The NFL's new league year began Wednesday at 4 EDT, which means teams can execute contracts and trades can be processed.
Jets General manager Joe Douglas has already re-signed some of his own players including S Chuck Clark and TE Kenny Yeboah. The team has reportedly agreed to terms on a handful of contracts over the last two days including G John Simpson, QB Tyrod Taylor and DT Javon Kinlaw. Those players are expected to sign their new deals later this week. The Green & White also reportedly agreed to a trade that will bring back RT Morgan Moses, who played with the Jets in the 2021 season, from Baltimore.
With more moves on the horizon across the league, here's a list of available free agents that could make sense for the Jets:
Tackle
Mekhi Becton, Duane Brown and Billy Turner are all unrestricted free agents, which means Carter Warren, entering his second season, and Max Mitchell, entering his third, are the only tackles under contract. Moses, once the trade becomes official, would be the third.
David Bakhtiari (6-4, 310)
Bakhtiari is similar to Smith in that he's an older player (32) with high upside and durability concerns. He was either a first- or second-team All-Pro in five straight seasons from 2016-2020 but has played in 13 games since over the last three seasons (1 in 2023). The Packers sixth-round pick in 2013 out of Colorado, who is close friends with Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, has battled knee injuries of late.
*Donovan Smith (6-6, 338) *Smith has experience working on an offensive line with future Hall of Famers under center. He most recently blocked for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes en route to a Super Bowl and blocked for Tom Brady on the Buccaneers from 2020-22. Smith, drafted in the second round (No. 34 overall) by the Bucs in 2015, has played in at least 15 games for the first seven seasons of his career. The former Penn State Nittany Lion has played in 25 games over the last two seasons.
Wide Receiver
This year's draft class has a lot of talent and depth, which could impact the free agent market. The Jets have a great WR in Garrett Wilson, but they'll want to fill out the room that includes Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee and Irv Charles.
Mike Williams (6-4, 218)
Williams, who is set to visit the Jets Monday (3/18), was let go by the Chargers last week. He played in three games this season before sustaining a torn ACL. The No. 7 overall pick in 2017 out of Clemson, Williams has played in at least 13 games each of the last four seasons and has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in two of them. He led the league averaging 20.4 yards per reception in '19. Williams can stretch the field and has totaled 309 receptions, 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns in 88 games (62 starts).
Tyler Boyd (6-2, 203)
Boyd, primarily a slot receiver, has been the model of consistency with the Bengals. His best seasons came before QB Joe Burrow and WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins arrived in Cincinnati, but he's been able to stay productive. He's had at least 60 receptions and 750 yards in each of the last four seasons.
Odell Beckham Jr. (5-11, 200)
There was steam behind Beckham joining the Jets last offseason before he sign with the Ravens. His 565 yards ranked second on the team behind rookie WR Zay Flowers and Beckham's 35 receptions and 3 touchdowns each ranked second among wideouts in Baltimore.
Edge
The Jets pass rushers will be a different crop than last season as Bryce Huff, the team's leader in sacks in 2023, signed with the Eagles in free agency. The room still has Pro Bowler Jermaine Johnson, second-year player Will McDonald and John Franklin-Myers. Carl Lawson is an unrestricted free agent.
Jadeveon Clowney (6-5, 266)
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Clowney is set to visit the Jets Tuesday (3/19). The No. 1 overall pick in 2014 out of South Carolina had 9.5 sacks last season with the Ravens, which tied his career high (2017). Entering his 11th season, Clowney has been named to three Pro Bowls -- 2016-18 -- and has 52.5 career sacks. In 126 games (113 starts), he has 363 tackles, 99 tackles for loss, 128 QB hits, 15 forced fumbles and 27 pass defenses.
*Derek Barnett (6-3, 259) *Barnett was drafted by the Eagles in 2017 when Joe Douglas was Philadelphia's vice president of player personnel. Barnett, drafted No. 14 overall, has 24 career sacks. He was waived last season and claimed by the Texans where he had 2.5 sacks in six games (four starts). The Tennessee product helped secure the Eagles' Super Bowl victory with a late fumble recovery. Barnett has started in 49 of the 79 games he's played in and has 169 tackles, 45 tackles for loss, 87 QB hits and 3 forced fumbles.
Yannick Ngakoue (6-2, 246)
Ngakoue's 4 sacks with the Bears in 2023 was his career low. It was the first time in his nine seasons he finished with fewer than 8 sacks. Originally drafted by the Jaguars in the third round out of Maryland in 2016, Ngakoue was a part of the Jags' "Sacksonville" team in 2017 that went to the AFC Championship. He had a career-high 12 sacks that season and a league-high 6 forced fumbles. He has 69 career sacks in 123 games (115 starts) to go along with 21 forced fumbles, 71 tackles for loss and 142 quarterback hits.
