the heavy lifting in the open market by Jets general manager Joe Douglas and his staff is over.

The team's most significant player acquisitions have already taken place. Whether that's a good or bad thing is up for debate. Could the team have done more? Did Joe Douglas do enough to help the Jets finally turn the corner and head in the right direction?

The Jets came into free agency with the second-most cap space in the NFL. They were in a position to attack the open market any way they chose. But heading into the new league year, there were mixed messages about the strategy Joe Douglas would ultimately employ.

It wasn't just coming from talking heads who cover or work for the team. Even Douglas and Robert Saleh were downplaying the open market in the days leading into free agency. They openly told the media that the team would not spend their resources wildly out of desperation. 

Even though the Jets are coming off of a four-win season where they were ranked at the bottom of the league in almost every category, many who follow the team felt that they would not follow the direction of similar franchises like the Jacksonville Jaguars, who embraced a by-any-means-necessary mentality in free agency.

Based on Douglas' personality and track record, the Jets predictably took a more measured approach. 

Any addition can be perceived as positive when you have as many holes as the Jets do. That's the blessing and curse of being a bottom-tier NFL franchise. It's a lot easier to appear that you have improved your team if you have nowhere to go but up.

Short-term victories don't last very long.

The Jets' long-term success will hinge on how well they do in the draft next month. The team has a chance to hit it big with two top-10 selections. The Jets have to walk away from the draft with impact players who can be elite cornerstones for the franchise for years to come. 

However, you can't rely solely on the draft to improve your fortunes. If you are a franchise like the Jets, making the right moves in free agency, combined with the draft, is imperative.

You can't make an upward trajectory from the bottom without successfully operating in those two avenues. Both free agency and the draft have to complement each other.

Let's evaluate what the Jets have done so far in the free-agency period. 

NY Jets Re-signings 

Joe Flacco, QB, NY Jets: 1-year, $3.5 million

Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh have been huge supporters of Joe Flacco for quite some time. Douglas brought in Flacco before the 2020 season and attempted to bring him back last offseason in free agency. The Jets then raised eyebrows when they traded a conditional late-round pick for Flacco during the 2021 season. 

Despite reports that Flacco didn't want to be a placeholding veteran backup with the Jets, this is his third go-around with the franchise, and the 37-year-old former Super Bowl MVP might still want to be a starter. But Flacco has chosen the Jets for the second time in free agency. 

Money talks and is certainly a deciding factor why Flacco has re-signed with the Jets, but Saleh and Douglas have openly raved about his value to the team. Saleh has gone out of his way to praise and hype up what Flacco brought into his locker room last season.

The Jets have a ton of uncertainty attached to Zach Wilson, but their QB room is pretty strong from top to bottom, even more so now that Mike White has signed his fifth-round tender. New York is walking into 2022 with a solid trio of signal-callers. The Jets brass loves their structure at QB.

The ultimate measure of Joe Flacco's value will come from Zach Wilson's growth from year one to year two. Many believe that the notion of having an experienced veteran to assist young quarterbacks in the growth process is overblown.

But the Jets are betting against that line of thinking by bringing back Flacco on a good backup deal.

Grade: B

Braxton Berrios, WR/KR, NY Jets: 2 years, $12 million

You could argue that paying a fourth WR and kick returner an average of $6 million per season is a bit of reach. But sometimes, rewarding a homegrown player has added value. Berrios' price tag may seem excessive, but it has positive long-term effects on team chemistry and the Jets' loyal fan base. 

For too long, the Jets franchise has undervalued their own players by using an imaginary chart of what players you are supposed to pay and those you are not. The Jets, in the past, have let quality players walk because they were deemed as replaceable or unimportant.

If the Jets are truly about building a strong culture in their locker room, then rewarding a player like Braxton Berrios is a form of practicing what you preach.

The contract itself is not a crippling one. People are reaching by griping about the money involved. The 26-year-old brings value to the locker room and the Jets offense as a useful role player and is coming off of being awarded first-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner.

Last year, Berrios showed great chemistry with Zach Wilson and is one of Brant Boyer's best players on special teams. If for whatever reason Berrios can't match what he did last year, the Jets won't be hamstrung by Berrios's short-term deal.

This was a win-win situation for the team — a necessary move. 

Grade: A

Tevin Coleman, RB, NY Jets: 1-year, $2.3 million

The re-signing of running back Tevin Coleman is very similar to that of Joe Flacco. The Jets are paying him more for his influence in the locker room than what he can bring to the field.

That's not to state that Coleman didn't play well in his limited role a year ago. Coleman made five starts and averaged over four yards per rush while rushing for 356 yards.

Ultimately though, Coleman is returning because of his deep knowledge of the Jets' running scheme on offense. He is one of offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur's soldiers. Coleman is on the Jets to show the team's other runners the path to succeeding in LaFleur's system.

The 28-year old is not as explosive as in years past, and his best days are behind him. You can certainly question what value he can bring on game days as a change of pace runner or even part-time returner, but it's not surprising that he is back in the fold.

The Jets weren't prepared to spend on a high-priced backup tailback in free agency. In theory, New York could've attempted to add players like J.D. McKissic or Cordarelle Patterson — two exceptional role players who could have provided more value in games than Tevin Coleman does at this late stage of his career. 

Grade: C

Conor McDermott, OT, NY Jets: 1-year, $1.55 million

Very quietly, Conor McDermott is about to enter his fourth straight year with the Jets. Joe Douglas claimed him off waivers back in October of 2019, and ever since then, McDermott has survived the roster purge New York has had the last few years.

The former sixth-round pick out of UCLA by the New England Patriots is a Joe Douglas favorite. The 6-foot-8 swing linemen and sometimes tight end is probably destined for yet another one-year extension in 2023.

McDermott has six NFL starts under his belt, but the truth is that he is probably best served as a team's fourth tackle option rather than the next man up if someone goes down.

McDermott doesn't have added value as an interior player so this is just a low-cost insurance move for a player who the Jets front office is comfortable with serving that type of role.

Grade C

Nathan Shepherd, DT, NY Jets: 1-year, $1.085 million

This is very similar to the McDermott re-signing. However, unlike McDermott, Shepherd is a player that Joe Douglas inherited from the previous regime. Quite frankly, it's surprising that he has survived the roster turnover and that he's back with the Jets theoretically for another season.

The 2018 third-round pick is penciled in currently as one of the Jets' top backup defensive tackles, but the operative word in that statement is penciled, and I wouldn't write that down in permanent ink.

To be fair, the Canadian native Shepherd has been a useful rotation player with 4.5 career sacks. And all things considered, he handled the transition from playing in a 3-4 defense to the 4-3 fairly well last season.

Plus, Shepherd is a well-liked player by his teammates and his new coaches from 2021 — the latter reason is probably why he is back as low-cost depth. But the Jets can do better at the position behind Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins.

Grade: C-

Lamarcus Joyner, S, NY Jets: 1-year, $2.6 million

The Jets are guaranteeing $2.1 million of Lamarcus Joyner's new deal. They hope that with any luck, Joyner's presence on the field will be guaranteed in 2022. The team is hoping they finally get to see Joyner contribute in their defense.

A year ago, Joyner was one of the new coaching regime's first handpicked choices in free agency. The versatile defensive back was supposed to be a key figure in the back end of the Jets' defense, but his turn at bat only lasted 11 snaps.

The Jets have a very young team, particularly in their secondary. A year ago, they trotted out several first and second-year players in their defensive backfield in 2021.

The 32-year-old Joyner, like Flacco and Coleman, is supposed to help guide the young pups in the yard. The Jets are paying Joyner for him to be a mentor and on-field coach.

Like Joe Flacco, I think it's a positive use of the cap and depth to help foster progress among talented young players. The Jets feel that too, and that's why they made the move to bring him back.

The Jets' re-signing of Lamarcus Joyner is a let's-try-this-again move.

Grade: B+

Will Parks, S, NY Jets: 1-year, $1.035 million

Will Parks was re-signed by the Jets before free agency kicked off because of an absurd rash of injuries at safety last year.

After being claimed off waivers four days before Christmas, Parks found his way onto the Jets roster. The 27-year-old former sixth-round pick started two games for the Jets and did a good enough job in his limited audition that the Jets brass wanted him back. 

The well-traveled Parks is good veteran insurance for the Jets, but they could still address the safety position in the draft. Parks has value as a reserve and could see some action as he battles with disappointing 2020 third-round pick Ashtyn Davis for playing time in the summer.

Grade: B-

Dan Feeney, C/OG, NY Jets: 1-year, $3 million

The fan-favorite Dan Feeney is back with the Jets for another season as the top interior backup on the offensive line. Feeney is beloved by the fan base and his teammates — the coaching staff and front office also have faith in him.

Feeney did an admirable job filling in last season at center and guard. Expectations were low based on how he graded out as a Chargers starter, but Feeney held his own last season, and the veteran offensive lineman who can play guard or center in a pinch has value.

The Jets liked what they saw from the 27-year-old and brought him back, and they could've easily gone in a different direction. By guaranteeing his contract for the 2022 season, the Jets' brain trust showed that they wanted Feeney to return.

Grade: B

Nick Bawden, FB, NY Jets: 1-year, $850K

Unlike newly-minted Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, despite coming from the same Shanahan coaching tree, Mike LaFleur doesn't value or utilize the fullback position as much as his colleagues and mentors do. More on that in the Jets featured free agent signings. 

Nick Bawden is returning to New York to serve as the team's only pure fullback. Bawden did a good job for the Jets in 2021 after joining the team late in November.

While he did contribute some on offense as a lead blocker, Bawden's best contribution came on special teams, leading the way on kick returns for Braxton Berrios.

This is the type of move that flies way under the radar, but Bawden could be valuable and useful playing the same role he did late in 2021.

Grade: B

NY Jets free agency signings

C.J. Uzomah, TE, NY Jets: 3 years, $24 million ($15 million guaranteed)

Heading into free agency, and truthfully, for the last several seasons, the Jets have had one of the least talented and nondescript tight end rooms in all of football. And it's something that desperately needed to be addressed.

On paper, this has the feel of an overpay out of desperation. The tight end market thinned out quickly in free agency when standout players at the position like David Njoku and Mike Gesicki received the franchise tag.

The Jets had to pivot and sign the most accomplished veteran they could sway to join their franchise. This was arguably the Jets' most aggressive play in free agency, and they had to do it. 

From a character standpoint, C.J. Uzomah checks off all the boxes. He is beloved by his teammates, coaches, fans, and the community.

The Cincinnati Bengals and their fan base were unhappy to see Uzomah leave for New York, but the Jets lured him away from Cincy with $8 million per season. The opportunity to be in the world's media capital was certainly enticing for Uzomah, who has the talent of excelling in that field in his future. 

The Jets hope that they got the right player to help rebuild their losing culture on the field and off. The 29-year old should also give Zach Wilson a reliable safety blanket in the passing game. The Jets are paying Uzomah for the added value he can bring as a leader.

Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh needed an Uzomah type in their locker room, and the franchise paid for it with a pretty penny. Hopefully, the return on the Jets' investment in Uzomah is a beautiful one.

Grade: B

Tyler Conklin, TE, NY Jets: 3 years, $21 million

Mike LaFleur and the Jets showed their cards in free agency by signing two capable starting tight ends. The Jets want to play a two-tight-end system on offense, and they put their money where their desires reside.

The Jets' new pairing of C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin is the only tight end duo in the NFL to each have 60-plus catches last season.

The Tyler Conklin signing, in particular, shows you much the Jets value this position in their offensive scheme. Mike LaFleur's system closely resembles his brother Matt's in Green Bay.

Unlike the 49ers' Kyle Shanahan system, the Packers and Jets scheme emphasizes the tight end position rather than featuring a fullback. Get ready for the Jets to live and die on offense with their revamped 12 personnel package.

Conklin is a solid player, not spectacular. He's tough, hard-working, and a reliable pass catcher. Conklin had only one drop last season and the fewest among all NFL tight ends with at least 50 targets. He's coming off of his best season in the NFL where he recorded 61 receptions for Minnesota.

One of Conklin's lesser-known traits is his effectiveness in pass protection, and it's a vital aspect for tight ends often in the Jets' offensive scheme. Mike LaFleur loves to utilize his tight ends in pass protection, particularly on play-action plays.

The signing of Conklin could preclude the Jets from drafting a young tight end. For that reason alone, it's challenging to defend paying $7 million a year to a second tight end. However, the Jets' system doesn't see or value TE2 as a backup because it's an essential part of their offense. 

Grade: B-

Laken Tomlinson, OG, NY Jets: 3 years, $40 million

The running theme with the Jets' most prominent signings on offense this offseason is catering to Mike LaFleur's needs as a play-caller.

That's what was accomplished when the Jets doled out the big bucks to sign Pro Bowl guard Laken Tomlinson. LaFleur wanted someone who knew his system and blocking scheme inside and out. Tomlinson is not only a great student, but at 30-years old, he's become a great teacher of the system.

Tomlinson got one of the bigger deals in free agency at his position, not just because he's emerged as an excellent player, but because of his leadership traits.

Young emerging players like Alijah Vera-Tucker will benefit from Tomlinson's presence. The Jets' sizeable financial investment in Tomlinson is also an investment in the growth of the team's offensive coordinator and its young linemen.

A group that the Jets will undoubtedly continue to add to in the next two years. Perhaps Tomlinson lining up next to Mekhi Becton, presumably, on the right side in tandem could help aid the Jets' 2020 first-round pick.

Yes, the Jets overpaid for Laken Tomlinson. But they got exactly what they wanted. That isn't often the case in free agency, where teams typically settle for the best of what is left by overspending.

Grade B+

D.J. Reed, CB, NY Jets: 3 years, $33 million

The Jets hit two home runs in free agency addressing their secondary.

Cornerback D.J. Reed is the perfect fit for the Jets' defensive scheme. It's rare in free agency that you can sign players who are still ascending. Often teams will sign players coming off career years that they'd be hard-pressed to match.

Reed, only 25-years old, has continuously gotten better every year that he's been in the league. He's coming off a fantastic 2021 campaign for the Seattle Seahawks.

Pro Football Focus had Reed graded as the ninth-best cornerback in the NFL last year. He allowed only a 67.8 passer rating. And despite his 5-foot-9 frame, Reed was one of the better cornerbacks in the open field against the run. 

A bonus is that Reed also has familiarity with Robert Saleh's defense from their time together early on in his career. Saleh is a big reason why Reed signed on with New York.

Reed is coming to Florham Park with a chip on his shoulder because of the lack of respect he received from his former team in free agency. Reed is out to prove that he is a CB1. The Jets are not signing someone content with their current status.

My only gripe with this signing is that the Jets could've signed Reed to a longer deal. Other than that, this was one of the better value signings by any team in free agency. The Jets got lucky that the Seahawks weren't sleepless in Seattle.

Grade: A+

Jordan Whitehead, S, NY Jets: 2 years, $14.5 million

Going into free agency, the Jets desperately needed a tone-setter on defense. That's exactly what the 25-year old Jordan Whitehead has been in the NFL.

Whitehead is one of the most physical and best open-field tacklers in all of football. It's an area where the Jets embarrassed themselves on the field in 2021. The Jets' defense had struggles getting off the field because of their inability to stop plays before they got started.

Stopping plays before they get started is a Jordan Whitehead specialty. Since he entered the league in 2018 as a fourth-round pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Whitehead is fourth amongst all NFL safeties with 18 tackles for loss.

Whitehead has also improved in coverage every year that he has been in the league. He's certainly not your typical man coverage-type player, and the Bucs, who played a lot of man coverage, certainly attempted to cater to Whitehead's strengths by not tasking with those duties.

And statistically, you can see why putting Whitehead in zone is a better usage of his talents.

In zone coverage, Whitehead is simply a better player. It's more suited to his skill set. A year ago, according to Pro Football Focus, Whitehead gave up a 51.8 passer rating in zone coverage, which ranked 11th best in the league out of all starting safeties.

The Jets like to tinker with having their safeties play more man coverage than one would suspect — last year at nearly 30 percent. But overall, Whitehead might be a better fit in the Jets scheme than he was in Tampa.

The Jets' contract with Whitehead is very reasonable for both sides, and the Jets didn't have to break the bank for a player they desperately needed on defense. Whitehead will be the best safety in the box since that other guy who used to wear No. 33 for Gang Green.

A bonus to the Whitehead signing for is that he is the cousin of NFL and team legend Darrelle Revis. Once upon a time, Whitehead was at Revis' draft party when the Jets selected him.

Whitehead followed in Revis' footsteps by playing at the University of Pittsburgh and will now do the same by wearing green and white this coming season. 

Grade: A

Jacob Martin, DE, NY Jets: 3 years, $13.5 million

This is a curious signing by the Jets. The team is banking on Jacob Martin's limited body of work and upside to produce as an edge rusher on passing downs, and the Jets gave Martin a good chunk of change to fill that role.

Martin had a career-high four sacks last season playing for the Houston Texans. The Jets brass obviously liked what they saw on film when they did their homework in free agency. Otherwise, they wouldn't have paid him above market value.

It's a questionable signing by the team because there were other more established veteran pass rushers that the Jets could have signed, like perhaps a Dante Fowler, for example.

Still, the Jets are betting on Martin's upside instead. $13 million over three years seems excessive for a player who could be fourth on the depth chart at defensive end when the season starts.

The Martin signing makes you wonder if he was a fallback option rather than a preferred choice — a common occurrence every year in free agency that goes unpublicized.

Grade: C-

Final analysis/grade of the NY Jets free agency

Rome wasn't built in a day, and the Jets certainly can't fix everything that ails them immediately in free agency. But there is still an incomplete feeling to the Jets' moves thus far, and that void could be filled when the draft concludes late next month. 

It's also worth noting that the Jets lost some good veteran players during the free-agency period.

Safety Marcus Maye headed down south to play for the New Orleans Saints. Jamison Crowder is now a Buffalo Bill, and he will be securely catching passes for all-world quarterback Josh Allen next season.

Defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, a misused player in Jeff Ulbrich's defensive scheme and one of the Jets' best leaders over the last few years, will be manning the trenches for Jacksonville next season. Morgan Moses, who proved his worth last year for the Jets, is now with the Baltimore Ravens.

None of the team's departures/losses are surprising, but what is puzzling is that the Jets didn't utilize the trade market to upgrade their team with proven commodities. Notwithstanding the Jets' shocking trade of linebacker Blake Cashman to Houston for a sixth-round pick in 2023, of course. 

Perhaps the book isn't fully closed on the possibility of a major trade, with the Jets having the draft resources and cap room to execute any deal they desire. But at this stage, it doesn't feel likely that a D.K. Metcalf or Danielle Hunter are walking through the doors at Florham Park.

In their defense, the Jets were reportedly major players for Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley before he gambled away his 2022 season. 

The Jets' two biggest needs on their roster are an elite impact player on defense, preferably a pass rusher, and a centerpiece player in their passing attack on offense, preferably a physical target who can make contested catches all over the field.

Both of those types of impact players could be on the Jets' radar in the draft. 

However, an argument can be made that the Jets dropped the ball not addressing the wide receiver position in the trade market. Especially considering that established veteran options like Amari Cooper and Robert Woods were traded for practically nothing.

The salary argument doesn't hold water when the Jets are flushed with cap space and the flexibility to re-work any contract they absorb. What does, however, have merit is whether or not, a player wants to come to the Jets or is a natural fit.

I contend that Robert Woods would've been.

The same salary and age argument against such a move could be used when referring to the Jets' signings of C.J. Uzomah and Laken Tomlinson. Both players are at or in their 30s, and they were specifically brought in to aid the Jets' young nucleus at their respective positions.

That's something that Robert Woods would've done as well, not only for the Jets' young receivers but for their neophyte quarterback, Zach Wilson.

Woods is headed to an ideal situation in Tennesse, a run-heavy team that will love his elite blocking skills. And with a monstrous No. 1 receiver in A.J. Brown working with him and drawing the defense's attention, Woods will have plenty of opportunities to excel catching passes in Tennessee's offense. 

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel will love what Robert Woods brings to the table as a player and person, but the Jets would have as well, and the acquisition would not have precluded them from addressing wide receiver in the draft.

Woods made all his teammates better around him. Just ask Cooper Kupp. Both receivers had a running weekly contest with the Rams where they would compete against each other for the best routes, catches, and blocks delivered during games. 

The acquisition of Robert Woods would've been risky, based on his age and coming off an injury, but the reward was worth the risk — a missed opportunity by the Jets. However, it's a moot point now, and that ship has long since sailed.

Sometimes, the best moves in free agency are the ones that teams don't make. So there is something to be said for that, as it pertains to the New York Jets this offseason.

The moves they did make will help bolster their roster. The tight end room is vastly improved, and the offensive line will be better. Their secondary got markedly better with the acquisitions of Reed and Whitehead.

Overall, Jets general manager Joe Douglas has laid a decent foundation for what's to come.

Overall free agency grade: B