The Jets addressed one glaring hole on their roster in the hours before free agency began Tuesday.
The team and Seahawks free agent guard James Carpenter agreed to a deal, according to a source. Multiple reports said the deal was for four years and approximately $20 million.
Carpenter, 25, was a first-round pick of the Seahawks in 2011. He started 39 games for Seattle over the past four years, including 13 last year.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder missed three regular-season games and Seattle’s three playoff games last year with an ankle injury. The Jets likely will pencil him in at left guard and move third-year players Oday Aboushi and Brian Winters to the right side, where they will compete to replace Willie Colon, who is expected to leave in free agency.
Aboushi and Winters split the starts last year at left guard.
Carpenter has been plagued by knee problems, including ACL surgery in 2012, and conditioning issues. His run-blocking is seen as better than his pass protection, though the website Pro Football Focus said he struggled in run-blocking last season.
The Jets made runs at Mike Iupati and Orlando Franklin, the top two guards on the market, but missed on both. Iupati chose the Cardinals. Franklin went to the Chargers.
This is the second straight season the Jets have signed an offensive lineman from Seattle. They picked up Breno Giacomini last year to play right tackle.
The Jets are waiting for the Texans to release veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, but the team’s dance with free agent Brian Hoyer continues.
Hoyer is expected to sign with Houston, but reports said he wants to visit first before signing a deal. Once Hoyer is signed to compete with Ryan Mallett, the Texans are expected to cut Fitzpatrick, who the Jets would like to sign to compete with Geno Smith.