Still quiet in 2017 NFL free agency, the New York Jets would be wise to pursue and attempt to sign safety Bradley McDougald
The New York Jets have certainly not been dynamic players in NFL free agency so far. Quite the contrary. It feels like the Jets are shopping at Walmart, looking for bargains, while other NFL teams have been doing their shopping at Lord & Taylor.
Mike Maccagnan and the Jets are taking the right approach, though—rebuilding with youth via the draft, while aiming to make smart, pragmatic free agent signings. New York needs to do just that and ink free agent safety Bradley McDougald to help boost their struggling secondary.
Gang Green ranked 17th in the league last season against the pass, allowing 244 yards per game. Safeties Calvin Pryor and Marcus Gilchrist suffered through mediocre seasons so McDougald would provide an instant upgrade while not putting much of a dent in New York’s salary cap.
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The Jets have a little over $24 million in cap space (per Overthecap.com) and might have to ink McDougald to a three or four-year pact in order to acquire him. The Seattle Seahawks met with McDougald on Wednesday, so New York will have competition for his services. He’d be worth it, though.
McDougald is still in his prime at 26 years of age and is coming off an excellent campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He ranked second on the squad with 91 tackles while adding two interceptions, a fumble recovery and 10 passes defended. He is known as a strong tackler and is dependable as well. Over the last two seasons, McDougald has started in 31 of Tampa Bay’s 32 contests. Over his short career, the Dublin, OH native has registered five interceptions and 21 passes defended.
The Jets have dipped their toe in the free agent pool recently by signing cornerback Morris Claiborne and left tackle Kelvin Beachum—both solid moves but certainly nothing to throw a parade over. This team is simply not going to make any glamour signings in free agency. The big ticket players have already signed elsewhere. And that’s okay.
Next: Jets No Longer A Preferred Free Agency Destination
However, bringing McDougald onboard would strengthen their defensive backfield and not cost them an arm and a leg. It would continue their process of building with youth and would provide Gang Green with some quality depth in their secondary.