NY Jets: 4 free agents the team could sign before Week 1

The NY Jets have done quite a bit of roster shuffling over the last few days. While the initial 53-man roster brought with it a few surprises, it was clear that the team's work was far from over.

In the 24-48 hours following initial cuts, the Jets made a number of additions via the waiver wire and free-agent market. The team also placed a few players on the injured reserve, made a couple of more cuts, and signed a host of players to their practice squad.

The NFL transaction wire is bustling this time of the year, and even though cut day has passed, teams will continue to do some shuffling at the bottom of the roster before Week 1 arrives.

The next few days will be crucial as teams continue to scour the open market for available players they want to bring in. The Jets will be no different.

The current roster is still very much a work in progress, even less than two weeks out from the team's season opener against the Carolina Panthers.

Certain positions remain weak while others lack the necessary depth you'd expect. Even the practice squad has two spots that remain unfilled.

The Jets will likely make a few more moves before the start of the season. That means the team could turn to the free-agent market in search of additional depth to fill out the roster.

The following four players won't move the needle too much. Instead, they're possible depth pieces that could help provide much-needed depth at positions of need.

Let's take a look at four free agents the Jets could sign before Week 1.

4. NY Jets target: Kamal Martin, LB

Kamal Martin was one of a number of 2020 NFL Draft picks released last month after just one year with his original organization. A fifth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in last year's draft, Martin played in 10 games as a rookie starting six of them.

He looked well on his way to being a Week 1 starter for Green Bay before a torn meniscus caused him to miss the start of the season. Martin returned and put together a strong finish to the season finishing as one of the best rookie linebackers in football.

The former Minnesota standout finished with a 73.3 Pro Football Focus grade that was second-best among all rookie linebackers and the best at his position on the Packers. He was the only rookie linebacker to earn a PFF coverage, run-stop, and pass-rush grade north of 60.0.

Despite this, the Packers surprisingly released Martin late last month in a move that shocked the fan base. The 23-year-old had dealt with more injuries in the summer and struggled upon his return.

Injuries have derailed his career to this point, but the Jets could take a flier on a young linebacker who showed promise as a rookie. It helps that the team got an up-close-and-personal look at him during joint practices with the Packers last month.

Martin is probably best as an outside linebacker with the versatility to play either WILL or SAM. The Jets did just claim Quincy Williams off waivers from the Green Bay Packers, but they could use a true backup to Jamien Sherwood at SAM while Jarrad Davis is out.

Even if it's just a practice squad offer, the Jets should consider adding Kamal Martin.

3. NY Jets target: Trey Burton, TE

When the Jets traded away Chris Herndon and released both Ryan Griffin and Daniel Brown, the assumption was that the team would make a move at the tight end position.

And while that's still a possibility, no external addition has been made at the time of writing. Instead, the Jets simply re-signed Griffin and Brown to pair with presumptive starter Tyler Kroft.

But one notable free agent who remains unsigned is Trey Burton. Burton spent last season with the Indianapolis Colts after previous stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.

He was a part of the Super Bowl LII-winning Eagles roster and threw the now famous 'Philly Special' pass to Nick Foles. Do you know who else was a part of that team? Current Jets general manager Joe Douglas.

Douglas could turn to his old friend from Philadelphia as he looks to bolster his tight-end room. At 29-years-old, Burton would be little more than veteran depth at this stage.

But given Griffin's injury history — he's missed a decent chunk of time this summer — and Brown's special-teams exclusivity, that's something the Jets are desperately in need of.

Burton would give the Jets a capable veteran to pair with Kroft and someone who might be the best natural pass-catching tight end on the roster.

The Eagles connection with Douglas makes it all the more realistic.

2. NY Jets target: Nick Easton, OL

One overlooked position of need on the Jets' roster at the moment is the interior offensive line. The return of Alijah Vera-Tucker should provide a boost to the starting unit, but the depth is razor-thin right now.

At the time of writing, Dan Feeney is currently the only backup interior offensive lineman on the 53-man roster. That means Feeney is the only backup guard or center the Jets have.

They could opt to elevate a player like Jimmy Murray on game days, but a more reasonable option would be to sign another player to the active roster. One potential target is veteran Nick Easton.

Easton spent the last two seasons with the New Orleans Saints starting 15 of 22 games after playing his first three years in the league with the Minnesota Vikings.

The 29-year-old has experience playing both center and guard, much like Feeney, meaning he could fill a similar role to his fellow veteran.

As for his performance over the last few years, it hasn't necessarily been amazing. Easton's 59.6 PFF grade ranked 52nd out of all guards in the NFL last season. Still starting-caliber, but probably a player you want more as a fringe starter/backup.

After losing Alex Lewis and Cameron Clark, the Jets are desperately in need of interior offensive line depth. Easton could be a cheap, viable solution.

1. NY Jets target: Benardrick McKinney, LB

This one is perhaps the most likely on the list as the Jets have reportedly shown considerable interest in Benardrick McKinney since he was released by the Miami Dolphins a few days ago.

McKinney is a former Pro Bowl linebacker who spent six years with the Houston Texans and played some good football. His best year undoubtedly came in 2018 when he was named to his first and so far only Pro Bowl after posting a PFF grade of 80.9 that ranked ninth at his position.

He would never reach those same heights again and a shoulder injury cut his 2020 season short after just four games. However, at just 28-years-old, he still has something left in the tank.

It came as a sizable surprise when the Dolphins, who traded for him in the offseason, released him on Tuesday. But McKinney isn't expected to be a free agent for long.

The Jets could still use more linebacker help, even after adding Quincy Williams. Their current crop of healthy linebackers features C.J. Mosley, two third-year players (Williams and Blake Cashman), and two rookie starters (Jamien Sherwood and Hamsah Nasirildeen).

They could use another experienced veteran in the room, particularly one who has experience playing the MIKE linebacker position.

Would the Jets be interested in adding a veteran given their ongoing youth movement? If reports are to be believed, it seems as though they are.

This move makes sense and, given the team's reported interest, might have a decent chance of actually getting done.