The New York Jets are looking to make a splash.
ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler revealed that the Jets “come up often in conversations about safeties at or toward the top of the market.”
The other team that is swimming in those same top-end safety waters is the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Fowler.
The good news for the Jets is that they’re better positioned to land any safety they want. According to Over The Cap, the Jets have $73.8 million in cap space, which ranks fifth most in the league.
The Bengals have $47.2 million in cap space, which ranks eighth in the league, according to OTC.
A Top Name to Keep Your Eye On
Fowler revealed that Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Bryan Cook “remains a key figure in this market.”
ESPN’s Rich Cimini previously reported that the Jets are “considering” Cook as an option in free agency.
Cook is the top-ranked safety on Matt Bowen’s top-100 free agency big board for ESPN. The former Howard and Cincinnati product is 26, and he will turn 27 before the start of the 2026 season.
Cook is expected to receive a bag in free agency. How much of a bag depends on which contract projection site you frequent.
Spotrac’s calculated market value projections expect Cook to command a four-year $56.7 million deal. That $14.2 million annual salary would place him No. 12 among the highest-paid safeties in the sport, per OTC.
The Athletic projects that Cook will ink a three-year, $40 million contract. That $13.33 million annual salary would rank Cook No. 13 among the highest-paid safeties in the NFL, per Over The Cap.
Pro Football Focus projects he will sign a three-year $36 million contract with $22.5 million of that guaranteed. That $12 million annual salary would place him No. 15 among the highest-paid safeties in the league, per Over The Cap.
Plenty of Safety Fish in This Year’s Free Agency Class
There is quality and quantity on the open market at safety.
Bowen has nine safeties ranked inside his top-100 overall free agents. That group includes: Cook, Reed Blankenship (Philadelphia Eagles), Jaquan Brisker (Chicago Bears), Coby Bryant (Seattle Seahawks), Kevin Byard III (Bears), Jalen Thompson (Arizona Cardinals), Nick Cross (Indianapolis Colts), Jaylinn Hawkins (New England Patriots), and Andre Cisco (Jets).
For what it’s worth, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic explained that Cisco and Tony Adams aren’t expected to return to the Jets this offseason.
This group of available defensive backs includes younger players with upside, proven veterans, and everything in between. In an ideal world, the Jets could walk away with several of these players to fill out the room.
The 2026 NFL draft is also expected to be deep in the safety department. However what the Jets will have to weigh their is acqusition cost and results.
The rookies are cheaper than the veterans, but with rookies, there is a big mystery about what you’re going to get. In theory, the veteran players are more expensive, but you should know what you’re paying for.
Perhaps taking a little from column A and a little from Column B is the right solution to this Jets problem.
Like Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Sports
The post Jets Are Big Fish Hunting in Free Agency at 1 Position: Insider appeared first on Sports.