New York Jets: Who Are the Biggest Priorities in 2012 Free Agency?

The New York Jets got off to a turbulent start to their 2012 offseason, but Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum have promised to do everything they can to help this team get back into contention for a Super Bowl. That process all starts with free agency.

With help from Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog, we get a look at the Jets free-agency class of 2012.

"

Restricted Free Agents (Four)

TE Matthew Mulligan
LB Aaron Maybin
LB Jamaal Westerman
CB Marquice Cole

 

Unrestricted Free Agents (11)

QB Mark Brunell
QB Kevin O'Connell
RB LaDainian Tomlinson
WR Plaxico Burress
OL Robert Turner
DT Sione Pouha
LB Bryan Thomas
CB Donald Strickland
S Jim Leonhard
S Brodney Pool
K Nick Folk

"

What does it all mean?

Secondary in Focus

What jumps out from this list? Four defensive backs (three unrestricted, one restricted) in total are set to become free agents. 

Perhaps the key free agent for the Jets is safety Jim Leonhard, who has earned a great deal of praise from his coaches for years for his ability to make the calls on the back end and make adjustments as a pseudo-quarterback of the defense.

He's not particularly great in run defense, but he's underrated in pass defense, which is surprising considering his size (5'8", 190 pounds). That works perfectly in the Cover 1 scheme the Jets run in their back seven, where he isn't counted on so much for his run defense as his pass coverage. 

According to Pro Football Focus, quarterbacks went 11-for-20 passing (55 percent) in his direction, and he didn't allow a single touchdown pass this season.

Safety Brodney Pool didn't play much either, but he should earn an offer, if only as a back-up. The Jets don't really have many better options, and I'm sure Jets fans shudder at the thought of Eric Smith roaming the back end of the secondary for any extended period of time.

Sione Pouha Deserves His Due

The Jets have some question marks in the front seven headed into the 2012 season in terms of their age and their experience. Pouha may be aging, but he has to be the top priority. He has been one of the most consistent players in the front seven since Rex Ryan took over. 

Besides outside linebacker, nose tackle is the most important position in a 3-4 defense. A guy like Pouha is a great tone-setter for the defense in their aggressive style of play. Most importantly, though, he's a locker-room leader and a veteran presence that could play a big difference in helping the Jets clean up the chemistry experiment.

A Big Offseason for Mark Sanchez

It seems like every year, we are talking about how important the offseason will be for Mark Sanchez's growth. This time, it's for real.

There are two big decisions to be made by the front office: the future of both wide receiver Plaxico Burress and running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

On the one hand, it's important that Sanchez has familiar weapons around him in an offseason where he'll be trying to learn a new offense; he needs guys that he's built chemistry with. On the other hand, both Tomlinson and Burress are aging, and it's tough to say whether the team wants to invest the money in them for the long-term.

According to NYJetsCap.com, an unofficial contract information website, the Jets are dangerously close to the salary cap, and are currently set to exceed it.

With a brand new system, nobody is a lock to be on the roster next year. Except, of course, Santonio Holmes.

State Your Case

Who is the biggest free-agent priority in your opinion? Am I right, or do you think I'm dead wrong? State your case in the comments below, or send me a tweet at the link right after this text.

Thanks for reading!

Follow @ErikFrenz