The Jets may be dancing the Texans Two-Step this week.
As the Jets search for a veteran quarterback on the free-agent market, it appears they may get involved in a game of musical QBs with the Houston Texans.
ESPN reported the Jets and Texans are the two favorites to land free-agent quarterback Brian Hoyer. A source confirmed the Jets have interest in Hoyer, The Texans also are trying to re-sign free agent Ryan Mallett. Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick remains under contract with Houston. So, that’s three players for two spots in Houston. The Jets could wind up with the odd man out.
Houston seems to want a Hoyer-Mallett competition, which would spell the end of Fitzpatrick’s time there. Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan was part of the Texans front office that signed Fitzpatrick last year, so there is familiarity. Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey also coached Fitzpatrick in Buffalo when Gailey was the Bills’ head coach.
Free agents cannot sign until Tuesday at 4 p.m., but teams are permitted to speak with players’ agents right now.
Hoyer is getting a lot of attention in a thin quarterback market. The 29-year-old led the Browns to a 7-4 start last season, before losing two games and getting benched for Johnny Manziel. He has started 17 games in his six-year career, totaling 19 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.
The Jets hope to add a quarterback to compete with Geno Smith, who has been inconsistent in his two seasons as the Jets’ primary starter. They also could wind up taking a quarterback in the NFL Draft, with many draftniks linking them to Marcus Mariota at the No. 6 pick.
Fitzpatrick, 32, has played for five teams in 10 NFL seasons. His best season came in 2011 under Gailey’s tutelage in Buffalo. He threw for 3,832 yards that year, with 24 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. In Houston last year, he started 12 games, going 6-6. He threw 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The cornerback market is taking shape, and it is clear the Jets are going to have pay top dollar to fix their biggest need.
There were reports Sunday that Byron Maxwell, considered the top cornerback on the market, had agreed to a deal with the Eagles that will pay him around $10 million a season and $25 million guaranteed.
The Texans locked up their own free-agent cornerback, Kareem Jackson, on Saturday, reportedly giving him $8.5 million per season and $20 million guaranteed. The Chargers re-signed Brandon Flowers, according to ESPN, meaning the cornerback market is getting thin.
For the Jets, the biggest question mark at the position now is Darrelle Revis. The Patriots have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to get a new deal done with Revis or pick up his option for 2015, which is considered unlikely because of the $25 million salary-cap charge. If they don’t, Revis becomes a free agent and the Jets are going to be very interested.
With the amounts that Maxwell and Jackson received along with Ndamukong Suh reportedly getting $60 million guaranteed from the Dolphins, Revis’ price tag is going to be huge. In the past, Revis has sought an annual average value of $16 million, so you can figure that is a starting point. Then, you have to figure he’ll be looking for somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 million guaranteed.
In the past, the Patriots have been reluctant to sink a ton of money into one player. But Revis had a huge effect on their defense last year and helped them win a Super Bowl. Will Bill Belichick open the vault for Revis?
If not, the Jets figure to pay Revis, who turns 30 in July, after trading him to Tampa Bay two years ago and declining to sign him last year when he was a free agent.