By MIKE BATTAGLINO
The Jets have spent plenty of green in the past on free agents, last year shelling out nearly $140 million to finish 9-7 and out of the playoffs.
But after creating plenty of cap room — again — expect the same old attempt to fill roster holes, and expect some former Ravens to cash in with their former coach.
UPDATE: The Baltimore Sun reports the Ravens and Bart Scott are within $700,000 of a new contract for the linebacker. Wide Receiver
After cutting Laveranues Coles (who won’t be missed as much as one might
think), the Jets are left with Jerricho Cotchery and little else. Brad Smith
is a hybrid player, David Clowney was a preseason wonder before an injury
wiped out most of his season, and Chansi Stuckey caught a TD from Brett Favre in the
opener and did little with his 31 other receptions as last year’s No. 3.
Available wide receivers: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Marvin Harrison, Amani Toomer, Jerry Porter, Michael Jenkins
Sleeper: Brandon Jones
McAlister, Ivy and Leonhard certainly know Ryan’s defense and could help implement the system. But McAlister turns 32 in June, and may not be able to come back from the injury that submarined his play last season. And Leonhard, for as much as he shows up on film, is listed at 5-8, 186. He’s also touted a kick returner, but don’t the Jets already have Leon Washington?
Cornerbacks are big-ticket items, too, and those on the list don’t seem worth the price. Bodden could come cheaper.
Inside Linebacker
David Harris went from 127 tackles to 95 thanks to injury, but if healthy is a star. Eric Barton is a free agent, too, so if the Jets don’t re-sign him they desperately need a second ILB for a 3-4 defense.
Unless you believe the Jets when they say the answer lay among Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge, this has to be a point of interest, at least for a veteran backup.
Available quarterbacks: Kurt Warner, Kerry Collins, Jeff Garcia, Rex
Grossman, Kyle Boller, Byron Leftwich.
Sleeper: Ryan Fitzpatrick.
We’ll see if Ryan thought anything of Boller, a former first-round pick of the Ravens. Collins and Garcia likely want to start, so maybe Grossman is the fallback (in more ways than one).
Tight End
Letting Chris Baker go leaves only Dustin Keller and long-snapper James Dearth.
Available tight ends: L.J. Smith, Jerramy Stevens, Jim Kleinsasser.
A blocker to compliment Keller’s pass-catching ability would be ideal. Who even knows who the good-blocking tight ends are?
So maybe the better question is, what don’t the Jets need? Well, these:
Running back
With Thomas Jones as the workhorse, Leon Washington the game-breaking change of pace, and Tony Richardson the steady blocking fullback, this could be the Jets’ best position. Jones is older, so maybe a younger back (Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno) could be a draft target.
Center
Young, a Pro Bowl player, Nick Mangold will cash in on his next contract, maybe this offseason.
Offensive tackles
D’Brickashaw Ferguson is improving, and Damien Woody was a big purchase before last season.
Defensive ends
Shaun Ellis is still solid, and Kenyon Coleman needs to increase his production. If there were a stud available, the Jets might look at him, but there’s not.
Nose Tackles
Kris Jenkins was great when fully healthy, and Sione Pouha makes the most of limited snaps. He is a little undersized for a tru nose, so maybe a late-round draft pick will be used here.
Outside linebackers
With Calvin Pace, Bryan Thomas, Vernon Gholston (cough, cough), the Jets have a ton of money tied up at this position. If Ryan can’t get Gholston going, it can be a real salary cap problem down the line.