The New York Jets still have some holes to fill
Even though we are in the heart of the NFL offseason’s summer lull, training camp will arrive in short order. Soon, NFL teams will begin shaping their rosters for Week 1.
The New York Jets are in a similar boat to many other teams, meaning their roster could use minor tweaks. Luckily for them, there are still some available free agents that the team could add to bolster positions of need.
Some cap maneuvering may be necessary, but New York could pursue these options to shore up its roster.
Quandre Diggs, Safety
The safety position arguably has the best group of available free agents. One of the most notable options is former Lion and Seahawk Quandre Diggs.
A veteran heading into his 10th year in the league, Diggs was one of the NFL’s most productive safeties in coverage at his peak. He had 23 interceptions from 2017-22, recording at least three each year.
However, Diggs slowed down in 2023, only notching one interception and two pass breakups. He also struggled as a tackler, missing 20 tackles and recording a missed tackle rate of 17.5%.
If the Jets were to pursue Diggs, it would be as a rotational and situational player. While not the star safety he was earlier in his career, Diggs would provide experienced depth on the back end of the defense.
Justin Simmons, Safety
While Diggs is a depth target at safety, Justin Simmons is a player who would be added in a starting capacity. The 30-year-old safety was a second-team All-Pro in each of the past three seasons.
Simmons provides a blend of sound tackling and ball skills that few others at the position possess. He had 70 tackles in 2023 while only missing nine tackles. As a pass defender, Simmons had three interceptions, five pass breakups, and a forced incompletion percentage of 17%.
He may have taken a step backward compared to his NFL-high six interceptions in 2022, but Simmons is still a player who would significantly upgrade the Jets’ safety unit if the team is looking for a splash at the position. The veteran would greatly compliment Sauce Gardner and the Jets’ secondary, cleaning up the plays in the middle of the field while making opposing quarterbacks stress their next moves.
The price point is a legitimate topic of conversation, but in a vacuum, Simmons is a player that New York should absolutely look to target.
Russell Gage, Wide Receiver
Shifting away from the defensive side of the ball, Russell Gage is an interesting player who is still available at the wide receiver position.
Gage last played for Tampa Bay in 2022, as he missed all of last season with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. In 2022, the veteran wideout had 51 receptions for 426 yards and five touchdowns.
Still only 28 years old, Gage can provide depth and versatility at multiple spots on the field. He has over 800 career snaps both in the slot and outside, showing that he can line up anywhere on the field.
Gage stays close to the line of scrimmage, owning a career ADOT (average depth of target) of only 8.4. In 2022, this number was down to 5.9. Gage would give New York a safety-valve type of receiver who could step up in the underneath part of the field if injuries strike the wide receiver room.
Mark Glowinski, Interior Offensive Line
While the tackle depth is shored up, the Jets should consider upgrading their backup players on the interior. Mark Glowinski is a player the team could look at for this purpose.
Glowinski is a mauler who has played on both sides of the offensive line. His main strength is run blocking, as evidenced by Pro Football Focus, which has given him positive overall grades over the past three seasons. The veteran struggles in pass protection, giving up 24 pressures in 304 pass-blocking opportunities.
