6 Remaining Free Agents the Jets could target

Although their aren't many top-tier players left, their are some players that can possibly be starters and fill positions of need for the Jets.

Image via USA Today // 49ers CB Richard Sherman

Richard Sherman (CB) - Age 32

We all know Sherman has been great in this league for a long time, part of the legion of boom in Seattle before moving to San Francisco in 2018 to become a part of Robert Saleh's defense. He has 5 pro bowl selections as well as 3 all pro nods, as well as a super bowl championship with the Seahawks in 2014. He is familiar with the system expected to be implemented by the Jets. He would provide a veteran presence and would sort of be a coach on the field, but he can also still produce as an outside corner in the system. In 2019 PFF graded him at 88.9, which is considered elite and would make him one of the best corners in the league by PFF. This past year he only appeared in 5 games due to a calf injury, and in the games he played he posted a respectable 67.7 PFF grade. This is still a step up over what the Jets have right now, as Blessaun Austin, who as of right now is expected to start opposite Bryce Hall, posted a 51.1 PFF grade this past year, which isn't great. Sherman would represent a major upgrade while also being a leader to players such as Hall, Austin, and possibly a rookie picked in the NFL draft.

Brian Poole (CB) - Age 28

Poole started his career off with the Falcons after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2016. After starting off as a pretty good starting slot corner for the team from 2016-2017, he had a down year in 2018. The team decided to part ways and he signed with the Jets, where he truly broke out posting a 79.0 PFF grade, which is a good enough to be considered a top slot corner in the league. He only played 10 games in 2019, which is likely the main reason he didn't earn a big payday as a free agent. He ended up returning to the Jets on a 1 year, $5 million dollar deal, and once again played great, posting a 77.1 PFF grade, but he once again struggled to stay on the field, appearing in only 7 games. While Poole was out, rookie Javelin Guidry earned more and more playing time, posting a 73.1 PFF grade, which is above average for a slot corner. It is likely Poole's market once again hasn't developed as he hoped, and he could end up signing a similar deal that he signed last year, which would be a good signing for the Jets. But, if he commands a mutli-year deal it is likely best for the Jets to role with Guidry as their starting slot corner, especially because the position isn't as valuable as other starting positions on defense.

Rasul Douglas (CB) - Age 25

Douglas was picked in the third round of the 2017 draft by the Eagles, where current Jets GM Joe Douglas served as a key assistant to GM Howie Roseman. With Douglas likely having a big say in the pick, he may still think Douglas can work out in the right situation. Doulgas was a backup for the Eagles from 2017-2019, but he did receive plenty of playing time when others ended up getting hurt. In 2017, which was his rookie year, he didn't have much playing time but while he played he had a PFF grade of 64.1, which is pretty good, and things were looking good for him to be a starting outside corner in the future. In 2018 he improved from there, posting a PFF grade of 69.6, but he still only started 7 games, but he appeared in all 16. At this point, it looked like a good pick, but in 2019 he posted a PFF grade of 52.4, which is not near the level you would like your starters to play at. Once again he appeared in all 16 games, and he only started 6. He was then released by the Eagles before the 2020 season, and he was then signed by the Panthers. He ended up appearing in 14 games, starting 11 of them, and posted a PFF grade of 60.3. Although this isn't great, it's decent enough to be the third option at outside cornerback, and bringing in someone like Douglas to compete with Blessaun Austin and possibly a rookie for a starting spot could be beneficial for the Jets. Even if he is signed with the thinking that he will start, this would still be a big upgrade over Blessaun Austin who posted a 51.1 PFF grade. Overall, signing Douglas to a pretty cheap deal would be a great move for the Jets, as although he isn't great he would still be a big upgrade over what the Jets have now.

Steven Nelson (CB) - Age 28

Nelson was drafted as a third round pick by the Chiefs in the 2015 NFL draft, and emerged as a starter in 2016. In 2016 he had some struggles but still posted a 62.1 PFF grade, but that improved to 65.5 in 2017 and 73.8 in 2018, which is good enough to be a very good starting cornerback. He then cashed in on a three year deal worth $25.5 million with the Steelers. He then posted a 80.5 PFF grade in 2019 which is elite and good enough to be top 10 at the position, but he declined to a grade of 67.1 in 2020. This is still a pretty good grade and would make him a good number 2 corner, which is exactly what the Jets need. He was a suprise cut this offseason and likely has a large number of suitors, but the Jets have saved enough cap space to make it work. Adding someone that can hold down the other starting spot at outside corner opposite of Bryce Hall would provide flexibility to draft the best players available in the draft rather than having to pick a corner at some point because it is so much of a need.

Trai Turner (OG) - Age 27

Turner entered the NFL in 2014 as a third round pick of the Carolina Panthers. Turner stepped in as a starter and hit the ground running, earning a stellar 72.5 PFF grade as a rookie, which is above average for guards. He continued to play well for the next 4 years, earning pro bowl selections in each of those years, while also continuing to be graded somewhere between above average to great in each of those seasons. But, in 2019 his play took a step down to a PFF grade of 63.9, which is still pretty good, but not worthy of being in the conversation for being one of the best guards in the league. After the 2019 season he was traded to the Chargers, but this past year he only played 9 games, and even while he played he was affected by a lingering groin injury. He ended up having a PFF grade of 34.8, good enough for 79th out of 80 qualifiying guards. The hope for whoever signs Turner is that he is able to at least regain his 2019 form, and possibly even his 2014-2018 form. If he were to sign with the Jets, it would likely be to compete with Cam Clark and possibly a rookie for a starting spot, and wouldn't cost much, so it could be a risk worth taking.

K.J. Wright (LB) - Age 31

A starter for all 10 years of his career, Wright has posted a PFF grade of 70 or higher in five of his ten seasons, with the other 5 between 62.1 and 68.7. He is already familiar with Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich from the beginning of his career. After posting his lowest career PFF grade of 62.1 in 2019 it looked like he was declining, but in 2020 he posted a PFF grade of 75.3, which is good enough to be a very good starting linebacker. He allowed 6.2 yards per target in 2020 which is very good, as well as a league leading 10 passes defended. He also posted a 78.7 PFF coverage grade, which is elite. If signed, he would likely fill the WILL spot and would allow Jarrad Davis to revert back to the third linebacker spot in which he was good in for the lions last year. Signing Wright would also allow for flexibility in the draft because as of now the Jets are set to give significant playing time to Blake Cashman who doesn't even belong on a roster, but if Wright was signed Cashman would become a backup, allowing the Jets to go after other positions without needing a starting linebacker.