New York Jets: Four viable remaining free agents

Chris Hairston

I’m thinking a little bit outside the box on this one, but hear me out.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again. A good offensive line can cure a lot of problems with an offense. The Jets offensive line wasn’t  good for much of 2017 and at some points it was, well offensive, pun intended. Ever since Nick Mangold left and D’Brickashaw Ferguson retired the offensive line has become a liability. It’s time for that to change.

It was supposed to change last year with the signing of Kelvin Beachum. It would be wrong to say he was terrible, but he wasn’t anything to write home about either. His Pro Football Focus grade was a very pedestrian 72.7. Definitely not world-beating grades. Now, Beachum is not 30 yet so he is still in the prime of his career. But if that prime may be pedestrian, competition is a good idea.

Not only can Hairston be the left tackle, he has experience across the offensive line, spending time at guard as well as right tackle. Versatility along the offensive line is a big deal, which is one of the reasons Ben Ijalana was re-signed. The more big bodies, the better. If one of those bodies has the ability to cover the blindside for multiple years it’s even better. Hairston is only 28 so he too has a lot of football ahead. He could be a solid investment.