Free agent offensive tackle Duane Brown to visit New York Jets
The New York Jets are in need of help at their backup offensive tackle position, and it appears they are working to address the problem.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, free agent offensive tackle Duane Brown is visiting the Jets on Saturday. Brown, who was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2021, will also attend the team’s Green & White Scrimmage at MetLife Stadium.
Free-agent OT Duane Brown is visiting the #Jets and will attend the Green & White scrimmage tonight, per source. Brown is a former Pro Bowler who started every game last season for the #Seahawks Turns 37 on Aug. 30.
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 6, 2022
Brown was a first-round pick in the 2008 draft. He will turn 37 years old on August 30. The Virginia Tech product has played 207 games in his career (all starts), spending his first 10 seasons with the Texans and the past five with the Seahawks. Brown started every game for Seattle over the past two seasons.
Brown has exclusively played the left tackle position in his career. He has never played an NFL snap at right tackle.
The five-time Pro Bowler’s best days are well behind him, but he remained solid in the 2021 season. While Brown’s 71.5 overall grade at Pro Football Focus was his worst mark since his rookie season, it still ranked 30th out of 66 qualified tackles (55th percentile). Brown also kept the penalty flags to a modest level with only five of them over 969 offensive snaps.
New York badly needs to improve its security at the tackle position. Behind starters George Fant and Mekhi Becton, the Jets do not have anybody they can rely upon. Conor McDermott, Chuma Edoga, and Max Mitchell are their top tackles outside of the starting duo. McDermott has been giving up sacks on a routine basis in training camp. Edoga has struggled throughout his career. Mitchell is a fourth-round rookie.
Acquiring Brown would allow the Jets to feel a lot better about their second-string offensive line.
