Sunday is National Tight Ends Day on the NFL calendar. Yes, it's kind of a thing. As usual, the Jets have no reason to celebrate it.
Continuing one of the Jetsiest traditions, the front office failed in the offseason to supply the offense with a reliable, pass-catching tight end. The lack of a middle-field threat is hurting quarterback Zach Wilson, but there might be a way to rectify the problem.
A handful of tight ends could become available as the Nov. 2 trading deadline approaches -- most notably, Evan Engram (New York Giants), O.J. Howard (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Hayden Hurst (Atlanta Falcons) and Drew Sample (Cincinnati Bengals).
Engram, Howard and Hurst are intriguing because they're former first-round picks, all under the age of 29. The downside: They're in contract years, so you're talking about a two-month rental. Sample, a 2019 second-round pick, is signed through 2022.
At 1-4, the Jets figure to be sellers, not buyers, at the deadline, but they shouldn't be so quick to dismiss a potential add at tight end. If the price is right, they could pair one with Wilson to see if there's chemistry. If it clicks, they can always explore a contract extension before free agency. Call it a test drive.
If not now, it has to be on general manager Joe Douglas’ to-do list in the offseason.
For a decade, the tight-end play has been a joke. Their last legitimate receiving threat was Dustin Keller (2011). From 2012 until now, their tight ends have produced a league-low 4,747 yards -- nearly 1,000 yards less than the next-worst team (Arizona Cardinals, 5,714). It’s almost like the Jets are playing with 10 men every week.
They took a Band-Aid approach last offseason. After showing interest in free agent Jonnu Smith, who wound up signing a four-year, $50 million contract with the New England Patriots, the Jets added the injury-prone Tyler Kroft on a cheap deal (one year, $2 million).
Guess what? Kroft is injured. Returning starter Chris Herndon was so bad in training camp that he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. It’s no wonder the Jets’ tight ends have only 95 yards, next-to-last in the league.
The Jets have 10 draft picks in 2022. It’s not Douglas’ style to trade a future asset for a quick fix, but it could work if he swaps a player on an expiring contract, perhaps safety Marcus Maye or wide receiver Jamison Crowder. It's worth exploring.
Continuing one of the Jetsiest traditions, the front office failed in the offseason to supply the offense with a reliable, pass-catching tight end. The lack of a middle-field threat is hurting quarterback Zach Wilson, but there might be a way to rectify the problem.
A handful of tight ends could become available as the Nov. 2 trading deadline approaches -- most notably, Evan Engram (New York Giants), O.J. Howard (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Hayden Hurst (Atlanta Falcons) and Drew Sample (Cincinnati Bengals).
Engram, Howard and Hurst are intriguing because they're former first-round picks, all under the age of 29. The downside: They're in contract years, so you're talking about a two-month rental. Sample, a 2019 second-round pick, is signed through 2022.
At 1-4, the Jets figure to be sellers, not buyers, at the deadline, but they shouldn't be so quick to dismiss a potential add at tight end. If the price is right, they could pair one with Wilson to see if there's chemistry. If it clicks, they can always explore a contract extension before free agency. Call it a test drive.
If not now, it has to be on general manager Joe Douglas’ to-do list in the offseason.
For a decade, the tight-end play has been a joke. Their last legitimate receiving threat was Dustin Keller (2011). From 2012 until now, their tight ends have produced a league-low 4,747 yards -- nearly 1,000 yards less than the next-worst team (Arizona Cardinals, 5,714). It’s almost like the Jets are playing with 10 men every week.
They took a Band-Aid approach last offseason. After showing interest in free agent Jonnu Smith, who wound up signing a four-year, $50 million contract with the New England Patriots, the Jets added the injury-prone Tyler Kroft on a cheap deal (one year, $2 million).
Guess what? Kroft is injured. Returning starter Chris Herndon was so bad in training camp that he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. It’s no wonder the Jets’ tight ends have only 95 yards, next-to-last in the league.
The Jets have 10 draft picks in 2022. It’s not Douglas’ style to trade a future asset for a quick fix, but it could work if he swaps a player on an expiring contract, perhaps safety Marcus Maye or wide receiver Jamison Crowder. It's worth exploring.
