Next up, safeties. Â The Jets have been reticent to play safeties historically under Rex Ryan, will this be the year that changes? Â I've added my completely arbitrary and wholly bogus odds of each player joining the Jets.
Jairus Byrd, BillsAnalysis: Byrd continues to justify his status as one of the best coverage corners in football. Â As a franchisee in 2013, there will be the customary 120 increase to re-franchise Byrd, but the increase isn't steep enough for the Bills to rule out squeezing one more year out of Byrd by tagging if they so choose. Â The Bills have made it abundantly clear they want to sign Byrd to a long-term deal, but we'll see. Â The numbers should be easy; Dashon Goldson's deal and Eric Weddle's contract are in line with whatever Byrd should get as a free agent. Â While the Jets need to upgrade their safety spot, spending free agent dollars might not be the way the team does it.
TJB Contract Prediction:Â 5 year for $42.5 million ($23 million guaranteed)
Odds:Â 20 percent
T.J. Ward, BrownsAnalysis: Ward s stronger against the run, but he is is no slouch in the passing game and would make an athletic and versatile addition for any team he joins. Â Rex Ryan is known for his love of versatile players up the middle of his defense and Ward would be a safety he could build his unit around for the next three to five years. Â Ward seems a player that is an almost certainty to get franchise tagged. Â The Browns won't want to pay the freight on a long-term deal for Ward while their whole organization is in flux. Â While the team works on a long-term deal with Joe Haden, expect Ward to get tagged.
TJB Contract Prediction:Â 5 year for $37.5 million ($20 million guaranteed)
Odds:Â 10 percent
Donte Whitner, NinersAnalysis: The Jets are strong at safety against the run, but need a top-flight coverage safety to push this unit back into the lock-down category. Donte Whitner might be 29 but is someone the Jets could badly use to round out their secondary. Â The Niners are unlikely to use their franchise tag and while both sides would like Whitner back, free agency seems likely. Â Whitner will turn 29 this summer.
TJB Contract Prediction:Â 3 years for $19 million
Odds:Â 30 percent
Chris Clemons, DolphinsAnalysis:Â Clemons signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins last year and Clemons went out and had a solid season. Â Clemons will likely attract more interest this year as his coverage skills might help to shore up many units around the league. Â Clemons has the skillset that the Jets need added to their secondary at the safety spot and could pair well with a player like Antonio Allen.
TJB Contract Prediction:Â 3 years for $13.5 million
Odds:Â 30 percent
Louis Delmas, LionsAnalysis:Â Delmas was cut by the Lions this week and it has come to light that he might have a knee condition. Â It is likely that this news could give some teams a reason for caution when it comes to signing Delmas even though he is still one of the better coverage safeties in the league. Â Delmas also played almost all the defensive snaps for the Lions in 2013. Â So how much is this condition really bothering him? Â The Jets could use a talent like Delmas and Rex Ryan is generally liberal with his practice policy for veterans with chronic pain or injury issues. Â Delmas seems like a fit to what the Jets need to do and what they would be willing to pay for a year or two - assuming Delmas stays healthy.
TJB Contract Prediction:Â 3 years for $16.5 million
Odds:Â 30 percent
Add your thoughts on these players and more in the comments!