New York Jets: Three mid-level players acquired by Mike Maccagnan who paid off in week one

Kony Ealy

This one feels good simply because he once played for the Patriots. The Jets did a reverse Belichick move!

Kony Ealy is a guy that is only 25 years old and showed a lot of promise early in his career. Over three years with the Carolina Panthers he posted 14 sacks, including five in each of the past two seasons. During this past offseason, the Panthers traded him to New England for a draft pick. However, he didn’t make the team and was waived on August 26th. The very next day, the Jets earned his services via waiver claim, and get him on a one year rental where he only earns $803,660 (via Spotrac).

The acquisition already has paid off. He looked good in the final preseason game against the Eagles, and continued that work up in Buffalo. Ealy was credited with three tackles, two solo, and a pass defended. He graded out at 83.5 by Pro Football Focus, take a look:

"The Jets picked up Ealy late in the offseason, but this move has already started paying dividends. Ealy recorded three total pressures – one hit and two hurries – on 19 pass-rushing snaps and also batted down a pass while he dominantly set the edge against the run."

They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Normally the roles are reversed, as Bill Belichick likes to take the Jets former players and make them into useful pieces of his puzzle. In this case, the Jets did it to him. If things continue the way they did in week one, Maccagnan made quite the move bringing Ealy to town on his rookie contract.