Cornerback was one of the most obvious postitions of need for the Jets entering the final week of preseason, and New York's front office took a step to address it.
On Tuesday, the Jets acquired third-year Indianapolis Colts cornerback Nate Hairston for a 2020 sixth-round pick, the team announced.
We've agreed to terms on a trade for CB Nate Hairston in exchange for a sixth-round pick, pending a physical.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 28, 2019
📰 https://t.co/n6c4EQ58Z7 pic.twitter.com/rxO5R1VihB
Hairston joins a cornerback position that is littered with question marks. Beyond Trumaine Johnson, Darryl Roberts and Brian Poole, there weren't many players viewed as locks for the 53-man roster. Hairston, who started 11 games across his two years in Indianapolis, gives the Jets another option they can be confident in.
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Hairston was a 2017 fifth-rounder out of Temple and played 27 games for the Colts. He has one career interception and six passes defended, along with two sacks.
The pickup is particularly crucial considering Johnson is still recovering from a hamstring injury, and his availability for Week 1 is uncertain.
The rest of the Jets' cornerbacks, including rookies Kyron Brown and Alex Brown, CFL veteran Tevaughn Campbell and 29-year-old Marcus Cooper, can make their case for the wide-open roster Thursday against the Eagles in the Jets' final preseason game.