Tyler Conklin not expected to return to the Jets in 2025

NFL free agency is fast approaching and I’m sure Darren Mougey and the rest of the Jets front office is busy working through their desired targets.

On the other hand they also need to figure out who they want to keep and who they’re happy to let go.

According to Connor Hughes, he believes that TE Tyler Conklin is unlikely to return to the Jets. Speaking in his post-combine notes, the Jets beat reporter said:

It’s widely been accepted that Reed was unlikely to return, but not a lot has been said about Conklin who’s coming off a solid season he caught 51 passes for 449 yards and 4 TDs.

Conklin signed with the Jets before the 2022 season following a 4-year run in Minnesota. He set a career high this year with 4 receiving touchdowns, a career high in receiving yards last year with 621 while also matching a career high 61 catches.

Overall Conklin has been largely productive with the Jets. With only Jeremy Ruckert signed for the 2025 season, TE is going to be a position of focus for the Jets. Plenty of draft analysts are connecting the Jets with Penn State standout Tyler Warren but he’s not the only prospect worth monitoring in the draft. Michigan’s Colston Loveland, Miami’s Elijah Arroyo, LSU’s Mason Taylor and Texas’s Gunner Helm will all likely go within the first 100 picks.

NY Jets could land former draft crush in obvious trade to fix glaring roster hole

The NY Jets are expected to be in the market for tight end help this offseason as the team’s new regime hopes to find a solution to a position that has often been the Achilles heel of the Jets’ offense in recent years.

The Jets have struggled to find consistent production at the tight end position, and while Tyler Conklin filled his role as a serviceable starter over the last three years, the organization is hoping to do better.

Conklin is not expected to return in 2025, leaving underwhelming former third-round pick Jeremy Ruckert as the only tight end under contract entering the offseason. The Jets are likely to explore the free-agent market in search of help, but there might be another option.

The Athletic is reporting that the Las Vegas Raiders are shopping former second-round pick Michael Mayer and have had discussions with teams about a potential trade. The Jets are an obvious landing spot.

NY Jets could explore a Michael Mayer trade

A second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Mayer was seen as one of the best tight ends in his draft class after a standout career at Notre Dame. The Kentucky native was seen as a high-floor tight end prospect and was even given plenty of first-round consideration