It is no secret what position group the Jets need to fix this offseason.
The offensive line has been talked about for months.
Now, general manager Joe Douglas will begin his attempt at fixing it.
The negotiating window for free agents opens Monday and Douglas needs to work the phones to find some linemen to block for Aaron Rodgers this fall.
The offensive line makeover won’t be completed in free agency.
Douglas surely will use the draft to get at least one starter, too.
He is expected to use the No. 10 overall pick on a tackle.
But free agency will be the first avenue Douglas can use to reshape the line.
The Jets need to find three new starters with center Joe Tippmann and guard/tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker as the only starters expected to return in 2024.
The free-agent market for tackles looks weak, so Douglas’ could choose to sign two guards and put Vera-Tucker at one tackle while drafting the starter at the other tackle.
If he adds a tackle in free agency, the Jets could keep Vera-Tucker at guard.
The guard market could get expensive at the top because there will be a lot of teams with a need at the position and not a lot of good ones available.
Two guards came off the market Thursday.
The Rams re-signed Kevin Dotson to a three-year, $48 million contract and the Jaguars re-upped Ezra Cleveland for three years, $28.5 million.
Here’s a look at the top guards and tackles poised to hit free agency:
Guards
Robert Hunt (28 years old)
Hunt has position versatility. He has started at right guard and right tackle for the Dolphins. The Jets value position flexibility with their linemen, and that could make him attractive. He allowed one quarterback hit last season on 376 pass-blocking snaps. PFF rated him the No. 6 guard out of 79 in 2023. He should command top dollar, probably $16 million per season.
Jonah Jackson (27)
Jackson started 57 games in four seasons for the Lions and made the Pro Bowl in 2021. Jackson is considered a better run blocker than a pass blocker. PFF rated him 34th out of 79 guards.
Mike Onwenu (26)
Onwenu has played left guard, right guard and right tackle for the Patriots. He played in 64 out of 67 games in the last four seasons, showing durability. I am projecting him as a guard for the Jets but he could give the Jets some options if they want to play Vera-Tucker inside and him outside. PFF rated him the 29th tackle out of 81 in 2023.
Kevin Zeitler (34)
Zeitler is older, but he has played well for the Ravens over the last three years. He has made 15 starts in each of the past nine seasons. The Jets need to prioritize durability with their injury luck recently along the line. Zeitler could be more of a bargain because of his age. Could the Jets get him for $7 million per season? That might be worth the age risk.
Tackles
Jonah Williams (26)
Williams has started 49 games in three seasons for the Bengals. He was a left tackle early in his career but moved to right tackle last year. Williams is going to be at the top of the market and projects to get around $16 million per year. PFF rated him 59th out of 81 tackles last year.
Tyron Smith (33)
Smith is one of the best tackles in the last decade, but he has struggled to stay healthy and is getting old. Would Douglas take a risk on a player with age/injury concerns considering the way his line has struggled to stay healthy? When he plays, he is still good. He was second-team All-Pro last year, and PFF rated him No. 4 out of 81 tackles.
Trent Brown (31)
Another Patriots lineman whom the Jets have seen plenty of. Brown has started 93 regular-season games and played on both the left and right side. He has struggled with his weight and may not fit the Jets system well.Â
