The Jets have continued to fill the empty spots on their roster.
Gang Green planned to sign former Vikings tight end Tyler Conklin to a three-year, $21 million deal, NFL Network reported Wednesday.
Conklin, who turns 27 in July, produced a career season with Minnesota as he caught 61 passes for 593 yards and three touchdowns.
The Jets opened free agency Monday by addressing their tight end group. They added former Bengal C.J Uzomah that evening.
Conklin and Uzomah combined for 110 catches, 1,086 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
That production would be a massive upgrade for the Jets, who desperately needed to add to the tight end room after they received little to nothing from the group in 2021. That group featured Tyler Kroft, Ryan Griffin, Dan Brown and Kenny Yeboah.
The unit struggled to produce, combining for 499 yards.
That hampered the Jets offensive game plan because Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur’s offensive scheme involves running a bunch of 12 personnel (two tight ends set). The Jets went top five in 12 personnel usage prior to Week 6, but they received limited production from the unit and eventually went heavy on 11 personnel.
Now the Jets offensive can feature 12 personnel more as they have Conklin and Uzomah who both can contribute to the pass game and, most importantly, be physical in the run game. Both can be safety blankets for Zach Wilson and create holes for Michael Carter and company.
Conklin and Uzomah aren’t star players, but they are true NFL starters, something the Jets were missing throughout the roster.
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The Jets re-signed Dan Feeney, a backup who played center and guard with Gang Green last season. It’ll be his second season with the Jets after spending his first four with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Jets traded linebacker Blake Cashman to the Houston Texans for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick. The oft-injured Cashman, a 2019 fifth-round pick, never lived up to his potential and finished each season on the injured reserve list.
The Jets tendered a one-year contract worth $2.43 million to kicker Eddy Pineiro, who was a restricted free agent.
