5 Free Agents Who Won't Be Signing with the New York Jets
The New York Jets are the Richie Rich of the 2015 offseason.
They have all the money in the world, and they just want to make new friends and playmates.
The only difference is the Jets aren't fighting back against an evil-doer trying to take over the company. They're battling with 31 other teams trying to win the Super Bowl.
With a projected $45 million in salary-cap space, according to Spotrac, the Jets have an opportunity to make out like bandits in this years' free-agent frenzy, whether it's high-priced pieces to plug into the starting lineup or complementary pieces to help them round out some sore spots on the depth chart.
That being said, they certainly won't sign every free agent on the open market. Here's a look at some of the players who may not wind up playing at MetLife Stadium in 2015.
Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
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Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has shown a keen ability to disrupt the interior of the trenches by slicing his way into the backfield and drawing double-teams from guards and centers. In 2014, Suh notched 8.5 sacks, marking the third time in his career he's hit or beat the eight-sack plateau.
Penalty and discipline problems be damned, it will take a pretty penny to land him in free agency. Suh was the last in a long history of first-round picks who were not subject to the rookie wage scale, and his 2014 cap hit was a stunning $22 million.
There is some uncertainty around the future of defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson with the Jets, as the 2011 first-round pick enters the fifth year (option) of his rookie deal and will be a free agent in 2016 unless an agreement is reached.
The Jets would be wiser to keep Wilkerson in the fold, as his experience in the 3-4 defense will be an immediate fit in the scheme of new head coach Todd Bowles.
Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos
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Ever since the spring of 2014, Jets fans have had day dreams of reuniting the duo of wide receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, moving them from the orange crush of the Denver Broncos to the Gang Green of New York.
The Jets may choose to unload the contract of Percy Harvin, which is set to count for $10.5 million against the salary cap this season and would ultimately give the Jets even more flexibility with the salary cap. But a couple of questions must be asked before we get that far.
First, would the Jets invest in another wide receiver with a high price tag after forking over a big contract to Decker less than 12 months ago? Second, would Thomas want to leave the Mile High City before maximizing his window with quarterback Peyton Manning?
The answer to both questions is probably "no," especially since Thomas' price tag will be higher than ever after he posted career bests in receptions and receiving yards in 2014.
Jerry Hughes, Buffalo Bills
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One area the New York Jets have been lacking for years is in the edge pressure department. Players like Calvin Pace, Bryan Thomas, Quinton Coples and a slew of others have been able to capitalize on the stellar pressure provided by Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, but have failed to create pressure of their own accord.
Jerry Hughes would not be the next in that slew. He was drafted as the heir to Dwight Freeney in Indianapolis, but never lived up to the billing before being traded. After two seasons in Buffalo with 10 sacks each year, all while proving he can be a fit in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 alignment, Hughes is in line for a nice pay day. The Bills have already invested heavily in the defensive line, but it would not be beyond Rex Ryan to make that investment.
Thus, while the Jets may be in dire need of a defensive end, Hughes may not want to pass up the opportunity to play for Ryan, or the money he'll surely get from a head coach who has proved he's not afraid to load up on talent up front.
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Charles Clay, Miami Dolphins
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Whether it's the quarterback position or the skill positions, the New York Jets need to sort out their situation on the offensive side of the ball this year. Their string of sucktitude must come to an end in 2015, after three straight years of ranking in the bottom five in points scored.
The 6'3", 255-pound Charles Clay has been a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses over the past two seasons. He had a breakout campaign in 2013 with 69 receptions for 759 yards and six touchdowns, and although his numbers took a step back in 2014, he remained difficult for opponents to cover, and caught 71.6 percent of catchable balls thrown in his direction, according to Pro Football Focus.
Despite his abilities as a pass-catching tight end, the Jets recently spend a second-round pick on Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro. His rookie season was not superlative, by any stretch, at 38 catches for 345 yards and two touchdowns, but he has shown the potential to be a weapon in the passing game. The Jets also still have Jeff Cumberland on the roster, and while he'll never be quite the pass-catching threat of Clay, his blocking ability is better than both Clay and Amaro.
Darrelle Revis, New England Patriots
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If Darrelle Revis was going to come back to the Jets in 2014, it would have been to team up with Rex Ryan one more time. Unfortunately, general manager John Idzik did not feel as strongly about making that happen as Ryan did, and the dream deal never came to fruition.
Perhaps Revis would be more inclined to rejoin the Jets with a new general manager, and owner Woody Johnson has already openly tampered with Revis in saying he would have loved for Revis to return to New York. Unfortunately for the Jets, now that Revis has had a taste of success in New England, he may be hoping to remain with contending teams for the duration of his career.
It's not a matter of not having the money for the Jets, but right now, it does not appear that they are headed for a quick rise to the top of the ranks in the NFL anytime soon.
All contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac.
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