CLEVELAND — As the Jets’ 2023 season winds down, it is time to look ahead to 2024.
The franchise will have some interesting decisions to make in free agency and the NFL draft as the Jets again try to halt their playoff drought that is now 13 years old.
Everything starts with their own free agents.
Here is a look at the high-profile free agents the Jets will have starting with the most important to re-sign:
Bryce Huff
This is going to be a fascinating negotiation.
Huff has emerged as a very good pass rusher, whom the coaches love.
He is a darling of the analytics crowd because of his lightning-quick first step.
Huff leads the team with eight sacks this season, but this is his first year of big production, so the team is not going to be inclined to pay him like a top edge rusher.
His agent surely will ask for something around or more than $20 million a year.
Will the Jets go that high for a player with a lot of potential but one that only plays about 40 percent of the snaps?
The Jets have used first-round picks on edge rushers in each of the last two years with Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald.
Will they be willing to let Huff walk, knowing they have those two?
I think the Jets and Huff reach a deal in the end, but it could be a rocky few months before they get there.
Greg Zuerlein
You could argue that no one on the 2023 Jets has done his job better than Zuerlein.
As play began Thursday night, he had only missed one field-goal try all season.
The Jets have struggled to find a consistent kicker for years.
They can’t let him go.
Thomas Morstead
Maybe the only player who can fight with Zuerlein for doing his job well consistently.
Morstead has been a great weapon, pinning opponents inside the 5-yard line and helping to cause safeties.
The Jets have won the battle of field position in many games because of Morstead.
They must re-sign him.
Quinton Jefferson
I would bring Jefferson back.
He had a career-high six sacks before suffering a season-ending injury two weeks ago in Miami.
Jefferson was a nice complement to Quinnen Williams in the middle and should not cost that much.
Jordan Whitehead
This is where things get interesting.
Whitehead has been good in coverage this season and not very good against the run. Do the Jets think they can upgrade this position?
Do they want to commit money to doing that when there are bigger needs on the team?
I could see a scenario where Whitehead comes back on a one-year deal at around what he is making now — $7 million.
Justin Hardee
He has been the team’s best special teams player and should be back as long as his contract demands are reasonable.
Solomon Thomas
A popular player in the locker room and with the coaches, Thomas has a career-high five sacks this season and has been a good part of the defensive line rotation. He could be back on a short-term deal.
Mekhi Becton
I don’t think the 2020 first-round pick will be back in 2024.
He has never clicked with this coaching staff.
He stayed healthy this year, which should help him get paid, but he has not played all that well.
Dalvin Cook
A one-year experiment that failed miserably.
Carl Lawson
A big free-agent signing in 2021, he has barely played this season. He won’t be back.
Ashtyn Davis
The guy always seems to find the ball despite only playing sparingly.
I would bring him back on a short-term deal.
Duane Brown
I would expect Brown is ready to retire after two injury-filled years with the Jets.
Randall Cobb
Just say no to Aaron. They can’t run this one back.
Connor McGovern
He had a good run with the Jets but now it is Joe Tippmann’s time at center.
Chuck Clark
You probably forgot he was on the team since he was injured in the spring.
If the Jets don’t bring back Whitehead, Clark is a possibility.
Al Woods
He had some nice moments before he was injured but he never felt like a great fit for the defense.
Billy Turner
No, Aaron, he’s not coming back.
Trevor Siemian/Brett Rypien
Let’s pair these two veteran QBs together. Neither should be back.
Bryce Hall
A 2020 draft pick who was a starter at one point but barely plays now. Time to move on.
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