Which Available Free Agents Could Make Sense for the Jets?

The NFL’s new league year began Wednesday at 4 EDT, which means teams can execute contracts and trades can be processed.

Jets General manager Joe Douglas has already re-signed some of his own players including S Chuck Clark and TE Kenny Yeboah. The team has reportedly agreed to terms on a handful of contracts over the last two days including G John Simpson, QB Tyrod Taylor and DT Javon Kinlaw. Those players are expected to sign their new deals later this week. The Green & White also reportedly agreed to a trade that will bring back RT Morgan Moses, who played with the Jets in the 2021 season, from Baltimore.

With more moves on the horizon across the league, here’s a list of available free agents that could make sense for the Jets:

Mekhi Becton, Duane Brown and Billy Turner are all unrestricted free agents, which means Carter Warren, entering his second season, and Max Mitchell, entering his third, are the only tackles under contract. Moses, once the trade becomes official, would be the third.

Tyron Smith (6-5, 320)
Smith, the No. 9 pick out of USC in 2011, has had a decorated NFL career with the Cowboys. The eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro is still playing at a high level at 33 years old. Pro Football Focus graded Smith as their fourth-best tackle last season among players who took at least 50% of the snaps and led the league in pass-block grade. Smith, who hasn’t played in a full season since 2015, has played 13 games in five of the last eight seasons including 13 in the 2023 season.

David Bakhtiari (6-4, 310)
Bakhtiari is similar to Smith in that he’s an older player (32) with high upside and durability concerns. He was either a first- or second-team All-Pro in five straight seasons from 2016-2020 but has played in 13 games since over the last three seasons (1 in 2023). The Packers sixth-round pick in 2013 out of Colorado, who is close friends with Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, has battled knee injuries of…