NFL Free Agency is now back on, and the Jets should be targeting the holes still left on their team. They need an interior offensive lineman, a safety, and a wide receiver.
Three Free Agents the Jets Should Sign and the Contracts
Let’s discuss the options on how the Jets could attack the next phase of free agency and the contracts they could offer.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Mike Williams is coming off a torn ACL. He may not be ready to even play Week 1. Even if he is, he might be limited. That said, the Jets could still use an extra vertical threat off the bench to give them another option when Williams isn’t on the field.
Aaron Rodgers loves go-balls. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had his best season in 2020, and that was Rodgers’ third MVP season. MVS averaged 20.9 yards per catch with an average depth of target of 18.3 that season. With Garrett Wilson and Malachi Corley on the field, that would leave MVS to do what he does best: pure vertical threat.
Last season, MVS made $10 million. The Jets could give him that money again, but he’d have to earn some of it through incentives.
Contract
Base salary: $2 million
Signing bonus: $5 million (four void years)
NLTBE incentives: $3 million
2024 cap hit: $3 million
Connor McGovern
Right now, the Jets have five interior offensive linemen likely to make the team. John Simpson, Joe Tippman, and Alijah Vera-Tucker are the starters, and the backups (as of now) are Wes Schweitzer and Jake Hanson. Schweitzer is an ok backup, but Hanson should not make the team. They need one more body to fill the role.
Generally speaking good starting offensive linemen don’t hit free agency. That doesn’t mean guys who you can put in a pinch don’t.
The two best options left on the market are Connor Williams and Connor McGovern. Both of them have experience at guard and center, which is why they’re the best two options. Williams will probably want to start. So, McGovern is the most likely.
Last season, McGovern made $2,155,882. So, he could get a slight bump in pay.
Contract
Base salary: $1.21 million
Signing bonus: $790,000
Per Game Active Roster Bonus (total): $500,000 (LTBE)
Cap hit: $2.5 million
Justin Simmons
Many Jets fans want the Jets to sign Justin Simmons. Simmons was a Pro Bowler for the first time last season, and he’s coming off three consecutive 2nd Team All-Pro seasons. In those three seasons, he’s averaged $15.5 million (cash, not cap) from the Broncos. According to Gregg Rosenthall, he was the 37th best free agent available at the start of free agency.
Best Available #NFL Free Agents per https://t.co/xCrj8yg6ZU
#16 – CB, Stephon Gilmore
#37 – S, Justin Simmons
#50 – DT, Calais Campbell
#51 – IOL, Connor Williams
#55 – CB, Steven Nelson
#58 – CB, Adoree Jackson
#59 – QB, Ryan Tannehill
#77 – WR, Odell Beckham Jr.
#81 – WR,…— Dave Heilman NFL (@DynastyDorks) April 27, 2024
If the Jets want to sign him during this point of free agency, they can be creative, especially if they want him for more than one season.
Contract
2024 base salary: $1.21 million (fully guaranteed)
Signing Bonus: $13.79 million
2025 base salary: $1.255 million (fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year)
Option Bonus: $13.745 million (triggers on the fifth day of the league year)
Six void years
2024 Cap hit: $3.968 million
There are options out there, and the Jets will have to eat cap space later on to make this happen for some. That said, in a win-now window, it’s worth it.
Main Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
