Free Agency
On March 11th, NFL teams are officially allowed to begin contacting and negotiating with potential free agents. Two days later, at 4:00 PM EDT on March 13th, teams are allowed to finalize deals with available players.
The Jets have an estimated $98M in cap room, second most in the NFL behind the Colts.
Leveon Bell
The Jets have landed free agency’s biggest star. Adam Schefter reports the team will sign Le’Veon Bell to a 4 year, $52 million contract.
Bell will likely become the centerpiece of Adam Gase’s offense. He’s one of the best runners in the league and one of the top receivers out of the backfield.
He also comes with some baggage and other question marks, but the Jets aren’t in a position to let those things get in the way of adding a premium talent.
The details of Le’Veon Bell’s contract with the New York Jets are beginning to emerge. While this isn’t yet definitive. Looking over the details, it appears that the salary cap hits over the four years of the deal are as follows:
Year 1 $8.5 Million
Year 2 $13.5 Million
Year 3 $15.5 Million
Year 4 $15 Million
It appears that by the third year of the contract the Jets can cut Bell with just a $4 million cap hit. That makes this in essence a two year, $26 million deal with Jets options for years three and four.
C.J. Mosley
According to Ian Rapoport, former Baltimore Ravens free agent inside linebacker C.J. Mosley is expected to sign with the New York Jets. The purported deal will be for $85 million over five years, with $51 million guaranteed.
C.J. Mosley is a 26 year old, inside linebacker out of the University of Alabama. He was originally selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 17th overall selection in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Mosley has been a Pro Bowl selection in four out of his five years in the NFL. In five NFL season,s Mosley has 597 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions, 8.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles.
C.J. Mosley represents a major upgrade over incumbent inside linebacker Darron Lee, and his acquisition by the Jets may mean the end of Lee’s Jets’ career. . If nothing else the Jets have definitely been aggressive in going out and getting their guys in the early days of 2019 NFL free agency.
Jamison Crowder
According to Ian Rapoport, the New York Jets are expected to sign former Washington Redskins free agent slot receiver Jamison Crowder.
Jamison Crowder is a 25-year-old, 5’ 9”, 177-pound slot receiver originally drafted by the Redskins with the 105th overall selection in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Crowder fits the mold of a smaller, shifty slot receiver Jets head coach Adam Gase seems to favor. He has generally been healthy, but missed seven games in the middle of the 2018 season due to an ankle injury.
Crowder, to receive a 3 year, $28.5 million contract with $17 million in guarantees from the Jets.
Kelechi Osemele
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jets have made their first blockbuster move of the offseason. They’ve made a trade to acquire former Raiders left guard Kelechi Osemele.
The Jets and Raiders swapped 2019 Draft selections in the deal. The Jets sent their fifth round pick (#140 overall) to Oakland. The Raiders are sending Chicago’s sixth-round pick (#196 overall) to the Jets with Osemele.
The Jets have their starting left guard, and when healthy he represents a major upgrade over what they had at the position in 2018.
Osemele has two years remaining on his contract.