If there were coupons for NFL free agents, Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan would have his scissors out Sunday morning looking for bargains.
That is where the Jets are at this year entering free agency — searching for some value buys. A year after going on a spending spree, the Jets don’t have much salary-cap space and have their own free agents still to sign. All of that is going to lead to a quieter free-agency period in Florham Park this year.
“This year’s free agency is going to be a lot like a normal NFL team’s free agency,” Maccagnan said at last month’s NFL Scouting Combine.
The key word in the Jets’ free-agency plan this year is: contingency. Last year, the Jets could attack the market armed with Woody Johnson’s checkbook and loads of cap space. This year, the Jets must first see which of their own free agents they can keep, knowing it won’t be all of them. Then, making decisions based on which players they lose. Do they sign a lesser player at the same position? Use the money elsewhere? It will be a fluid situation for the Jets’ front office to navigate through.
Another key word for the Jets this spring is: value. Maccagnan, an economics major back at Trinity College, will be looking to maximize his dollars. The Jets entered the weekend with about $6 million in salary-cap space after using the franchise tag on Muhammad Wilkerson last week. There are still a few cuts and contract adjustments they can make to clear more space, but it is hard to envision clearing any more than $10 million-12 million.
Of their own free agents, the Jets would like to bring back quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, nose tackle Damon Harrison and running backs Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. Bringing back all four will be impossible, but the Jets hope to hold onto as many as they can.
Teams can begin negotiating with other teams’ free agents on Monday at noon. Free agents can’t sign with another team until 4 p.m. on Wednesday. It will be during this two-day “legal tampering” period that the Jets get an idea of what the markets look like for Fitzpatrick, Harrison, Ivory and Powell. After all of the posturing between team and agents over the past few weeks, the Jets can now say to the players “go out and see what you can get and then come back to us.”
Will any quarterback-needy team throw more money at Fitzpatrick than the Jets? It does not seem likely, but if he finds there is not much of a market for him, maybe the Jets’ offer will look more attractive.
Harrison figures to get a lot of attention, and could be on his way out with the Jets. The 2012 undrafted free agent has developed into one of the best nose tackles in football, but it would be hard for the Jets to justify spending big money on a player who is on the field just 50 percent of the time when they have so many other holes.
The running back market is going to be interesting to watch. Doug Martin and Lamar Miller are at the top of the board, and both may get $5 million-$6 million per year. Is Ivory the next back? Will he get a contract similar to those guys or will there be a big dropoff? If he is significantly lower than that, the Jets could bring him back.
Unlike last year, the Jets don’t enter this free agency period targeting particular positions. They are looking for good value players who won’t affect their long-term salary cap but can help them in 2016.
“I think what we’re going to try to do is, you’re trying to figure out which way you can best maximize the impact of the money you have,” Maccagnan said. “So I don’t think I would say we would fill some needs in free agency and then try fill the other needs in the draft.”
Three who could be Jets
Ladarius Green, TE
The 25-year-old was in the shadow of Antonio Gates in San Diego, but he could be just the kind of value buy Jets GM Mike Maccagnan is looking for. The Jets tight ends had eight catches last year. This position needs an upgrade.
Alfred Morris, RB
The Jets may lose both Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell in free agency. If so, or even if they lose one, they are going to need to address the running back position. Morris had a down year in 2015, and his price tag should reflect that, making him a bargain.
Nick Perry, OLB
Outside linebacker is in need of a complete makeover for the Jets. They likely will draft a pass rusher in the early rounds, but also could add a veteran to ease the transition for a rookie or second-year linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin. Perry would fit the bill.