NY Jets: Breaking down newly-signed OT Morgan Moses

Since the NY Jets hired Robert Saleh as their head coach back in January, we have continuously heard about the importance of changing the culture of the team.

So far, the Jets organization has done a very good job of signing and drafting not only quality football players, but high character individuals as well.

The recent signing of former Washington Football Team offensive tackle Morgan Moses not only bolsters the offensive line but also adds another high-character player to a team in search of a new and positive identity.

The one-year deal worth $3.6 million with a total of $5.3 million in incentives gives the Jets the flexibility needed for future moves and also adds additional motivation for Moses to continue to perform at a high level.

What are the NY Jets getting in Morgan Moses?

While some have said that Moses is not an ideal fit for the team, I beg to differ. Yes, Washington ran mostly inside zone runs which requires more of a straight-ahead, power style, type of blocking technique.

However, Moses is a versatile and savvy veteran who possesses enough athleticism to be able to adjust to the projected Jets offensive scheme of outside stretch zone runs.

When you look at the total package of what Moses brings to the table, the positives far outweigh the negatives. With a running back by committee approach, I feel confident that new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur can alter the game plan somewhat to fit the skill set of Moses.

The biggest attributes that Moses brings to the table are his durability, toughness, and willingness to play through injury. He has started 96 straight games for Washington dating back to 2015. That is currently the second-most consecutive games started by an active offensive tackle in the NFL.

In 2020, Moses was on the field for 98 percent of Washingtons' total offensive plays. In the last six years, he has never been on the field fewer than 92 percent of the total snaps and has registered over 1,000 snaps in three separate seasons.

If you need further proof of just how good Morgan Moses is then just check out these numbers. In 2020, he produced the highest overall Pro Football Focus grade of his career at 80.6 which was the sixth-highest grade among right tackles in the NFL.

He also graded out at an outstanding 85.9 on run blocking and a respectable 70.8 for pass blocking.

The former Virginia Cavalier has also played in two playoff games and was on the field for 100 percent of the offensive snaps in both games. If there is any flaw to his game, it would be committing penalties.

He has committed double-digit totals in penalties in three of the last six seasons. The good news, he was only flagged for six penalties in 2020 which was one the lowest totals of his career.

As outstanding of a player that Moses is, he is just as outstanding as a person. Morgan Moses is a family man who is married and has four children. In his spare time, he devotes himself to spending quality time with them.

The massive offensive tackle is also a graduate of the University of Virginia and has a degree in anthropology.

He started the Morgan Moses Foundation in 2015 in an effort to provide better educational opportunities for children. His organization has also raised thousands of dollars for tutoring and counseling programs as well.

Moses' durability is not by luck or coincidence. He is, to say the least, a "workout warrior" who not only conditions himself as an athlete but also is devoted to performance recovery.

In his newly-built home, he sports a hot tub, cold tub, sauna, steam room, and even a hyperbaric chamber in which he sleeps a couple of times per week.

Not since the great D'Brickashaw Ferguson have the Jets had an offensive lineman as durable as Morgan Moses. He should provide a veteran presence to a relatively young offensive line and also add needed depth to protect against injuries.

Once again, general manager Joe Douglas has made a low-risk and high-reward move that can only help the green and white.