New York Jets: 4 internal free agents to keep and 4 to let walk away
By Ed Stein
Number 2
Go – Kelvin Beachum LT, UFA (30, $8M)
There is a very good reason why left tackles get paid so much in the NFL. They are supposed to protect the quarterback’s blind side and anchor the offensive line. Kelvin Beachum has not lived up to those responsibilities and he sure hasn’t lived up to the three-year $24M contract he got from Gang Green in 2017.
It’s no secret the New York Jets offensive line was awful last year. Beachum, supposedly their best lineman was graded at 67.1 out of 100 by Pro Football Focus. Using their grade scale, Beachum rated at the high end of “backup.” That doesn’t equate to someone Darnold, Douglas, or head coach Adam Gase should want to watch the QB’s back. Douglas said that building a new line was a priority, He can start with a new left tackle.
Stay – Jordan Jenkins, OLB, UFA (26, $781K)
To say Jordan Jenkins is a devastating defensive playmaker the Jets can’t live without is ridiculous. At the same time, he can’t be described at mediocre either. Last season, Jenkins should have won an award for the best value to the Jets per salary paid. He had 32 tackles and a career-high 8.0 quarterback sacks (the same sack total as highly coveted Yannick Ngakoue).
Jets fans have to like the way Jenkins sets the edge. He isn’t easy to get outside of. Additionally, 15.0 sacks and four forced fumbles over the previous two seasons demonstrated he can wreak a little havoc on the opposition when the time is right. The former 2016 third-round pick (83rd overall) from Georgia has earned a good raise from the bargain he was in 2019. Jenkins is the type of player winning teams have on their roster, lock him up for a few more years, he’s worth it.