Duane Brown could be a home run addition for the New York Jets

The New York Jets need to make some serious upgrades, and one of them could come in the form of former Pro Bowl tackle Duane Brown.

During the 2021 season, the New York Jets struggled to create any kind of offense on their way to a 4-13 record, with their offensive line woes one of the main factors in this area.

The Jets posted a paltry 310 offensive points last season, seeing them rank 28th in the league, and saw rookie quarterback Zach Wilson struggle greatly – completing just 55.6% of his pass attempts, earning 2334 yards through the air and just nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions in the 13 games he played.

To make matters worse, Wilson suffered an astonishing 44 sacks in his 13 appearances – losing the Jets a league-worst 370 individual yards.

If the Jets have any hope of competing in the AFC East, where the Buffalo Bills are considered possible Super Bowl contenders, the New England Patriots remain a tough team to judge in the post-Tom Brady era, and the Miami Dolphins have bolstered heavily on offense, then some upgrades along the offensive line need to be made.

The team will be hoping for a healthy Mekhi Becton this year, with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 Draft having featured in just one game all of last season – leaving the Jets light at the tackle position.

The Jets still have veteran right tackle George Fant, but if Becton is unable to stay healthy, there needs to be another option to help the team compete in an increasingly difficult division.

Enter former Houston Texan and Seattle Seahawk Duane Brown, who is reportedly visiting the team and could be in line for a new contract at the age of 36.

Brown had a strong year in Seattle in 2021, earning his fifth Pro Bowl appearance, and has been a consistent performer throughout his career – being voted first-team All-Pro in 2012, as well as earning second-team votes in 2011 and 2018.

The 26th overall pick in the 2008 Draft received a solid 71.5 grade from PFF for last season, eclipsing that of Fant (71.1) and Morgan Moses (71.0), who joined the Baltimore Ravens in free agency earlier this year.

The need to add depth and competition along the offensive line is clear for the New York Jets, who need to give Wilson better protection in year two.

Adding a player of Brown’s experience and quality can also alleviate the pressure on Becton, who needs to continue working on his health to ensure he can get through a full season healthy, with another free agent addition a sensible move to address this.

If Brown opts to continue playing in 2022, the Jets are clearly interested and would be one of the most logical landing spots if he hopes to remain a starter at his advanced age.

For the Jets, Brown would give them everything they need in the short term, with the potential to improve the line further in the 2023 Draft once they have given Wilson more time to develop.