If there’s one position that has almost no worry heading into the offseason, it’s the cornerback position. Let’s take a quick look at the position group heading into free agency and how much work the Jets really have to do in the offseason.
Under contract for 2023
Sauce Gardner
What else can you say about Gardner that hasn’t already been said? He was the first rookie cornerback to be named First-Team All-Pro since Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott in 1981. He led the league with 20 passes defended. He was easily the pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Jets nailed their top pick in last year’s draft.
D.J. Reed
The Jets nailed Gardner in the draft and they nailed Reed in free agency as well, giving the Jets one of the best outside cornerback pairings in the NFL. You can argue he was snubbed for a Pro Bowl selection last season. He’s still only 26 years old.
Michael Carter II
Carter took a big jump forward in 2022 at the nickel position. He played in all 17 games, totaled 63 tackles and added two interceptions. Not too many teams can feel good about a trio of defensive backs like the Jets can with Gardner, Reed and Carter.
Brandin Echols
Echols was a viable reserve cornerback who stepped up when needed, whether it was due to injuries or whatever the case may be. Echols gives the Jets solid depth at the position moving forward and he’s still under contract for two more years.
Bryce Hall
After starting all 17 games in 2021, Hall plummeted down the depth chart in 2022 thanks to the Jets adding Gardner and Reed. Hall was mostly a weekly inactive last season, playing in just five games. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and the Jets can save almost $2.75 million if they wanted to cut him this offseason.
Justin Hardee
Hardee had himself a career year in 2022. He was the special teams captain, one of the best special teams players in the entire league and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He can also play some cornerback in a pinch if needed. He’s entering the final year of his three-year contract that he signed in 2021. He’ll make about $2.35 million this season.
Craig James and Jimmy Moreland
James and Morehead were practice squad players throughout the year. Both signed reserve/future contracts after the season ended. They’ll compete for roster spots in 2023.
Almost incredibly, the Jets don’t have any free-agent cornerbacks.
Draft Options
Chances are, the Jets are doing much of anything at the position in free agency. It’s arguably the strongest position on the team and the Jets are already earmarking money for Gardner at some point. Incredibly, Reed and Gardner both combine for less than $16 million against the salary cap in 2023, not even 7% of the cap.
That said, maybe they eye the position in the draft, but likely late. We won’t even waste time on guys like Devon Witherspoon or Christian Gonzalez. But these are some late-round names that could be possible.
Kei’Trel Clark, Louisville
The second-team All-ACC cornerback started all 12 games for the Cardinals in 2022, racking up 51 tackles and four tackles for a loss. He also had a good week in Las Vegas at the Shrine Bowl. He’s a bit on the smaller side at five-foot-ten and 181 pounds, but he has plenty of speed. He would add competition on the depth chart.
Mekhi Garner, LSU
Garner brings plenty of length to the table. He measured in at six-foot-two and 212 pounds at the combine and is physical at the line of scrimmage and when playing the ball. He needs work on his footwork and there’s some concern about his lack of production — zero interceptions in three of his four collegiate seasons. As a late-round pick, there’s potential to develop him and use his length and his ability as an extra run-stopper. There’s talk of moving him to safety.
