NY Jets sign Isaiah Oliver to complete best CB room in the NFL

The NY Jets have made their first signing of the offseason, and it's a move few probably expected the team to make. Less than 24 hours before the start of the legal tampering period, the Jets have reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran cornerback Isaiah Oliver.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday that the Jets have signed the former Atlanta Falcons second-round pick to a one-year contract. This is a more notable addition for the Jets than most probably realize,

Oliver played over 45 percent of defensive snaps for the San Francisco 49ers last season, beginning the year as their starting nickel cornerback. With 44 career starts under his belt at just 27 years old, Oliver is an outstanding depth signing for the Jets.

He helps complete a cornerback room that was already the best in the NFL. Now, on top of an elite starting trio, the Jets have some of the best cornerback depth in football as well.

What the Isaiah Oliver signing means for the NY Jets

A second-round pick of the Falcons in the 2018 NFL Draft, Oliver spent the first five years of his career in Atlanta, crossing paths with Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and defensive backs coach Marquand Manuel.

That connection to Ulbrich and Manuel is likely what prompted the Jets to make this move. He also played in a similar defensive scheme in his lone season with the 49ers in 2023.

Oliver began his career as primarily an outside cornerback before making the switch to slot cornerback in the middle of the 2020 season. He's played almost exclusively a nickel role over the last few seasons.

Oliver has registered Pro Football Focus coverage grades of 70.0 or higher in each of the last three seasons, although he was eventually benched in favor of veteran Logan Ryan last year. Oliver was relegated to special-teams duty for the Super Bowl.

At the very least, Oliver provides excellent depth to a Jets' cornerback room that is set to lose Bryce Hall this offseason. Oliver offers more inside/outside versatility than Hall and was also a regular on special teams in San Francisco.

This isn't some random, no-name signing for the Jets. Oliver would likely push for a starting job on a handful of teams around the league, and he should immediately slot in above Brandin Echols as the fourth cornerback on the team's depth chart.

Quite frankly, this a more notable cornerback addition than I expected the Jets to make this offseason. The specifics of the contract haven't been revealed at the time of writing, but it'll probably come in somewhere around one year, $2.5 million.

The Jets have the best cornerback trio in the NFL and arguably the best CB4/CB5 duo. Isaiah Oliver simply completes one of the most stacked position groups this organization has ever had.