3 free agents Jets must target after 2024 NFL Draft
The Jets have plenty of reasons for optimism, but their roster could still use some tinkering.
Will the 2024 NFL season finally be the year that the New York Jets break through?
The Jets are clearly all-in on 2024, and they pretty much have to be. They are relying on 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers to lead them to a Super Bowl. If that’s going to occur, it probably needs to happen very soon.
That’s why New York made a concerted effort to bolster its roster on both sides of the both this offseason, adding some weapons for Rodgers. They patched up the offensive line and also beefed up the defense by swinging a trade for superstar edge rusher Haason Reddick. It wasn’t just free agency and trades, either. The Jets also enjoyed a very solid NFL Draft.
But have the Jets done enough?
New York is playing in a very winnable division in the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills lost a whole bunch of key pieces, the Miami Dolphins subtracted some of their top defensive players and the New England Patriots are no longer a threat. Not right now, anyway.
However, the Jets don’t just have to get through their division. They have to get through teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals and, most notably, the Kansas City Chiefs to make it to the Super Bowl.
Gang Green has an impressive roster. There is no doubt about that. However, the Jets may still want to add some pieces in order to truly establish themselves as fearsome contenders in the rugged AFC.
The Jets have already done some serious work on their receiving corps this offseason, signing Mike Williams in free agency and selecting Western Kentucky standout Malachi Corley in the third round of the NFL Draft.
New York boasts a pretty formidable receiving duo of Garrett Wilson and Williams, and Corley could end up having a big role too. Beyond that, the Jets also have Allen Lazard, who was a favorite of Rodgers during his Green Bay Packers days.
But it’s important to note that Williams is coming off of a torn ACL, which was a big reason why the Los Angeles Chargers cut him in the first place (combined with his salary). As far as Corley, he looks like he could be a heck of a steal for Gang Green. But rookies are largely a crapshoot, particularly when they are taken past the second round.
Why not bring in Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who enjoyed a nice run with Rodgers in Green Bay, for some insurance?
Valdes-Scantling has spent the last couple of years with the Kansas City Chiefs, helping the franchise win back-to-back Super Bowl titles. He has played a significant role in those championship runs, making some big catches on Patrick Mahomes throws in the playoffs.
So not only does Valdes-Scantling already have a good rapport with Rodgers, but he has some incredible postseason experience under his belt
The 29-year-old enjoyed his best season in 2020, when he hauled in 33 receptions for 690 yards and six touchdowns with the Packers. He led the NFL with 20.9 yards per catch that season, demonstrating his connection with Rodgers.
Valdes-Scantling is also just two years removed from catching 42 passes for 687 yards and a couple of scores.
Is receiver a pressing need for the Jets? No, but injuries happen, so you can never have enough depth. And again, the camaraderie with Rodgers is significant.
