Jets general manager Joe Douglas may soon realize that he is stuck in a corner… or trapped without one.
Douglas addressed two key areas of need in free agency with deals with edge razor Carl Lawson and wide receiver Corey Davis, but the cornerback remains a terrific need, and one that doesn’t have many easy answers.
The new Jets coaching staff likes the current cornerback Bless Austin and Bryce Hall, but they are both still very unproven. Austin has played two-year stakes, and Hall has played the second half of his cheating season in 2020. He has shown both promises, but the Jets would benefit from adding some experience to the situation.
The problem is that this free-agent market is not filled with great options. Douglas did not go after William Jackson or Shakeel Griffin, who topped the market players. Jackson signed with Washington for $ 13.5 million per year, and Griffin landed with the Jaguars for $ 13.33 million per year.
Douglas could wait until the draft to address the hole in the corner and possibly find an upgrade, but the Jets need some experience at the position. You can’t get in that draft.
New coach Robert Saleh may be eyeing a reunion with Richard Sherman, who spent the last three seasons in San Francisco and is now a free agent. Sherman is reportedly interested in the saints. He said on his podcast with Chris Collinsworth that things are moving slowly.
“Well, it’s slow so far,” Sherman said, Via NBCSportsBayArea.com. “I think they’re making some calls where they like, hey, what do you want to take?” Or, ‘What are you willing to do? What Are You Trying To Do?’ And what is my lower number? What is my top number? ‘Etc, et cetera. But nothing crazy. No firm offers anything or anything. I think they are waiting for all the youth to know where they are going. Sheikh Griffin, he just signed with Jacksonville, so I think once he and William Jackson are about to take off from the floor.
Jackson reached an agreement with Washington on Wednesday, so the market’s top is now determined. Sherman, who turned 33 later this month, who is not looking for free agency for the Jets, does not fit the profile. Davis and Lawson will both turn 26 when the season begins. Sherman is a unique case, however. He can help teach Saleh’s defense, help Saleh in the locker room as he tries to win over his new team and be a mentor to the young cornerback. The Jets not only played Austin and Hall a lot last year, but also gave time to rookies Lamar Jackson and Javelin Guidry. This is a very young room.
Other top options in free agency outside of Sherman are Desmond King, Adore Jackson, Troy Hill and Xavier Rhodes. On Wednesday, there was a report from the Chicago Tribune that Beers could leave Kyle Fuller to make cap space, but that did not happen. Douglas was with Fuller in Chicago for a year.
The Jet also needs to address the slot cornerback position. Brian Pool is a free agent. The Jets can choose to sign him again or go after Kevon Williams, who played for Saleh with the 49ers.
If Douglas waits for the draft, it makes sense to consider a cornerback with the No. 23 pick or No. 34. Jessie Horn of South Carolina and Calvin Joseph of Kentucky may be available at that location.
The Jets re-signed RB Josh Adams, determined to become a restricted free agent. He did not tender LB Harvey Langi or Frankie Lavoo, making them both unrestricted free agents. A source said that the team plans to re-sign WR Jeff Smith, who is a special rights free agent.
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