INDIANAPOLIS — The offseason of optimism gets under way for the Jets this week with the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Jets entered this offseason with cap space and draft picks, giving the front office a chance to greatly improve the roster. Couple that with an 8-8 finish to a 2013 season in which nothing was expected and this is as good as the Jets have felt entering the offseason in a few years.
Most of the Jets’ contingent arrived here Wednesday and will begin evaluating college players Thursday. That is only part of what the combine entails, though. It is also a chance for players’ agents to meet with the Jets front office, which should lead to some resolution of the issues around the team’s roster.
The first order of business for the Jets is taking care of their own roster. Quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes are expected to be cut in the coming weeks. The Jets will meet with the agents for both while at the combine, and the players may be told something definitive about their futures. The Jets currently have about $20 million in cap space. By cutting Sanchez and Holmes, they would clear another $16 million.
General manager John Idzik could clear another $9.5 million by cutting cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who is coming off a disappointing season and carries a $14.9 million cap charge in 2014.
The combine also serves as an unofficial start to free agency. While teams are not supposed to begin discussions with free agents from other teams, tampering does go on. The Jets surely will talk to the agents of some of the players who interest them and are on the verge of free agency.
What is permitted, and the Jets will be doing plenty of, is speaking to the agents for their own players who are slated to hit free agency on March 11. Sources said the Jets are interested in re-signing tackle Austin Howard, tight end Jeff Cumberland and kicker Nick Folk. They also have some difficult decisions to make on guard Willie Colon and linebacker Calvin Pace.
With all of this going on, the primary purpose of the next six days will be for the Jets to get an up-close look at the top college prospects. They will interview dozens of players and watch them get measured, poked, prodded and timed.
The Jets expect to have 12 picks in May’s NFL Draft once compensation picks have been awarded next month. That will give them plenty of opportunities to plug some holes. It is no secret the team’s biggest need is playmakers on offense. Wide receivers Sammy Watkins of Clemson, Mike Evans of Texas A&M and Marqise Lee of USC, as well as tight end Eric Ebron of North Carolina, are potential first-round targets the Jets will watch closely.