Jordan Whitehead agrees to sign with the New York Jets
The New York Jets are turning to a familiar source to bolster their secondary: the Darrelle Revis family tree.
Per Rich Cimini of ESPN, the Jets are set to add former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead, one of several starters from the team’s shutdown of the mighty Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
The Jets have agreed to terms with former Bucs S Jordan Whitehead, sources tell @espn. Another proven starter for the secondary. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) March 15, 2022
Whitehead, who will turn 25 on Friday, is the cousin of the renowned Jets defender and is likewise a Pittsburgh alum.
Just an example of what #Jets new safety Jordan Whitehead brings to the table. pic.twitter.com/CuiFEJgOW4
— New York Jet Fuel (@NewYorkJetFuel) March 15, 2022
He is the second new member of the secondary reported to join New York on Tuesday, as the team is likewise set to add former Seattle cornerback D.J. Reed.
Whitehead entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick of Tampa Bay’s in 2018 (117th overall). Since then, Whitehead has developed a reputation as one of the league’s most physical safeties, his athleticism creating a fair amount of damage in the box or at the line of scrimmage.
Often rotating with the ballhawk abilities of Mike Edwards, Whitehead played 14 games with the Buccaneers last season and ranked third on the team with eight pass breakups. Tampa Bay built its championship defense through the arrival of Whitehead and other draft weekend Friday arrivals in the secondary, which also included Edwards, Jamal Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Carlton Davis (another reported New York target who re-upped with the Buccaneers on Monday).
In Tampa Bay lore, Whitehead is perhaps best known for forcing two fumbles during the Buccaneers’ victory in the 2020-21 NFC title game in Green Bay. The latter of those tallies came at the onset of the third quarter and set up what eventually became the game-winning score of a 31-26 final. He then partook in the Super Bowl excursion with a torn labrum, earning two tackles in the 31-9 win over Kansas City.
Jordan Whitehead forces the fumble, Devin White recovers. #GoBucs #TBvsGB pic.twitter.com/tPle4DnAj8
— NFL Unlimited (@NFLUnlimited) January 24, 2021
Whitehead earned 73 tackles and two interceptions last season and was ranked 62nd in Pro Football Focus’ ranking of the top 100 free agents of 2022.
The Jets have spent this Tuesday continuing to bolster the post-Jamal Adams situation in the secondary through the signings of Reed and Whitehead (who has also earned four interceptions over the last two seasons). New York previously re-signed Lamarcus Joyner to a one-year deal shortly before Monday opened the legal tampering proceedings.
Joyner is expected to compete for the starting free safety role with Ashtyn Davis, while Whitehead could take over the strong spot that ongoing free agent Marcus Maye potentially leaves behind.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
