New York Jets Blueprint for Winning Free Agency

The New York Jets have 99 problems, and 45 million ways to solve them.

With roughly $45 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.com, the Jets have an opportunity to make dramatic improvements to their roster when the 2015 free-agency period kicks off on March 10. 

The Jets have already been connected to some big-name free agents, but they must also be thinking about taking care of their own players and not just acquiring free agents from outside the organization. Otherwise, they run the risk of taking as many steps back as they take steps forward. 

Here's a look at some of the steps the Jets can take to having a successful 2015 free-agency period and giving themselves a chance at a successful 2015 season.

Players to Re-Sign

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Dawan Landry

With significant questions all over the secondary, the Jets have virtually no choice but to keep Dawan Landry around for at least another year. At 32 going on 33 years old, his best days are behind him, but Landry was playing both free safety and strong safety last year as rookie Calvin Pryor got up to speed. His versatility will remain valuable to Todd Bowles, who is known to deploy multiple defensive looks to keep opposing offenses guessing.

Damon Harrison

Damon "Snacks" Harrison is a restricted free agent, and with that being said, it will not be difficult for the Jets to keep him around. It's a good thing, too, because it's absolutely necessary for them to do so. At 6'4" and 350 pounds, he is the only "true" nose tackle on the team. Harrison has worked his way up from an undrafted free agent to a cornerstone of the defense, and the Jets would be foolish not to hit him with a first-round tender to make sure he stays on the roster—or that they are properly compensated if not.

Bilal Powell

Four years ago, the Jets drafted a former defensive back and converted him to running back. Four years later, Bilal Powell is a free agent on the heels of a season in which he maxed out at five carries in a game and averaged 4.3 yards per attempt. The Jets will not have to pay top dollar to keep him around, but after releasing running back Chris Johnson, the Jets may want to retain his services to avoid complete turnover at the position.

Players to Let Walk

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Michael Vick

The Jets signed Michael Vick to a one-year deal to be the understudy for Geno Smith in 2014. By midseason, Vick had moved from understudy to the lead role as starting quarterback, but in four starts, he only managed to complete 52.9 percent of his throws and compiled a 60.4 passer rating. Part of the appeal of Vick in New York was his reunion with former Philadelphia offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, but now that Vick's former mentor is gone, his value as a backup is greatly reduced.

David Harris

After an eight-year Jets career, it may be time to let David Harris go. The veteran linebacker may not get top dollar on the open market, but with potential suitors in the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills, he may get more money elsewhere than with the Jets, where he may be viewed as a key cog in the old guard of the Jets. Bills head coach Rex Ryan would probably love to get his middle linebacker suited up in Buffalo blue and white.

Kyle Wilson

As a first-round selection in 2010, the expectation was that Kyle Wilson would eventually develop into a starting-caliber player. His inability to do so is part of the reason why the Jets have had such a dearth of depth at cornerback in recent years. Wilson has been relegated to slot duty, and even that has been difficult for him. If Wilson is willing to accept a team-friendly deal as a backup, he could stay. If he gets even a whiff of a long-term offer, though, he'll probably jump at the opportunity.

Sign Antonio Cromartie

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Todd Bowles and Antonio Cromartie sitting in a tree, S-I-G-N-I-N-G.

The Jets need at least one starting-caliber cornerback, possibly even two. Their lack of depth is only accentuated by their lack of starting-quality talent at the position. If young cornerback Dee Milliner bounces back from a torn Achilles tendon, and if 2014 rookie Dexter McDougle comes back strong from a torn ACL, the Jets will have something to work with.

But for now, Bowles is probably chomping at the bit to work with Cromartie after the two enjoyed a successful relationship in Arizona. Cromartie was released by the Jets as a salary-cap casualty after dealing with a nagging hip injury in 2013, but now that he has proved he can still perform at a Pro Bowl level, the Jets could revisit their previous relationship. 

Besides, Cromartie is already hyped on returning to New York, and according to his teammate Patrick Peterson, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, "all [Cromartie] talks about is freaking New York."

Sign Brandon Graham—but Only at the Right Price

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For years, the Jets have been searching for pass-rushing talent like a camel searching for water in a desert. Whether it's a true 3-4 outside linebacker or a sub-package pass-rusher whose one job is to get after the quarterback, the Jets must improve the edges of their defense. 

Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker and former first-round pick Brandon Graham played only 524 snaps in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus, but was still able to earn a 22.8 grade, the third-best among all 3-4 outside linebackers. He was also the most productive pass-rushing 3-4 OLB on a per-snap basis, notching 37 hurries, eight hits and six sacks on 225 pass-rush attempts.

Graham may not be an every-down player, but he can certainly rush the passer. The Jets need a player like that, but there could be a bidding war over Graham's services based on that ability. As long as the number stays reasonable, the Jets should strongly consider adding Graham to their defense.

Release Percy Harvin

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There's only one word to describe Percy Harvin's contract: Albatross. With a $10.5 million cap hit, Harvin would have to be one of the top 10 receivers in the NFL in 2015 to live up to his price tag. But after posting only 114 receptions for 1,177 yards and four touchdowns in the past three seasons, it seems unlikely that Harvin is going to turn things around on a dime.

The only thing working in Harvin's favor is New York's overall lack of talent at wide receiver. They have Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley, and tight end Jace Amaro has the potential to develop into a nice pass-catcher, but aside from that, the options are not there. 

The Jets made a desperation trade to acquire Harvin from the Seattle Seahawks in the middle of the 2014 season, but now that a new regime has taken over, there's no reason to think Harvin will be back for a return flight in 2015. 

Unless otherwise noted, all contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac.com.