Top 10 NFL Free Agents the New York Jets Must Sign
The New York Jets are in for one busy offseason.
With a new regime heading the franchise, New York should be major players in free agency, especially considering its financial flexibility and growing need for a roster overhaul.
The Jets have major holes at several important positions, including quarterback, wide receiver, guard and cornerback.
Luckily for Gang Green, plenty of solid options are available at those positions.
Click through for the top 10 free agents New York should target in the open market.
Jason Worilds
1 of 10
Solid pass-rushers don't hit the open market often, especially when they are about to hit their prime.
Jason Worilds will be the rare exception, as the 26-year-old outside linebacker is set to hit free agency this offseason, per Scott Brown of ESPN.com.
Worilds led the Pittsburgh Steelers with 7.5 sacks a year ago, and he had eight sacks in 2013. The Virginia Tech product also performs well against the run, and he is a fine locker-room presence.
New York has gotten so-so production out of the outside linebacker spot in recent years, and Calvin Pace is no longer a serviceable option at the position.
Worilds would give the Jets a strong outside pass-rusher who would perfectly complement the anchors on the defensive line, and he should only get better as he enters the prime of his career.
Michael Crabtree
2 of 10
Michael Crabtree's career has been disappointing to date, considering his first-round status and physical gifts.
He has just one 1,000-yard season under his belt, and he has played less than 80 games in his six-year career.
However, the Texas Tech product has been plagued by inconsistent quarterback play throughout his time in the NFL.
Crabtree, still just 27, is fantastic at moving the chains, and he is a dangerous red-zone threat. He would give New York a solid complement to Eric Decker and add a valuable target to Gang Green's offense.
Better yet, the Texas native should be a bargain compared to receivers of a similar talent level, as he has put together two consecutive subpar seasons after a terrific 2012 campaign.
C.J. Spiller
3 of 10
C.J. Spiller to the Jets looks like it is written in the stars. A deal between them makes sense for a variety of reasons.
Chris Johnson is no longer on the roster, which means New York needs a speed back replacement to complement Chris Ivory.
Spiller would be the perfect fit, as he is a dangerous home run hitter with huge upside. He also put together his best season in 2012 under new Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.
The former first-round selection also has a lot of interest in Gang Green, per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
The 27-year-old is an affordable and highly realistic option for head coach Todd Bowles and Co.
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Damon Harrison
4 of 10
The Jets can't just focus on acquiring players on the open market, as they need to re-sign two impending free agents.
The first is nose tackle Damon Harrison, who came out of nowhere to emerge as one of the game's top run-stuffers in recent years.
Harrison has become an anchor on the defensive line along with Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, and he has room to grow at just 26 years old.
The behemoth defensive lineman is a good bet to be signed to a long-term deal, as New York cannot afford to lose his dominating presence up front.
Mike Iupati
5 of 10
The interior of the offensive line is becoming an increasingly large worry for New York. Brian Winters and Oday Aboushi have struggled to perform at the NFL level, and Willie Colon has been plagued by penalties and inconsistent play.
New York needs a reliable big man on the inside to help anchor the line alongside Nick Mangold.
Mike Iupati would be the perfect man for the job.
He has emerged as one of the best interior linemen in football in recent years. He has appeared in three consecutive Pro Bowls and led a strong offensive front in San Francisco.
The former first-round selection won't be cheap by any means, but he will bring toughness and energy to the line.
Gang Green should snap the 27-year-old up with a long-term deal early in free agency.
David Harris
6 of 10
The other half of New York's top impending free agents is linebacker David Harris.
He has been of the most productive and underrated linebackers in the NFL for the last decade.
During his eight-year career, the Michigan product has put together five 120-tackle seasons, 30.5 sacks and nine interceptions.
Harris' significance goes beyond the stat sheet, however. He is the leader of the defense both on and off the field.
The 31-year-old comes with some risk because of his age, and there is a chance he may want to jump ship to play for a contender, but the Jets should do whatever it takes to bring him back to Gotham.
If the former second-round pick bolts, New York will be left with a massive hole in the middle of its defense.
Antonio Cromartie
7 of 10
The Jets let Antonio Cromartie walk last offseason after the veteran cornerback had a down year, and it couldn't have worked out better for him and worse for New York.
Cromartie put together a solid year for the Cardinals and made his fourth Pro Bowl appearance.
The Jets, meanwhile, got subpar production out of a group of makeshift cover men.
However, a Cromartie-Jets reunion could be in the cards, especially considering New York hired Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles as its head coach.
Cromartie has shown interest in rejoining Gang Green, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
With New York in desperate need of some solid cornerbacks and Cromartie's ties to New York and Bowles, this seems like a match made in football heaven.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
8 of 10
There is a good chance that either Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston falls to the Jets in the draft, but New York needs a backup plan just in case that doesn't happen.
Bringing in a veteran quarterback to compete with Geno Smith for the starting job could be a good move, as it would give the team a stable short-term option regardless of whether Smith improves his play.
Ryan Fitzpatrick seems like the best short-term solution in free agency.
He is coming off a solid year in Houston, as he tossed 17 touchdowns to just eight picks and led the Texans to a winning record.
The 32-year-old also had the best seasons of his career in Buffalo under Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, which makes him a nice fit in New York.
Fitzpatrick won't turn the team around by any means, but there are few better veteran quarterbacks available.
Kareem Jackson
9 of 10
The Jets' struggles in pass coverage in 2014 were well-documented, as the team had zero starting-caliber cornerbacks on its roster.
Therefore, New York may opt to go after multiple cover men this offseason.
Kareem Jackson is one of the best defensive backs available in free agency for multiple reasons.
After a slow start to his career, he has emerged as one of the game's most reliable cornerbacks in the last two seasons. He is also only 26 years old, so he has several more years in his prime.
The former first-round selection out of Alabama is one of the safest options available this offseason, and the Jets would be smart to pursue him.
Darrelle Revis
10 of 10
Darrelle Revis' actions in the last year are considered unforgivable by many Jets fans.
Revis turned to the dark side and signed with the New England Patriots, won a Super Bowl alongside Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and made numerous jabs to the Jets.
However, he is still one of the greatest players to ever don green and white, and he is still among the very best cover men in the game today.
According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Jets' revised front office is reportedly interested in acquiring Revis, but he will be tough to pry out of Boston given his success there.
Nonetheless, a secondary with Revis and Cromartie would provide some nice nostalgia for Jets fans, and it would give the team one of the best pass defenses in football.
To put it simply, Revis is worth the price and the baggage.
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