One area of restocking for the Aaron Glenn Jets will be a position the new head coach is quite familiar with: the defensive backfield.
The long-time cornerback may have to replace starting CB D.J. Reed, who hasn't ruled out a return but said he wants to test the free agency market. Brandin Echols and Isaiah Oliver are also potential UFAs.
At safety, Chuck Clark returned from his 2023 season-ending injury for 12 starts but had two short stints on IR and can also enter free agency, as can Ashtyn Davis. Tony Adams, who has 26 starts, 4 INTs and 166 tackles the past two seasons, can be a restricted free agent.
The DB marketplace has a number of possible options for the Jets, topped by safety Jevon Holland and corner Charvarius Ward as well as Reed.
S Jevon Holland (Miami)
Holland, in 60 starts over 4 seasons with the Dolphins, totaled 301 tackles, 5 interceptions — including his crushing 99-yard TD return of a Tim Boyle first-half Hail Mary in the Jets' '23 home loss to the Fins — and 25 pass defenses. Born in British Columbia and earning the nickname "Snowman," he could be a rare Miamian who thrives in Northeastern Decembers.
CB D.J. Reed (Jets)
Reed and the Jets have to decide whether he can return for his fourth season in Green & White and his fourth opposite Sauce Gardner. In his first three seasons. Reed had no INTs last year but led the Jets with 11 PDs. He will have other suitors as he enters his eighth NFL season, among them possibly the Falcons and their new coordinator, former Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich.
CB Charvarius Ward (San Francisco)
The 6-1 Ward struggled some last season with 12 starts and no interceptions, attributable to his dealing with the death of his young daughter. The year before, he enjoyed his best season in his sixth as a pro with 5 picks and a league-high 23 PDs for San Francisco, crowned with his first Pro Bowl berth. The Niners' D-coordinator that season: current Jets DC Steve Wilks.
CB Byron Murphy (Minnesota)
The 5-11 Murphy played four seasons with the Cardinals and the last two with the Vikings. He was selected for his first Pro Bowl last season after recording career highs of 17 starts, 6 interceptions, 14 pass defenses and 81 tackles in Minnesota's blitz-heavy scheme. The Vikes are trying to retain Murphy, whose contract won't void until the start of the new league year at 4 pm Eastern on March 12.
S Talanoa Hufanga (San Francisco)
Hufanga, of Tongan descent, trains with HOF safety Troy Polamalu. He also worked under DC Steve Wilks in the 49ers' defense in 2023, but that season and last year were marred by injuries (torn ACL in '23) that held Hufanga to 17 starts combined. But in '22 he had a career year with all 17 starts, 4 INTs, 9 PDs and 97 tackles and was named a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro.
See the top players from around the league who will become free agents when the League Year begins on March 12 at 4 p.m.
No. 1: WR Tee Higgins - Bengals
2024 stats: 12 games, 73 receptions, 911 yards and 10 TDs
No. 2: G Trey Smith - Chiefs
2024 stats: 17 games, 0 sacks allowed (PFF) and named to the Pro Bowl
No. 3: S Jevon Holland - Dolphins
2024 stats: 15 games, 42 tackles, 1 sack and 4 pass defenses
No. 4: WR Chris Godwin - Buccaneers
2024 stats: 7 games, 60 receptions, 576 yards and 5 TDs
No. 5: EDGE Khalil Mack - Chargers
2024 stats: 16 games, 6 sacks, 15 QB hits and named to the Pro Bowl
No. 6: CB DJ Reed - Jets
2024 stats: 14 games, 64 tackles, 11 pass defenses and 1 sack
No. 7: WR Amari Cooper - Bills
2024 stats: 14 games, 44 receptions, 547 yards and 4 TDs
No. 8: T Ronnie Stanley - Ravens
2024 stats: 17 games, 2 sacks allowed (PFF) and named to the Pro Bowl
No. 9: QB Sam Darnold - Vikings
2024 stats: 17 games, 35 passing TDs, 4,319 passing yards and named to the Pro Bowl
No. 10: EDGE Josh Sweat - Eagles
2024 stats: 16 games, 8 sacks and 41 tackles
No. 11: WR Stefon Diggs - Texans
2024 stats: 8 games, 47 receptions, 496 yards and 3 TDs
No. 12: EDGE Haason Reddick - Jets
2024 stats: 10 games, 1 sack and 9 tackles.
No. 13: CB Charvarius Ward - 49ers
2024 stats: 12 games, 54 tackles and 7 pass defenses
No. 14: WR DeAndre Hopkins - Chiefs
2024 stats: 16 games, 56 receptions, 610 yards and 5 TDs
No. 15: CB Rasual Douglas - Bills
2024 stats: 15 games, 58 tackles and 5 pass defenses
No. 16: EDGE Malcolm Koonce - Raiders
2023 stats: 17 games, 8 sacks, 43 tackles and 9 tackles for loss. Missed the entire 2024 season with a knee injury.
No. 17: T Cam Robinson - Vikings
2024 stats: 16 games and 2 sacks allowed (PFF)
No. 18: LB Dre Greenlaw - 49ers
2024 stats: 2 games and 9 tackles. Returned from a torn Achilles.
No. 19: QB Justin Fields - Steelers
2024 stats: 10 games (6 starts), 5 passing TDs, 1,106 passing yards and 5 rushing TDs
No. 20: RB Aaron Jones - Vikings
2024 stats: 17 games, 1,138 yards and 5 TDs
No. 21: CB Carlton Davis - Lions
2024 stats: 13 games, 11 pass defenses and 2 interceptions
No. 22: C Drew Dalman - Falcons
2024 stats: 9 games, 0 sacks allowed and 4 pressures surrendered (PFF)
No. 23: S Talanoa Hufanga - 49ers
2024 stats: 7 games, 38 tackles and 2 tackles for loss
No. 24: G Will Fries - Colts
2024 stats: 5 games, 0 sacks allowed and 1 pressure surrendered (PFF)
No. 25: G Teven Jenkins - Bears
2024 stats: 14 games, 2 sacks allowed and 11 pressures allowed (PFF)
CB Carlton Davis (Detroit)
Glenn is quite familiar with Davis, who joined the Lions after his first six seasons with Tampa Bay and steadied Glenn's young and injury-beset secondary. Davis emerged as Detroit's top CB with 2 INTs, 11 PDs and a career-tops opponents' passer rating of 77.0. He missed the Lions' last four games, including their playoff loss, with a broken jaw.
S Justin Reid (Kansas City)
Reid has been the Chiefs' starting safety for 3 seasons, and started in 10 playoff games and three Super Bowls and earned two SB rings. He had 2 interceptions and 9 PDs last season, his 87 tackles marked the third time he reached 80-plus with KC and he registered 107 blitzes (5 sacks) in those 3 seasons.
S Camryn Bynum (Minnesota)
Bynum has spent his first four productive seasons with the Vikings, recording 17 starts and 1,000-plus defensive snaps in each of the last three seasons and notching career highs of 3 interceptions and 10 PDs for Minnesota last season. And he followed his 137-tackle campaign in '23 with 96 tackles in '24.
Keep an Eye On...
CB Rasul Douglas (Buffalo)
Douglas is one of the older CBs available in free agency, turning 30 in August. He's played for four NFL teams, with his last 24 games coming as a starter for the Bills. He has 45 career PDs and 19 interceptions (none in 18 starts, including POs, last season), with 2 of the picks coming in Buffalo's '23 home win over the Jets. He hails from East Orange, NJ.
CB Asante Samuel Jr. (LA Chargers)
Samuel's fourth season with the 'Bolts in '24 ended after 4 games due to a season-ending shoulder injury. In his first three years as a Charger, he totaled 6 INTs and 35 PDs. Tackling has been a red flag for him (career unofficial missed-tackle rate of 13.3%). Lineage is solid: Dad Asante Sr. had 51 career INTs and 4 Pro Bowl invitations in his 11-year career.
S Tre'von Moehrig (Las Vegas)
Moehrig has been durable with 65 starts and 67 games played in the Raiders' 69 games (including one PO game) from 2021-24. He has led the Silver & Black with 4,267 defensive snaps in those 4 seasons. Last year he logged 2 INTs and personal bests of 10 PDs and 104 tackles. And he became a part of the LV pass rush last season with 52 blitzes.
