In the New York media market, and in NFL Free Agency, the biggest stories usually make the back page of the New York Post, the Daily News, and Newsday. The New York Jets had a habit of making those back pages in the 2019 season. Most of the time, it was not positive. GM Joe Douglas had his work cut out for him in the offseason. Enter 2020 NFL Free Agency: the Jets’ most glaring need was fixing the offensive line. To call the offensive line play of the Jets a train wreck full of dumpster fires last year would be kind. Douglas was expected to court some of the more prominent names in NFL Free Agency and, well, things didn’t initially go according to plan.
Arizona T DJ Humphries: awarded a contract extension in February.
Tennessee T Jack Conklin: signs with Cleveland.
New England T Joe Thuney: franchise tagged.
Detroit C Graham Glasgow: signs with Denver.
The four best offensive linemen in football (arguably) were gone.
But the best thing about NFL Free Agency is that it does continue and teams make the moves that they need to make. Despite the want of some Jets fans to set New York media ablaze with big-name acquisitions, Joe Douglas has been quietly making moves in the right places in NFL Free Agency.
George Fant
On Monday, the Jets and former Seattle T George Fant agreed on a three-year, $30 million contract with only (ONLY?!?) $13.7 guaranteed. Fant played only one year of football at Western Kentucky, but his athletic ability impressed Seahawks scouts. An undrafted free agent, the Seahawks tried him out at a variety of positions before they put him at tackle. Fant has only 24 starts in three seasons, but the Jets are hopeful that he can continue his development and become an elite tackle.
Below is part one of a Twitter thread of what Fant can provide, courtesy of John P. Gilbert.
“Is there any reason to believe an NFL team would sign him to start at left tackle?” somebody actually asked pic.twitter.com/T0KHmtAJdn
— John P. Gilbert (@JohnPGilbertNFL) February 13, 2020
Alex Lewis
On Tuesday, the Jets extended the contract of G Alex Lewis. The veteran guard will remain for the next three seasons for $18.6 million with $6 million guaranteed. Lewis was acquired from Baltimore during the 2019 preseason for a 2020 seventh-round pick. It turned out to be a good move because Lewis filled in a need on a thin offensive line. Lewis played in 15 games in 2019 and started in 12 games, playing in 75% of the Jets’ offensive plays. He was needed especially after the Kelechi Osemele injury debacle. The penalties are a bit concerning as he had four holding penalties in those 15 games, but he only allowed five QB hits and two sacks in 2019. Lewis is still young (27) and the Jets hope this return on investment will help get QB Sam Darnold to the next level, provided that he can stay healthy.
Reported earlier today the #Jets & Alex Lewis had “made progress” on a new contract.
And now it’s done.
Source confirms Lewis is returning to New York on a three-year, $18.6-million deal.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 17, 2020
Connor McGovern
The same day, the Jets announced that they signed former Broncos C Connor McGovern to a three-year, $27 million contract with $16.4 million guaranteed. The Jets have struggled to find stability at the center position since Nick Mangold retired at the end of 2016. Wesley Johnson, Spencer Long, and Ryan Kalil couldn’t give the Jets the rock on the offensive line they needed. McGovern gives the Jets a durable center – 31 starts in 32 games over the last two seasons – that doesn’t commit a lot of penalties. In fact, he did not have a SINGLE PENALTY in 2019 and has committed only nine penalties in over 2,500 snaps in Denver. That’s one penalty per 279 snaps.
Also, I think he’s excited to be a Jet, you guys…
Couldn’t be more excited to be a Jet. Hopefully with all the craziness going on we can get to work soon. Excited for big things to come. #TakeFlight?
— Connor McGovern (@McGovenator60) March 17, 2020
Joe Douglas promised to build a better offensive line during the offseason. So far, he’s come through on that promise and these moves should leave Jets fans curiously excited to see what he’ll do next.
We have much more NFL content on Belly Up Sports, including Sern’s piece on the Wild, Wild AFC East. Feel free to comment below or hit me up on Twitter @whoisryanmcc.
