With only seven days remaining until the NFL’s legal tampering period window opens (March 10, 12 p.m. ET), piping-hot rumors are beginning to dominate the news cycle.
The New York Jets are already being linked to multiple free agents on the offensive side of the football. According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, two free agent wide receivers have generated buzz as potential targets for New York: Josh Palmer of the Los Angeles Chargers and Tim Patrick of the Detroit Lions.
“The Jets are also expected to dip into the mid-tier free agent market at wide receiver. A couple names they’re expected to show interest in as free agents, according to sources: [Tim] Patrick and Josh Palmer (Chargers).”
Palmer, 25, was a third-round pick of the Chargers in 2021. Across four seasons, he has accumulated 182 receptions for 2,287 yards and 10 touchdowns (58 games).
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound wideout is best known for his abilities as a downfield threat. In 2024, Palmer had an ADOT (average depth of target) of 15.1, which ranked fifth-highest among wide receivers with 60+ targets. Of Palmer’s 39 receptions, 24 were made at least 10 yards downfield. This anchored Palmer’s 15.0 yards per reception, which ranked 10th out of 70 qualifiers at the position.
Patrick, 31, has ties to both Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. A practice squad pickup by the Broncos in 2017, Patrick emerged as a solid starter in Denver from 2020-21 until he missed back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023 due to a torn ACL and a torn Achilles, respectively. Patrick returned to play 16 games for the Lions in 2024, serving as an efficient complementary target. On just 44 targets, he caught 33 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns.
At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, Patrick brings a wide catch radius and reliable hands to the position. Since a drop-prone rookie year, Patrick has a drop rate of just 3.8% over his past four seasons, including zero drops in 2024.
Hearing these two names linked to New York probably isn’t prompting Jets fans to frantically start booking hotel dates in San Francisco for next February. Needless to say, Palmer and Patrick are not game-changers. Nonetheless, players like Palmer and Patrick will likely dominate the Jets’ free agency haul in 2025. While unexciting on the surface, it is a wise approach when taking everything into account.
The Jets are in the first year of a dramatic organizational overhaul with no realistic Super Bowl hopes. They are still dealing with the ramifications of the salary-cap moves that were made to go all-in on the past two seasons. They also have many prized young players waiting for extensions.
With all of these factors in mind, the Jets are unlikely to break the bank for any big-ticket free agents this year. Head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey will likely try to fill out a balanced roster with affordable free agents who can provide value on the dollar while strengthening the team’s culture and depth, all without sacrificing the future.
If the Jets play their cards correctly, nailing some signings in the Palmer-Patrick tier can position them for great success, not just in the future, but in 2025 as well. The Jets already have some high-ceiling offensive players who are capable of anchoring the team. Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and the Jets’ offensive line have displayed upper-echelon potential. If New York surrounds its nucleus with deep, well-rounded depth charts comprised of players who can thrive in their roles, the stars will be placed in ideal situations to maximize their potential.
The Detroit Lions have executed this model beautifully in recent years. While the Lions absolutely have some stars on offense, the pieces around those stars are what lift Detroit from a great offense to a league-best offense. They have a dominant offensive line, a one-two punch at running back, reliable blocking tight ends, and a deep wide receiver unit that backs up Amon-Ra St. Brown with a well-rounded group of weapons who each thrive in their roles.
With former Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand in place, the Jets may try to build their offense in a similar way. To get there, solidifying the back end of each position’s depth chart will be critical, and the Jets can pull that off with a collection of mid-tier signings in free agency.
This approach would come off as underwhelming to segments of the fanbase after New York’s star-studded offseason hauls of 2023 and 2024, but hey, those two exciting offseasons culminated in a 12-22 record. The Jets are poised to flip to an economical approach in 2025, and we shall see if the record flips accordingly.
