For those hoping the New York Jets would address their offensive tackle issue with significant spending in free agency, insider Connor Rogers of NBC Sports suggests it’s unlikely to happen. He explained to Jets team reporter Ethan Greenberg that solving this problem in the pro market is challenging, citing the case of Terron Armstead, who received a large contract from the Miami Dolphins but has a history of missing multiple games each season due to injuries. Rogers emphasized that it’s rare to see a top-tier tackle commanding $20 million a year hit free agency.
The Dolphins signed Armstead to a five-year, $75 million deal in 2022, but he has missed 11 games over the last two seasons and has never played a full season in his career.
This situation puts pressure on the Jets to address the offensive tackle position in the draft, as they may not find the solution in free agency. Last year, the Jets were looking for an offensive tackle in the first round but lost out on their target when the Pittsburgh Steelers traded ahead of them to select Broderick Jones. With both starting tackles from Week 1 of 2023 set to become free agents, the Jets may have to rely heavily on the draft to fill these positions.
Rogers believes the Jets are in a good position with the No. 10 overall pick in the draft, as there are multiple options to address their offensive tackle need, even if top prospects like Joe Alt or Olu Fashanu are off the board. He suggests that trading down could still provide them with options in the later part of the first round or in the second round.
