For a decade, the New York Jets were spoiled.
They had D'Brickashaw Ferguson at left tackle, and he never missed a practice, let alone a game. Week after week, season after season, they never had to worry about that position.
Now?
Big-time worries.
Ryan Clady's release, though not unexpected, leaves the Jets with no experienced left tackles on the roster. It's a hole the size of the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, and it won't be easy to fill. The free-agent class is thin and so is the draft. This is a concern because left tackle is a position of premium importance:
Possible replacements:
- Ben Ijalana, Jets: They're interested in re-signing him before he hits the open market. That would be a smart move. Ijalana, who replaced Clady (rotator cuff) midway through the 2016 season, has value because he's only 27 and can play both tackle positions. Would he be the long-term answer? Maybe, maybe not, but he'd be a solid, hold-the-fort guy.
- Kelvin Beachum, free agent: On Wednesday, the Jaguars declined an option, making him a free agent. You might recall the Jets showed interest in Beachum last offseason. He played 965 snaps at left tackle in 2016, per ESPN Stats & Information. He turns 28 in June.
- Russell Okung, Broncos: With an $11.7 million cap charge, Okung, 29, could be a casualty. He played 1,004 snaps, but he wasn't the old Okung.
- Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin: He's considered by many to be the best left tackle in the draft. He'd be a reach at No. 6, the Jets' draft position, but he could be an option in a trade-down scenario.
- Andrew Whitworth, Bengals: He's widely regarded as the best of the free agents, but buyer beware: He's 35 years old.
- Clady: Teams won't be breaking down the 30-year-old's door with offers, so there's a chance the Jets could re-sign him at a lower price. He was due to make $11 million before the Jets declined his option.
