The Jets addressed one of their biggest needs yesterday, landing free agent safety LaRon Landry.
The former Redskins hard-hitter, who also visited the Patriots, agreed to a deal with the Jets after spending parts of the last two days visiting the team’s headquarters in Florham Park. A source said the deal is for one year. ESPN reported it is worth $4 million.
The move plugs a hole for the Jets, but comes with some risk. Safety was a position the Jets needed to upgrade, and Landry can be that upgrade if he’s healthy. But he has missed 15 games over the last two years and has not played a full season since 2008.
Landry has been plagued by a left Achilles tendon injury he has declined to have surgery on, despite the recommendation of Redskins doctors and specialists. Landry instead has chosen alternative procedures like stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma therapy.
Eric Smith is the only safety on the Jets roster who saw significant playing time last season, Jim Leonhard is a free agent and recovering from knee surgery, and Brodney Pool signed with the Cowboys last week.
Landry is a physical safety who excels close to the line of scrimmage, and is not known for his coverage skills, with only four career interceptions. The Jets still need to find someone to play free safety.
“He’s got size and speed, he runs well, good in run support, he’s physical, good strength on contact,” one NFL pro personnel director said of Landry. “However, he’s a strong safety and not a free, and you are not necessarily acquiring this player to be a ball hawk producer or playmaker in coverage. At the end of the day, he’s a good starter, but what kind of monetary value do you put on a strong safety, because ultimately you pay good dollars to a safety who can cover well and produces plays on the ball.”
The Jets also tried to land free agent safety Reggie Nelson over the weekend, but he re-signed with the Bengals.
Landry, 27, the sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft, is known for his muscular physique and crushing hits.
The Jets have to be hoping he can recapture the form he showed in early 2010, when he looked like a candidate for defensive player of the year. He had 85 tackles, a sack and an interception in the first half of the season before suffering the Achilles’ tendon strain and missing the final seven games of the season.
Jets coach Rex Ryan has some familiarity with Landry, having coached his older brother, Dawan, with the Ravens.