New York Jets Rumors: Is Byron Maxwell a target?

By Nick Ziegler | Feb 24, 2015

New York Jets Rumors: Who will the Jets add at CB?

The New York Jets know that cornerback was one of the team’s biggest issues last season, and general manager Mike Maccagnan along with head coach Todd Bowles are going to be improving that.

It was a totally inexcusable failure by John Idzik to not sign a good cornerback last season, and now it will be on Maccagnan to improve the position in a far less talented class.

According to the New York Post, the Jets will be one of the front-runners to sign cornerback Byron Maxwell from the Seattle Seahawks. Bowles likes to play a Cover 1 defense, which requires cornerbacks to be up in the face of wide receivers. Not all cornerbacks succeed in that role, but Maxwell has experience with that type of coverage from his years in Seattle.

More from New York Jets

Maxwell is coming off a great year in Seattle, as he often faced team’s no.1 wide receivers opposite of Richard Sherman, who stayed on one side of the field. Maxwell is set up really well to get a big payday from the Jets, as everyone in the NFL knows the Jets must get a cornerback this offseason from the failure of Idzik.

Last season, Maxwell had two interceptions after a big 2013 season where he had four interceptions and two forced fumbles. Sherman got most of the attention in the Seahawks’ secondary, but with teams knowing that he would just cover whoever lineup on his side of the field, it led to Maxwell being challenged by No. 1 wide recievers.

The Jets will surely have some competition for Maxwell, as the Philadelphia Eagles are interested, and also a reunion between Dan Quinn and Maxwell in Atlanta is possible.

There was hope that a Darrelle Revis return was possible is seems more and more unlikely, as he will likely restructure his contract with the New England Patriots.

Dec 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antonio Cromartie (31) runs through drills in warmups before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

With Revis off the table the Jets can look to add more second-tier cornerbacks like Antonio Cromartie who seems extremely interested in a return to the Jets. The organization can’t have any faith in Dee Milliner at this point so adding multiple cornerbacks could very well be the plan.

The NFL Draft will of course be a place where the Jets look to improve in at cornerback, but that in all certainty won’t happen with their first-round pick. Expect the Jets to be very active in free agency, especially when it comes to signing a cornerback.

Next: Who could be the Jets' QB in 2015?

More from Empire Writes Back

Home/New York Jets