Now, that’s a low bar, considering 32 of the 46 picks by previous GM Mike Maccagnan are either on another team or out of the league entirely. However, this class was one of the better ones this year. Let’s break it down, pick-by-pick

ROUND 1 – Mekhi Becton, OT Louisville

GRADE – A

Joe Douglas told Sam Darnold’s parents he would protect their son. And he did just that Thursday night, drafting a mountain in the trenches. Louisville OT Mekhi Becton weighs 364 pounds. He’s 6 foot, 7 and ⅜ inches tall. And he runs a 5.10 40-yard dash. He’s an immediate upgrade to the tackle position. He’s dominant and will establish his presence on the field. He’s a day-1 starter. He’s arguably the 2nd-best OT in the draft, only second to Jedrick Wills Jr., who I wanted originally, but was selected by Cleveland one pick before. Becton was the best available pick. He’s got raw upside, incredible potential. Future All-Pro. I guarantee it.

ROUND 2 – Denzel Mims, WR Baylor

GRADE – A+

This pick was the moment I decided that I wanted to make Joe Douglas a “Jet For Life,” something that Douglas promised he would do for Jamal Adams after the draft. Mims was on the board (and my top WR prospect available) when at 48. Douglas then traded back to 59,  receiving pick 101 alongside it. At that point, I was upset, as Mims was a first-round talent that NYJ wasn’t going to draft. It was my understanding that another team would snatch him up before pick 59. So I waited, praying that Mims would drop to Gang green. And drop he did, as Joe Douglas got the man he wanted and a 3rd-rounder to boot. Mims is a physical WR. He’s a touchdown threat anytime he’s near the red zone. He’s a toy for Sam Darnold. He can be a WR1 from the start. This is a tremendous pick.

ROUND 3 – Ashtyn Davis, DB California

GRADE – B

I was originally perplexed by this pick. The ESPN broadcast listed Davis as a safety. Could the Jets be replacing Jamal Adams? Did that mark the end of the tenure of the President? No. No it will not. Upon reading into the pick and watching some film, I discovered that Davis is a “Swiss Army Knife.” He can play SS, FS, CB, Dime S, and NCB. Oh, and weak-side linebacker.  I only dislike this pick because it’s unclear the role Davis will end up playing within the NYJ defense.

ROUND 3 – Jabari Zuniga, EDGE Florida

GRADE – B+

Zuniga returned to school last year in an attempt to bolster his draft stock. However, an injury quashed that hopes. Some would call Zuniga a first-round talent pre-injury, yet Douglas snagged him at 79. ESPN Draft Analyst Booger MacFarland had this to say about Zuniga: “He lacks just a little bit of lower-body flexibility. But, overall, the one word I would use is he’s twitchy. He’s quick off the ball. He understands run schemes, he understands how to play down the line of scrimmage. And as a pass rusher, I think he has enough flexibility.” Zuniga, with some practice and adjustments, should be able to complement Jordan Jenkins in the pass rush.

“I definitely consider myself the steal of the draft,” Zuniga said. “I feel like I can do a lot on the football field. And I’ll show that next year.”

ROUND 4 – La’Mical Perine, RB Florida

GRADE: A-

Some of you may recognize the surname Perine – this is because Perine’s cousin Samaje was with the Washington Redskins, and at the time of writing was waived by the Dolphins. Perine (a team captain at Florida) is an elusive back that will most likely share the carries with Lev Bell in the backfield. He also fired back at a sports reporter criticizing his character issues, and that gives off an air of confidence for the Jets to utilize for success in the future. He’s a talented running back that will have success in green & white.

“Character ?ion even know you for you to question who I am as a person… stop trying to make false news let me enjoy my moment Clown” – New Jets RB LaMical Perine in response to a critic claiming he has character issues.

ROUND 4 – James Morgan, QB FIU

GRADE – A-

Morgan was by far my favorite QB in the draft class– he headlined my ‘All-Underrated’ team. The FIU product aspires to be a lawyer following his NFL journey and liked the Jets for one reason – He shares a hair color with the redheaded Chad Pennington. Morgan has a strong arm and immediately fills the glaring need at backup for the Jets. Another plus to this pick: the Patriots were eyeing Morgan before the Jets took him. However, some may wonder whether Douglas took a backup QB too early in this draft class. Note that Morgan was a team captain while on the Panthers, and is willing to step into a backup role.

“I’m just here to help this organization win games” – New Jets QB James Morgan

ROUND 4 – Cameron Clark, OL Charlotte

GRADE: B

Clark is a big guard (308 lbs) that forecasts as a quiet success in the run game. Has a little trouble with penalties, but started 3 years at tackle for Charlotte. Film against Clemson shows him winning almost every battle. He could be a diamond in the rough.

ROUND 5 – Bryce Hall, CB Virginia

GRADE: A+

Douglas and Gase channeled their inner Bonnie & Clyde (I’ll let you decide which is which) and made off like a bandit with Bryce Hall. Called the “steal of the draft” by Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, the Virginia CB was projected to go in the 2nd-3rd round. Joe Douglas doesn’t care about your draft projections. Joe Douglas takes him when he wants. In this case, injuries hurt Hall’s stock. However, Hall (a team captain for the Cavaliers) allowed just 6.1 yards per target and a 69.0 passer rating, giving up 34 completions on 72 targets in 2018. He received second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC honors. He’s a good cornerback with potential and by year 2 or 3 will most likely be lining up across from Bless Austin.

ROUND 6 – Braden Mann, P Texas Tech

GRADE – A-

Punters are people too, guys. Braden Mann’s foot may possibly be golden. With Lachlan Edwards likely on the way out, someone who won the 2018 Ray Guy Award for best FBS punter and has been an All-American in his last two collegiate seasons is a solid replacement. Oh, and he had 7 solo tackles last season. While some may use the argument of drafting a specialist being negative, Mann is a punter who will be able to switch the field when he’s called upon.

The Jets traded pick 211 to Indianapolis for CB Quincy Wilson.

Wilson underperformed last year after Colts HC Frank Reich switched the Indianapolis defensive scheme. It’s a gamble that may end up paying off.

OVERALL GRADE: A

The XFL filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday, a move that likely indicates the end of the second attempt at a football league by Vince McMahon.

The league is for sale, but the XFL still intends to refund all ticket sales, according to sources.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy is defined as “involves a reorganization of a debtor’s business affairs, debts, and assets,” per Investopedia. In simpler terms, the XFL is proposing a plan to keep its business alive and pay creditors over time.

In contrast, the Alliance of American Football (AAF) filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. “This chapter of the Bankruptcy Code provides for “liquidation” – the sale of a debtor’s nonexempt property and the distribution of the proceeds to creditors,” as defined by the US Courts. Basically, the AAF sold all of its assets to pay off debts. The XFL, however, is not liquidating its assets.

Although it’s unlikely the XFL returns, I wouldn’t rule it out completely. Old Vince (he’s 74!) might have one more trick up his sleeve.

Curse this pandemic for ruining one of the best leagues in sports. Stay home.

COVID-19 doesn’t care about the love of football, apparently.

The XFL said Friday that it would suspend operations indefinitely. All employees were laid off, according to multiple sources. It is unknown whether the league will return, but many view a comeback unlikely.

The league, which was a revival of Vince McMahon’s ‘Xtreme Football League,’ was founded in 2018. There were 8 teams: the New York Guardians, the Seattle Dragons, the Dallas Renegades, the Houston Roughnecks, the St. Louis Battlehawks, the Los Angeles Wildcats, the (Washington) D.C. Defenders, and the Tampa Bay Vipers.

The league kicked off with the slogan “For the Love of Football.” New rules were installed to streamline gameplay, including changes to kickoffs and extra points. Contrary to NFL and NCAA kickoffs, members of the kicking team (excluding the kicker) lined up at the receiving team’s 35-yard line and blockers on the receiving team lined up at the 30-yard line. They could not move until the ball was caught or spent three seconds on the ground. 

The conventional extra point kick was replaced by one-point, two-point, and three-point plays. Point value depended on the distance the team chose to snap the ball from the goal line; a two-yard attempt scored a single point, a five-yard attempt two points, and a ten-yard attempt three points.

The XFL rocketed in popularity, due in part to its unorthodox gameplay, of course, but because of the social media team headed by Bailey Carlin. The XFL Twitter account, known for making memes about the league, amassed about 400 thousand followers, and the Instagram account has 613 thousand followers at the time of writing. 

The XFL was known as unprofessional and blatantly absurd at times when Vince McMahon ran the league in 2001, and several elements carried over to the 2020 attempt. 

During the first game of regulation play, Seattle Dragons OL Dillon Day released an expletive during a sideline interview on live television. 

The DC Defenders crowd created an enormous ‘beer snake,’ drinking approximately 1,237 cups of beer (19,792 ounces of beer consumed!) and connecting the cups from the bottom of the stands to the top. Even XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck contributed a cup. The NFL would have looked at the beer snake with distaste, and yet Carlin chose to create not one, but four posts on the XFL Instagram page about it.

The league was in week 6 of its inaugural season on March 11 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the US, causing indefinite suspensions of several major sports leagues, including the XFL. 

The premature end to a promising young league comes as another casualty of the COVID-19 crisis. Farewell, XFL. While there’s still a chance for the league to return, it is unlikely. Thank you for providing the football fans with a new alternative for the spring. Please come back. Please.

After a sluggish start to free agency, the New York Jets made their first move, signing ex-Seahawks offensive tackle George Fant to a 3 year, $30-million dollar contract.

Fant, 27, signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

The Western Kentucky graduate only played one year of college football – as a tight end. The other four years? Averaging 10+ points per game as a forward for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team. When asked to play overseas for Poland, Fant chose to attempt a football career. He bulked up from 250 pounds to 296 pounds and learned the TE position from now-Los Angeles Ram standout Tyler Higbee.

In 2019, Fant made eight starts, including a playoff start against the Eagles. He plays both left and right tackle. Fant will likely replace Kelvin Beachum on the offensive line.

While the three big-ticket offensive tackles in Joe Thuney (franchise-tagged by NE), Jack Conklin (signed with CLE, 3Y/42M), and Graham Glasgow (signed with DEN, 4Y/44M) went off the board early, Douglas maintained composure and was able to snag a solid young OT in Fant.

Don’t believe me? Watch the film breakdown.

I’m going to close the article with something non-related to football. Please, wash your hands and stay inside unless necessary. That’s the only way we can flatten the curve of this pandemic. Thank you.

Sports Illustrated’s Kristian Dyer has learned that if Beckham is traded, he would view the Jets as an ideal landing spot. Beckham has a cap hit of $14,250,000, and averages 18 million dollars per year until 2023.

Reports value a Beckham deal as a first-round and third-round pick. The Jets cannot afford to give that up in such a stocked draft year.

Odell had an arrest warrant issued after he was caught on camera slapping a police officer’s posterior. He also came under fire for handing out thousands of dollars to LSU players in the locker room after the Tigers won the National Championship. According to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, Beckham has been telling opposing coaches and players before and during games this season to “come get me.” He also got into a heated exchange with then-Browns coach Freddie Kitchens.

Will Adam Gase take that?

No. No he won’t. The last time that happened, he lost the locker room in Miami. And here, reports have said he’s barely hanging on. The continued attack on RB LeVeon Bell, whom Gase didn’t want to bring in– yet ex-GM Mike Maccagnan chose to anyway– is unnecessary.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller reported Gase is losing the respect of his players. An unnamed Jets player detailed just how quickly Gase’s reputation deteriorated and that players simply don’t respect him. According to the player, Gase’s attitude and the team’s offensive struggles have quickly turned many players against the coach.

So, what happens if the Jets bring in a diva in Beckham?

There is one positive to the deal. The Jets will immediately gain interest. Having a big name, such as Beckham, will immediately boost sales. But the negatives completely outweigh the positives.

The Jets will lose a first and third round pick, which they desperately need to fill a gaping hole in the offensive line. The possibility of taking someone like OL Mekhi Becton or OT Andrew Thomas goes straight out the door, and a chance of finding a solid developmental star in the third disappears. The Jets lose over 14 million in cap space, and free agency gets so much tougher for Douglas. Darnold gets a weapon, a replacement for Robby Anderson, but a malnourished OL will give up sacks and stall the run game yet again.

Now, I don’t control the Jets. But if they get OBJ, they’re setting themselves back another year.

So, New York, Joe Douglas, please don’t trade for Odell Beckham.

Love,

Flight.

The stone gargoyle that is perceived to be the on-field mascot of the Guardians spewed smoke as the players took the field to cheers from the 17,000+ fans in attendance.

GUARDIANS TAKE THE FIELD (Henry Frieman/Field2Court)

On the first drive, the Guardians immediately got to work. KR Austin Duke was electric, returning the kickoff for 59 yards. QB Matt McGloin connected with TE Jake Powell on 4th down for a 15-yard gain, putting New York in field-goal range. The Guardians continued to drive, featuring a spectacular catch by WR Joe Horn Jr. McGloin capped off the series by rushing into the endzone for a touchdown.

After a lengthy drive by the Vipers led to an Aaron Murray (Vipers QB) interception by Guardians CB Andrew Soroh, the offense could not capitalize off of the turnover. However, the Vipers’ series stalled, and the Guardians got the ball back as the first quarter ended, up seven to nothing.

Austin Duke continued his stellar play, returning the punt for 38 yards. On the very next play, McGloin heaved a 45-yard pass to WR Mekale McKay, who dove to the Tampa 12-yard line on the catch.

McGloin then connected to WR Colby Pearson, whom I spoke to (while writing under the name TakeFlightInsider), for a 12-yard touchdown.

With 2:38 remaining in the second half, Guardians C Ian Silberman and Vipers DT Ricky Walker appeared to be in an altercation. Walker threw a punch and was ejected. That was the first ejection in XFL history.

The defensive performance continued, as Guardians CB Bryce Jones intercepted Murray. McGloin hit Pearson for 32 yards and after a 49 yard Matthew McCrane FG, the Guardians walked to the locker room at halftime up 17-0.

On the first Vipers drive of the second half, Aaron Murray fumbled, a nice summary of his performance that day. The Guardians received the ball, but the drive stalled. Tampa Bay HC Marc Trestman elected to put in his backup, QB Quinton Flowers of USF. Flowers ran the ball exclusively, setting up Vipers K Andrew Franks for a 23-yard FG. That was it for Tampa’s offense.

With 12:09 remaining in the game, Murray passed to TE Nick Truesdell. Truesdell fumbled and Guardians CB Jamar Summers returned the ball for a touchdown. At that point, the Vipers hecklers came out, and I overheard some of their own fans booing. The rest of the game was garbage time, and the Guardians secured a win.

Led by three forced fumbles (one recovered for a TD), two interceptions, and five sacks, the Guardians obliterated the away team. Caesar’s Sportsbook may need to evaluate their odds after this performance – They had the Guardians at 8/1 odds and the Vipers at 3/1 odds to win the 2020 XFL Championship. For the first time I can remember, they were dead wrong.

Next week, the Guardians travel to the nation’s capital to take on the DC Defenders, who defeated the Seattle Dragons on Saturday. It will be an evenly-matched game, defensive battle, and a fun one.

Henry Frieman covers the Guardians and the XFL for Field2Court.

The DC Defenders defeated the Seattle Dragons in the debut of the new XFL Saturday, by a score of 31 to 19. Defenders quarterback Cardale Jones went 16-of-26 for 291 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

“This is for the love of football,” Jones said, addressing the crowd before kickoff. “Enjoy.”

“For the love of football” has been the slogan of the XFL since its creation. The new rules and television broadcasts showed a drastic difference to former attempts at a spring football league.

Viewers of the broadcast could hear Dragons head coach Jim Zorn and Defenders head coach Pep Hamilton call plays, giving an all-access look inside the world of pre-snap football. Sideline reporters had the opportunity to interview players immediately after they came off the field, a new feature that had some viral moments.

Dragons center Dillon Day was one of the players interviewed after a brief scuffle.

“There was just a lot of chatting after the play,” Day said. “We’re trying to make some stuff happen and they’re doing a little extra pushing and shoving. We’re trying to get our [expletive] job done and they’re just —”

ABC cut Day’s audio after the expletive. But the damage was done, and Twitter exploded.

Moments like these, paired with a high-paced gameplay experience, led to an exciting game that quickly harnessed support for the new league.

Dragons WR Austin Proehl caught five passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns, including the first in XFL history. However, two defensive touchdowns for the Defenders sealed the game.

The most electric play of the game was a trick-play touchdown for the Defenders. Down 13-12 at the beginning of the third quarter, Cardale Jones handed the ball off to RB Donnel Pumphrey, who flipped the ball to WR Eli Rogers, who flipped it back to Jones. Jones then connected with TE Khari Lee for a 39-yard touchdown, taking the lead. They never looked back.

Next week, the Defenders take on the New York Guardians, looking to become 2-0. The Dragons look to bounce back against the Tampa Bay Vipers.

Pearson was selected in the XFL draft last October by the New York Guardians. This team, led by HC Kevin Gilbride and NFL-Journeyman QB Matt McGloin, kicks off against the Tampa Bay Vipers on Sunday.

Pearson is listed as a starter on the Guardians’ depth chart. During the Guardians’ preseason scrimmage against Tampa Bay, Pearson snagged a 76-yard touchdown catch. He had lost his footing about 30 yards from the endzone, but after noticing that he was not touched, he returned to his feet and scored.

Pearson is a part of history, being on the first-ever New York Guardians roster. He’ll play in the 3rd-ever XFL game.

“[It’s] really cool to be a part of the first-ever Guardians team, no doubt,” Pearson told me. “[The XFL] will be played like never before.”

This is true. The XFL has made some very interesting rule changes, calling them “less stall and more ball.” There are no more kicking plays on extra-point attempts, limiting “boring” punts, and a brand-new “Double Pass” feature, allowing two forward passes per play. Overtime is a 5-round setup, similar to that of an NHL shootout.

The XFL exists for spring football. But for the players, it’s a chance to relive their dreams of playing pro football. For Pearson, this is an opportunity that he greatly appreciates.

“Getting another shot in [the NFL] is definitely my goal for this season,” Pearson said. “I’m grateful for the XFL for providing me with an opportunity to show what I can do.”

Pearson gets to play in arguably the best uniforms in the XFL, and his personal favorite.

“Man, and I’m not just saying this, we have the best logo and jersey combo no doubt!” Pearson told me. “Everyone will see this weekend.”

That’s also true. Tune in to FOX on Sunday, February 9, at 2:00 PM to watch the game. See if you can spot Pearson. It’ll most likely be easy to find him– he’s a gamechanger and makes his presence known.

UPDATED STARTERS, OFFENSE:

QB: Sam Darnold

RB: Le’Veon Bell

WR: Robby Anderson

WR: empty

SLOT: Jamison Crowder

TE: Chris Herndon/Ryan Griffin

RT: empty

RG: Alex Lewis

C: Jonotthan Harrison

LG: Brian Winters

LT: empty

UPDATED STARTERS, DEFENSE (3-4):

DE: Quinnen Williams

DE: Henry Anderson

DT: Steve McClendon

OLB: Jordan Jenkins

OLB: Brandon Copeland

ILB: CJ Mosley

ILB: Avery Williamson

LCB: Bless Austin

RCB: empty

NCB: Brian Poole

SS: Jamal Adams

FS: Marcus Maye

UPDATED STARTERS, SPECIAL TEAMS

LS: Thomas Hennessy

K: empty

P: Lachlan Edwards

KR: Vyncint Smith

PR: Braxton Berrios

So positions in need are RT, LT, WR, and CB. Don’t worry: This draft will cover all of the above. Roll film.

PICK 11: Tristan Wirfs, OT Iowa

I’ve been high on Wirfs since the Hawkeyes played Michigan in October. He’s easily the best OT in the draft, just a bit under the radar because of his college status. Has a very solid future in the NFL. He has grace and nimble feet despite a looming stature (6’5, 322). Dynamic lower half, clean in pass sets, really good as an OT. Imagine what he could be with a proper coach… Note that he also plays both LT and RT.

PICK 48: Justin Jefferson, WR LSU

Good athleticism for his position. He displays great instincts against zone and will adjust his route accordingly. He is a sneaky route runner who knows how to set up defenders to win against man coverage. He is good in contested catch situations. Plays with good toughness and will catch over the middle when contact is foreseeable. Appears to be more effective in the intermediate to deep areas. Put Robby Anderson on one side, JJ on the other, and it turns into a lethal combo.

PICK 68 (VIA NYG): Bradlee Anae, EDGE Utah

I absolutely love this kid. At the Senior Bowl, he dominated, finishing with three sacks and several other pressures. His hands and massive arsenal of counter moves got him the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year. He dominates one-on-ones, exposing poor timing and footwork by the offensive tackles with his unpredictability. Anae’s three-sack performance Saturday was just a glimpse of what he did throughout the week leading up to the Senior Bowl – He’s going to be REALLY good.

PICK 79: Cameron Dantzler, CB Mississippi State

Dantzler projects as an outside CB at the NFL level. Has exceptional zone coverage skills, good reaction time. His break on balls are A+, knows when to disrupt the play without causing pass interference. Knows how to play the position, already a top CB after only playing two seasons. Played a handful of other positions in HS – could be an X-Factor. His only problem is his physicality, needs more strength and weight on his frame.

PICK 110: K.J. Hill, WR Ohio State

Hill uses his athleticism to his advantage. Really impressive RAC ability. Elusive in space and good agility to make defenders miss. Great in the slot, dangerous returner, fantastic short-route runner. Isn’t afraid to take a hit. The only problem is that he only has one gear, but the gear is fast enough that he makes it work. Needs to work on deep-route running, but has a lot of potential.

PICK 140: Michael Onwenu, IOL Michigan

Onwenu is MASSIVE. 6’3, 362 pounds. Built like a boulder, and anchored the offensive line at Michigan. He has really impressive lateral mobility, can block defensive ends off pulls. Completely has lower-half strength, and his size is natural leverage for pass sets and anchoring. Dominates the point of attack when he hits the pads. He’s also quite durable, starting 34 of 39 games for Michigan. Would be a great developmental guy to anchor the young OL core around.

PICK 171: Antonio Gibson, RB/WR Memphis

Jeez, this kid can move. Gibson is one of the most agile and elusive players I’ve seen in my life. He had 38 receptions and 33 carries across his final season with the Tigers, a dual threat. He can finish runs forward and take some contact with him, leading to penalty yardage. Only problem, he’s not fully a true WR or a true RB. In the film, I think I like him better as a RB. But he’ll need to develop some.

PICK 201: John Reid, CB Penn State

Possesses good combination of short-area quickness and long speed to cover both laterally and vertically in man coverage. Has a solid understanding of routes and timing breakups. The massive problem with Reid is that he’s very small. 5’10, 181 pounds. That causes a lack of length, hindering his destruction. Sometimes, his nerves get the better of him while in man, and is afraid to make a play. Does draw unnecessary penalties. This pick would be a preseason evaluation. There’s only a 50% chance I have him making the team.

So the Jets go through the draft. Free Agency will come in part 3. As I’m writing this, I realized I did the offseason in the wrong order. But it’s okay, because I won’t change anything I had originally. Expect part 3 in about a week. For now, make sure to follow @field2court and @takeflightinsider on Instagram.

Flight out.

Assuming the Jets release Trumaine Johnson, saving $3 million in cap space, the Jets will have $68.3 million to spend. So let’s start at that number: $68,300,000.

Notable Jets set to walk this year (2019 starters bolded):

-C Ryan Kalil

-WR Robby Anderson

-LT Kelvin Beachum Jr.

-NCB Brian Poole

-WR Demaryius Thomas

-FS Rontez Miles

-DE Brandon Copeland

-RB Bilal Powell

-RB Ty Montgomery

-QB Trevor Siemian

-ILB Neville Hewitt

-G Tom Compton

-G Alex Lewis

-OLB Jordan Jenkins

-P Lachlan Edwards

-T Brandon Shell

-ILB James Burgess (RFA)

-CB Arthur Maulet (RFA)

-TE Daniel Brown

So, which of these should they keep?

WR Robby Anderson. Estimated 4 yr, 48 m. 16 guaranteed with team option sounds plausible. Anderson is a vertical threat who has been critical to Sam Darnold’s development, and unless Joe Douglas pursues Amari Cooper in Free Agency, Robby should stay. Deal is similar to Sammy Watkins’s deal. Would be Robby and CeeDee Lamb for Darnold.

NCB Brian Poole. Poole’s PFF Grade was 79.0, the 10th-best among CBs. He stayed healthy for most of the year. He was one bright spot in a lackluster secondary. Let’s give him 2 yr, 14-16 m. 5 guaranteed.

FS Rontez Miles. “Tez” was the special teams captain before injuries cut his season short. He’s a leader. He makes the plays that save touchdowns. Try a 1 yr, 1.8 m deal. 500k guaranteed.

DE Brandon Copeland. Copeland was suspended for accidental usage of PEDs. Copeland is a smart guy, went to uPenn. Ivy leagues. Makes plays, a really good player and a better person. How about 2 years, 2.8 m. 250 guaranteed.

G Alex Lewis. I’m on the fence with this one, due to a 55.0 PFF grade. But Lewis proved a valuable signing for the mangled offensive line, only allowing 2 sacks for 764 snaps played. Lewis has a cheap deal, so we’re bringing him back. 2 years, 6.7 m, 500 guaranteed.

OLB Jordan Jenkins. Jenkins is a great rush edge and it’s criminal if the Jets let him walk. He’s a budding star in the making. The breakout season is very close. Pay the man. 3 years, 15 m, 1.5 guaranteed.

ILB James Burgess Jr. Burgess was the unsung hero of the linebacking core this season, stepping up from an early point in the season and through the rest of the games. He’s 25. Give him 2 years, 3.4 m. 250 guaranteed.

P Lac Edwards. Edwards has been my personal favorite punter, mainly because he’s Australian. Edwards punted a league-high 87 times this season, with a net gross average of 45.9 yards (16th). 33 of his punts were pinned inside of the 20-yd line, T-12th highest. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 1 year, 1.1 m. 250 guaranteed.

RB Ty Montgomery. If the rumors are true that the Jets wish to part ways with RB Le’Veon Bell, Montgomery was an asset that was massively underused. The WR-turned-RB only had 32 carries this season. He also had 13 receptions for 90 yards. His talent is still unproven, and NYJ should treat it as such. Give him a low deal, like maybe 1 year, 850K.

CB Arthur Maulet. Maulet stepped up in the absence of Trumaine Johnson, posting a solid 65.2 PFF grade. He’s a restricted FA, so NYJ can choose his price. Try 1 year, 1.8 million.

After the resigning period, the Jets will have about 39.7 million dollars in cap space.

Part 2 will come with the draft, a detailed 7-round mock. For now, the Jets have the ability to turn the franchise around.

#Jets