This is the fifth in a nine-part series examining the Jets’ needs position by position with free agency starting on March 11.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Currently on roster:
Nick Mangold
Age: 30
2013 stats: 16 starts, 0 sacks allowed, 14 QB hurries allowed
D’Brickashaw Ferguson
Age: 30
2013 stats: 16 starts, 8 sacks allowed, 31 QB hurries allowed
Austin Howard
Age: 26
2013 stats: 16 starts, 2 sacks allowed, 21 QB hurries allowed
Willie Colon
Age: 30
2013 stats: 16 starts, 1 sack allowed, 14 QB hurries allowed
Brian Winters
Age: 22
2013 stats: 12 starts, 10 sacks allowed, 15 QB hurries allowed
Vlad Ducasse
Age: 26
2013 stats: 4 starts, 2 sacks allowed, 11 QB hurries allowed
Caleb Schlauderaff
Age: 26
2013 stats: N/A
Oday Aboushi
Age: 22
2013 stats: N/A
Will Campbell
Age: 22
2013 stats: N/A
Ben Ijalana
Age: 24
2013 stats: N/A
Dalton Freeman
Age: 23
2013 stats: N/A
Patrick Ford
Age: 23
2013 stats: N/A
Jacolby Ashworth
Age: 23
2013 stats: N/A
All sack and QB hurry stats are from Pro Football Focus
2014 free agents: Howard, Colon and Ducasse
Overview: This group had an up-and-down year as it worked in two new starters at guard. Long gone are the days when the Jets offensive line was the best in the NFL. Now it is middle of the pack.
Howard was the bright spot along the line. He really developed in his second season as a starter. His pass blocking still needs to catch up to his run blocking, but he proved he can be a solid starter.
Mangold didn’t get some of the accolades he usually gets, but it was another strong season from him. He is the rock in the middle of the Jets offense.
Ferguson had a down year. It could be partly due to playing alongside an inexperienced left guard in Winters. Whatever the reason, Ferguson’s play slipped and the Jets need him to bounce back in 2014. The amazing thing about Ferguson is his durability. He has not missed a snap in his NFL career.
Colon had an OK year, but he committed too many penalties (12). The knock on Colon when the Jets signed him was that he could not stay healthy, but he did until the final few minutes of the season when he tore a biceps.
Rookie starter Winters had a lot of trouble. He played better toward the end of the season, but the Jets need him to make a leap in his second season.
The end of Ducasse’s days with the Jets is near. The 2010 second-round pick never developed the way the Jets hoped.
Offseason priority rating (1 to 5 with 5 being the highest priority): 3
Possible targets: Geoff Schwartz, Jon Asamoah, Shelley Smith, late-round draft depth picks
Costello’s call: The Jets’ top priority right now is getting Howard re-signed. Once they do that, they will have four starters returning. Then they can focus on right guard.
Colon had a nice season for the Jets, but it always felt like he was a one-year rental. Coming off the biceps injury, there may not be a market for Colon for a little while, buying the Jets some time on this decision.
Aboushi and Campbell basically had redshirt years in 2013, not playing at all. The Jets have said they feel good about their development. Good enough to try to plug one in as a starter? We’ll see.
If I’m John Idzik, I try to find a stopgap starter at right guard. I don’t think Aboushi or Campbell are ready. Schwartz — who spent last season with the Chiefs — might be a nice fit depending on what he is looking for in terms of a contract.
If the free-agency options are unappealing, the Jets can bring Colon back for another year.
In the draft, it’s time to draft a tackle to develop. Ferguson is 30 and may only have a few years left.
Coming Wednesday: Defensive Line