The Jets, who own a sometimes-wacky history, have plenty to boast about when it comes to signing free agents. They did, after all, ink Curtis Martin and Kevin Mawae, two of the greatest signings in NFL history.
Here’s a list of the five best free agent signings in Gang Green history.
A disclaimer: We’re only considering veteran free agents here, not the undrafted kind. (Sorry, Wayne Chrebet!). But, as our five selections show, there’s always plenty to dream on in free agency.
The list, ranked from fifth to first, is below….
5. BART SCOTT
When given this assignment, our first thought was “Can’t Wait!” That’s how much we wanted to put Scott on this list. Dad Joke aside, Scott’s fire, like when he groused about the Jets getting no respect after they knocked off the mighty Patriots in the 2010 playoffs weeks after a blowout loss, was an indelible part of those terrific Jets teams in 2009-10.
Heads up, non-believers – Scott and that brawny defense were a big reason the Jets made consecutive AFC Championship games those years.
The linebacker signed a six-year, $48 million contract before the 2009 season as the Rex Ryan era was starting and played 63 games in four years for the Jets — 60 of them starts. He had 299 tackles, 37 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
4. ALAN FANECA
The Jets made Faneca the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL when they gave him a five-year, $40 million contract in 2008, and he delivered two Pro Bowl seasons and one second-team All-Pro nod in his brief, but impactful, stint in green.
Faneca boosted the Jets’ turnaround in the late 2000s and was a key hole-opener for the league’s No. 1 rushing attack in 2009. The Jets, relying on the ground game, ran for 2,756 yards that season, topped by Thomas Jones, who ran for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Faneca started every game in his Jets tenure and had just one holding penalty, according to Pro Football Reference. His two Pro Bowl selections ran his streak to nine in a row, counting…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/5-greatest-jets-free-agency-133002000.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-03-13 13:30:02
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