According to Mike Garofalo, the Jets are signing veteran cornerback Isaiah Oliver to a one-year contract.
The Jets’ signing of Isaiah Oliver is a one-year deal, per Mike Garofalo. Oliver, a second-round draft pick out of Colorado in 2018, spent his first five seasons with the Falcons before joining the 49ers last year. However, the 49ers released him after just one season. Oliver has primarily lined up in the slot in recent years.
During his one-year stint with the 49ers, Oliver struggled to adjust to the team’s style of play and was not as fast in coverage as hoped, leading to his release. He finished the season with a 78.6% completion percentage allowed and lost his starting job after the bye week, coinciding with an improvement in the team’s passing defense.
In Atlanta, Oliver’s performance improved when he moved into the starting nickel corner role in 2020 under Raheem Morris. He excelled as a tackler and showed intelligence and versatility in handling different defensive schemes. Oliver continued to perform well in the slot under Dean Pees’s system in 2021, earning a 90.2 grade from Pro Football Focus in a game against the New York Giants.
Oliver’s ability to bounce back from his ACL injury and his performance in Pees’s system could dictate his value to the Jets. He is expected to be the backup to Michael Carter II in the slot, but his size and skill set could also allow him to play a hybrid linebacker role against teams that use multiple tight ends. Overall, Oliver’s signing may be viewed as a depth move, but his potential impact could be greater depending on how he performs in New York’s defense.
