NY Jets make huge OL addition signing guard Laken Tomlinson

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Laken Tomlinson / Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

The NY Jets have made a massive signing on the first day of free agency signing Pro Bowl offensive guard Laken Tomlinson. Tomlinson joins a revamped Jets offensive line that suddenly looks really, really good on paper.

Tomlinson has reportedly signed a three-year, $40 million deal with $27 million in guarantees. That averages out to a little over $13 million per year — a good deal for a Pro Bowl-caliber guard who fits exactly what the Jets are looking for.

The 30-year-old has been extremely durable over his career having played 112 of a possible 113 games over his seven years in the NFL. On top of that, he's very familiar with the Jets' offensive scheme having spent the last five years with the San Francisco 49ers.

Although Tomlinson played left guard in San Francisco, the expectation is that he will move over to right guard with the Jets. The Jets are confident he could make the switch as is Tomlinson.

Laken Tomlinson is a huge upgrade for the NY Jets offensive line

A first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Tomlinson spent the first two years of his career with the Detroit Lions, but it wasn't until he was traded to the 49ers that he truly found a permanent home.

The Duke product has developed into one of the better left guards in football consistently grading out well with Pro Football Focus and even earning his first Pro Bowl nod this past season. It seems the NFL world has finally realized how good of a player he is.

Combine that with his incredible durability and familiarity with the Jets' offensive scheme and this is a home-run signing for Joe Douglas and the organization.

On paper, the Jets probably have their best offensive line since the 2010 season. With a projected starting five of George Fant, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Connor McGovern, Laken Tomlinson, and Mekhi Becton, there is no weakness in their starting lineup.

The Jets have landed one of the top available names on the open market. Laken Tomlinson is a colossal addition for Gang Green.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.