Jets dominate NFL in one kind of free agent

Tyler Greenawalt

Jets dominate NFL in one kind of free agent image

The Jets have a type of free-agent player they like to acquire.

New York has signed the most future Hall of Fame players and/or league MVPs since 1993 who are at least 30 years old, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. The Jets have brought in nine Hall-of-Famers and four MVPs in the free-agency era that fit this description.

For the curious, here's that list:

Position Player Years Age HOF MVP
S Ronnie Lott 1993-1994 34 Yes No
WR Art Monk 1994 37 Yes No
S Steve Atwater 1999 33 Yes No
CB Ty Law 2005, 2008 31 Yes No
QB Brett Favre 2008 39 Yes Yes
G Alan Faneca 2008-2009 32 Yes No
RB LaDainian Tomlinson 2010-2011 31 Yes Yes
LB Jason Taylor 2010 36 Yes No
S Ed Reed 2013 35 Yes No
QB Boomer Esiason 1993-1995 32 Yes Yes
QB Aaron Rodgers 2023-current 39 No Yes

Remember, all of these players either won MVP or were considered Hall-of-Famer players before they signed with the Jets.

And what do the Jets have to show for it? Three AFC championship appearances in seven postseasons and eight playoff wins. No Lombardi Trophies or even Super Bowl appearances. Not exactly the return on investment the franchise probably wanted when they acquired all 13 players.

New York did make the playoffs with Faneca in 2009, Tomlinson and Taylor in 2010 and went 8-3 with Favre in 2008 before he tore his bicep. But the other players didn't enjoy any postseason bliss as the team had hoped.

This list doesn't even count 33-year-old left tackle Tyron Smith, who the Jets signed this offseason on an incentive-laden deal. Smith very well could be a future Hall-of-Famer as well as following a wildly successful 13-year tenure with the Cowboys that included eight Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. He also made the NFL's 2010 All-Decade team. However, Smith is in his early 30s and very injury-prone.

Rodgers was supposed to be the one to deliver the Jets to glory in 2023 before a Week 1 Achilles injury ended his season after four snaps. He should be back fully healthy in 2024 as New York takes another shot at the playoffs — this time with more offensive line help and at least one more offensive weapon in wide receiver Mike Williams.

The No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft could also bear fruit in the form of offensive support, either as another lineman or pass-catcher.

But if history is any indicator of the Jets' free agency choices, adding aging talent might not work out again.

Tyler Greenawalt

Tyler Greenawalt Photo

 

Tyler Greenawalt is a contributing writer for The Sporting News after stops at Yahoo Sports, USA Today Sports and Turner Sports. He’s worked in written, video, social media and augmented reality content since he graduated from Syracuse University in 2014. His favorite teams – the New York Jets, Orlando Magic and Tottenham Hotspur – always find new and exciting ways to disappoint him, and he consistently questions his fandom. You can follow his bad sports takes at @TyGreen14 on X.