Free agency is just a couple of days old and the Jets have handed out new contracts to nine different players with financial terms available on seven of them.\u00a0 As any fan knows, free agency isn’t just about spending money, but spending it wisely.\u00a0 Let’s take a look at each player who has been signed to this point, what their presence means for Gang Green and whether or not Maccagnan paid “market value” or spent a bit too freely.<\/p>\n
QB Josh McCown, 1 year\/$10 million: Poor Value<\/strong><\/p>\n While the term “overpay” is a subjective one as a player’s value is truly determined by what a team is willing to pay on the open market, this still looks like a bad deal.\u00a0 The Jets were likely bidding against themselves here and there’s a very real chance McCown won’t break camp as the starter.\u00a0 $10 million for a guy who is likely to spend the season on the bench is a bit steep.<\/p>\n QB Teddy Bridgewater, 1 year\/$5 million: Fair Value<\/strong><\/p>\n Bridgewater was said to have multiple suitors but made a wise choice in coming to the Jets.\u00a0 Even if Gang Green were to take a quarterback at the top of round one, Bridgewater was willing to bet on himself given the Jets unsettled quarterback situation.\u00a0 If healthy, Bridgewater should have little trouble beating out McCown, and if the Jets take another project at QB such as Josh Allen, it’s another candidate Bridgewater stands a good chance against.<\/p>\n Isaiah Crowell, 3 years\/$12 milion:\u00a0<\/strong>Excellent Value<\/strong><\/p>\n Crowell’s power running style brings a dimension to the Jets offense that they’ve been missing for several years and is an upgrade over the retired Matt Forte.\u00a0 Over his past two seasons in Cleveland, Crowell has racked up 1,805 yards on 404 carries (4.4 YPA) to go along with 68 receptions for 501 yards.\u00a0 Crowell’s addition means the Jets got younger and better for less than what they were paying the player he’s replacing.<\/p>\n C Spencer Long, 4 years\/$28 million: Fair Value<\/strong><\/p>\n Long isn’t a top-ten center and he’s not being paid like one either.\u00a0 Per overthecap.com, this deal will put Long at around 12th or 13th in the league, depending on what other centers command.\u00a0 We don’t have the guaranteed portion of the contract and that will go a long way in getting a more accurate assessment.\u00a0 Long is better suited for the zone scheme the Jets will run than Ryan Jensen who many fans were clamoring for, so in considering what similar players are making, the tremendous upgrade he’ll bring over Wesley Johnson and scheme fit, this looks like a fair deal.<\/p>\n ILB Avery Williamson, 3 years\/$22 million: Good<\/strong>\u00a0Value<\/strong><\/p>\n The equation here is pretty simple.\u00a0 The Jets get younger with Williamson who is three years junior to the departed Demario Davis and the early numbers look as if he’ll be $1 million cheaper.\u00a0 Throw in the fact that most analysts chiming in see Williamson as being as good as, if not better than Davis, and it’s a quality signing.<\/p>\n CB Trumaine Johnson, $15 million per yr: Fair Value<\/strong><\/p>\n $15 million a year is a lot of money.\u00a0 There’s no getting around that.\u00a0 However, when you’re a top player at a premier position, teams are going to have to cough up some serious cash if they want to strike a deal and this is exactly what the Jets have done.\u00a0 Johnson’s addition is easily the biggest upgrade on the roster and his presence is expected to go a long way in fixing what was a broken cornerback position last year.<\/p>\n CB Morris Claiborne, 1 year\/$7 million: Fair Value<\/strong><\/p>\n The thought of giving Claiborne a long-term deal was cringe-worthy for a player who has played 10 or more games just 3 times in his 6 year career.\u00a0 Going with another 1-year “prove it” deal with a downgrade from CB1 to CB2 and it changes the whole dynamic.\u00a0 Claiborne won’t be asked to do as much as he was last season, and the one-year deal puts the Jets in position to target a CB at the top of the draft next season.<\/p>\n The Jets have also come to terms with safety Terrance Brooks and K Cairo Santos, but terms of the deals are not available at the time of publication.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Free agency is just a couple of days old and the Jets have handed out new contracts to nine different players with financial terms available on seven of them.\u00a0 As any fan knows, free agency isn’t just about spending money, but spending it wisely.\u00a0 Let’s take a look at each player who has been signed 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