Predicting NY Jets next 3 moves after releasing Laken Tomlinson

The NY Jets made their first major move of the offseason on Monday, releasing starting offensive guard Laken Tomlinson. Tomlinson's departure opens up another hole in the Jets' offensive line and sets the stage for what promises to be a busy offseason.

The Jets realistically need to add three new starting offensive linemen, and that's just the beginning for an organization that is attempting to compete for a Super Bowl next season.

General manager Joe Douglas and the rest of this Jets staff have their work cut out for them this offseason. From releases to restructures to re-signing, there is still plenty of work to be done, even before free agency begins next month.

It can be difficult to predict the exact order of every offseason move, but here is our best attempt at predicting the next three moves the Jets will make after Tomlinson's release.

3. The NY Jets will re-sign a low-tier internal free agent

Before the Jets begin evaluating potential external free-agent targets, they must first analyze their own internal free agents. There are a few players the Jets should look to re-sign before free agency begins.

Special-teams standouts Thomas Morstead, Greg Zuerlein, and Justin Hardee feel like the most likely players to be brought back before they hit the open market. The Jets have one of the best special-teams units in the league, and those three are big reasons for it.

Perhaps the Jets could also re-sign a rotational defender like Solomon Thomas or Ashtyn Davis. Thomas is well-liked in the Jets' locker room and feels like a safe bet to be brought back. Davis is a favorite of Brant Boyer's, and he showcased his value on defense as well in 2023.

Elsewhere, players like Quinton Jefferson, Connor McGovern, and Aaron Rodgers favorites Billy Turner and Randall Cobb are all candidates to be re-signed. The safest bet is probably on one (or more) of the specialists filling this role.