Day 2 of NFL free agency came and went without the New York Jets making a peep. Now that we are comfortably into the second wave of free agency, it is time for New York to begin focusing on bargain buys.
That was always going to be the Jets’ goal in this year’s free agency period, anyway. While the Jets do not lack cap space, they are not exactly flush with it, either, at least relative to the plethora of holes that must be filled on a roster that won five games last year. That is especially true in an exploding free agent market where Javon Kinlaw earned $15 million per year, and Dan Moore earned over $20 million per year.
Having only netted three outside additions so far (QB Justin Fields, CB Brandon Stephens, FS Andre Cisco), many holes still remain across the Jets’ depth chart. Rookie general manager Darren Mougey must economically fill these holes before the draft so as not to leave the team pining for any particular position. You never want to put yourself in a spot where you need something going into the draft; that is when you start reaching, causing you to miss out on better prospects just to fill a hole.
Entering Day 3 of NFL free agency, here are five free agents who would adequately plug holes on the Jets’ roster.
TE Mo Alie-Cox
The Jets’ need for tight end help only became greater after they committed to building a physical, run-first offense around Justin Fields. They have yet to act, though. Jeremy Ruckert remains the team’s top tight end.
Mo Alie-Cox is an ideal TE2 who can hold the fort at the position until the Jets attempt to draft a starter in what looks like a very deep tight end class. Alie-Cox has the reputation of a strong blocker and is not a slouch as a receiver, averaging 241 yards and three touchdowns per season across his past five campaigns.
WR Tim Patrick
The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Tim Patrick provides a vertical threat on the outside with a large catch radius. He thrived in a complementary role for the Detroit Lions last year, turning his mere 44 targets into 33 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns.
Familiar with Aaron Glenn and Tanner Engstrand, Patrick would fit in nicely as the Jets integrate their new culture and new offensive scheme.
OT Kendall Lamm
After losing Morgan Moses to the New England Patriots, the Jets have a hole at right tackle. It is the only unfilled starting spot on their offensive line. There are no long-term starter options left on the free agent market, but the Jets need to find a worthy stopgap starter before the draft.
Kendall Lamm, 32, has built a long NFL career as a backup tackle, playing 119 games with 44 starts across 10 seasons. Lamm is coming off a solid season for the Miami Dolphins, allowing 12 total pressures on 336 pass-blocking snaps across 15 appearances. He yielded zero sacks and committed one penalty. Lamm started seven games at right tackle and also made two appearances at left tackle.
The catch with Lamm is that he would not be a smooth fit in the Jets’ vision of building a ground-and-pound offense, as he has been considered a liability in the run game throughout his career. However, his reputation as a pass blocker is quite good for the price range he will likely command. Jets fans will also love his ability to avoid penalties, being called for just 11 of them on 3,036 career offensive snaps.
As a placeholder starter and primary backup, Lamm is a great option.
SS Vonn Bell
The Jets have been active at the safety position. They signed Andre Cisco to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million and placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on Tony Adams.
However, both Cisco and Adams primarily thrive in the back end of the secondary. What the Jets lack is an enforcer in the box. This will be particularly important under Aaron Glenn, who capitalized on the box abilities of Brian Branch to make creative chess moves in Detroit.
Vonn Bell’s best days are behind him, but the 30-year-old is a proven box safety who can fill that role for New York in the short term as Glenn and Steve Wilks integrate their defensive vision.
In his career, Bell has lined up as a linebacker, on the edge, or in the slot on 59.6% of his defensive snaps. That rate was up to 66% during his 2024 season with the Bengals. Bell is experienced in playing a variety of roles near the line of scrimmage, making him an ideal complement to either Cisco or Adams.
A second-round pick of the Saints in 2016, Bell was the first defensive back drafted by New Orleans during Glenn’s tenure as the team’s defensive backs coach. Bell played four seasons under Glenn with the Saints.
DL Levi Onwuzurike
A second-round pick of the Lions in 2021, Levi Onwuzurike struggled to break through over his first three seasons, due much in part to a 2022 back injury that cost him his entire season. Injuries throughout the Lions’ defense gave Onwuzurike a chance to shine in 2024, and he took advantage.
Onwuzurike finished the season with 45 total pressures, tying him for second on the Lions’ defense behind Za’Darius Smith. He also tied for third on the team (and first among defensive linemen) with 13 run stops.
Carrying a tweener frame at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Onwuzurike offers the ability to rotate across the defensive line. In 2024, he played 19.8% of his snaps outside of the tackle (5-tech), 43.9% over the tackle (4/4i-tech), 34.5% over the guard (3/2/2i-tech), and 1.4% over the center (0/1-tech).
Signing Onwuzurike can help the Jets address two needs at once. He would bolster their interior pass rush next to Quinnen Williams while also providing a big-bodied edge presence against the run, giving them a second reliable edge-setter alongside Jermaine Johnson.
