Same old New York Jets in 2022? Well, yes and no.
Their late-season collapse was certainly a throwback, but there’s reason to believe that if they get the most important position right, Robert Saleh’s club can make some real noise in 2023.
We look ahead with our New York Jets offseason preview, exploring the team’s free agents, cut candidates, and team needs.
New York Jets Offseason Preview: A Mess at Quarterback
Zach Wilson is not the answer. Mike White isn’t either. And Joe Flacco, at this stage of his career, is lucky simply to be in the league.
So the offseason edict from Woody Johnson to Joe Douglas and Saleh should be pretty straightforward:
Go get Lamar Jackson. Or Tom Brady. Or Derek Carr. Or Jimmy Garoppolo.
Any one of those established starters would make the Jets a playoff — and potentially even Super Bowl — team.
The defense is simply too good to waste with another year of terrible quarterback play.
Jets’ 2023 Salary Cap Space
According to Spotrac, the Jets, as of early January, were under the 2023 salary cap by $15.9 million, giving them the 15th-most cap space in the NFL.
That figure reflects $2.9 million in dead cap and $3.7 million in rollover space. It’s based on an estimated $225 million NFL salary cap in 2023.
The exact cap figure will not be known until the NFL announces it in early March.
Jets Free Agents 2023
The following Jets players are set to hit free agency. (Restricted free agents are noted with the abbreviation RFA; exclusive rights free agents by ERFA.)
- LB Kwon Alexander
- FB Nick Bawden (RFA)
- WR Lawrence Cager (ERFA)
- DE Vinny Curry
- RT George Fant
- G Dan Feeney
- QB Joe Flacco
- OLB Marcell Harris
- G Nate Herbig
- LB Bryce Huff (RFA)
- RB Ty Johnson
- S LaMarcus Joyner
- C Connor McGovern
- S Hamsah Nasirildeen
- OT Cedric Ogbuehi
- S Will Parks
- DT Sheldon Rankins
- RT Mike Remmers
- RB James Robinson (RFA)
- G Dru Samia (ERFA)
- OT Greg Senat (RFA)
- DE Nathan Shepherd
- WR Jeff Smith (RFA)
- DE Solomon Thomas
- QB Mike White
- LB Quincy Williams
- K Greg Zuerlein
Center Connor McGovern
Spotrac’s calculated market value: Two years, $25.1 million ($12.5 million AAV)
Overview: Could McGovern — whose next Pro Bowl appearance will be his first — become the highest-paid center in NFL history? Doesn’t seem likely, but never underestimate the wildness of the open market. He certainly played well in his contract year.
Defensive Tackle Sheldon Rankins
Spotrac’s calculated market value: Two years, $14.7 million ($7.3 million AAV)
Overview: Rankins has been unable to match the incredible success of his 2018 season, but he’s been far from a bust for the Jets since signing a two-year, $11 million deal before the 2021 season. He’s in line for a raise after another solid season.
Potential Cut Candidates
- DE Carl Lawson ($15 million in cap savings)
- WR Corey Davis ($9.5 million)
- G Laken Tomlinson ($8.9 million)
- S Jordan Whitehead ($7.2 million)
- LB C.J. Mosley ($6.6 million)
- OT Duane Brown ($5.3 million)
- WR Braxton Berrios ($5 million)
- CB Justin Hardee ($2.4 million)
Jets’ Team Needs Heading Into 2023 Offseason
- Guard
- Safety
- Cornerback
- EDGE
- Defensive Tackle
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