NFL

Jets need a return man, but not likely to splurge

This is the ninth in a nine-part series examining the Jets’ needs position by position with free agency starting on Tuesday.

Special teams

Currently on roster

Nick Folk

Age: 29

2013 stats: 30-for-36 field goals, 27-of-27 PATs

Ryan Quigley

Age: 24

2013 stats: 72 punts, 3278 yards, 45.5 avg., 38.9 net, 21 inside the 20

Tanner Purdum

Age: 28

2013 stats: 0 bad snaps

Josh Cribbs

Age: 30

2013 stats: 20 kickoff returns, 490 yards, 8 punt returns, 96 yards

Clyde Gates

Age: 27

2013 stats: 9 kickoff returns, 209 yards

Darius Reynaud

Age: 29

2013 stats: 3 kickoff returns, 75 yards

Jeremy Kerley

Age: 25

2013 stats: 13 punt returns, 115 yards

Kyle Wilson

Age: 26

2013 stats: 4 punt returns, 13 yards

2014 free agents: Folk (franchise tag), Cribbs, Reynaud

Overview: Folk had his best season as a Jet, kicking three game-winning field goals and showing a consistency he sometimes lacked in past years.

Quigley was signed a few weeks into the season and performed well enough that he will be the favorite to keep the punter job, but expect competition in training camp.

The Jets lacked explosiveness in the return game, failing to return one for a touchdown for the first time in more than a decade. Cribbs looked close to breaking one a few times before getting injured.

The team’s lack of depth hurt the special teams units.

Offseason priority rating (1 to 5 with 5 being the highest priority): 2

Possible targets: Devin Hester, Dexter McCluster

Costello’s call: The Jets slapped the franchise tag on Folk to keep him around for another year, which was a good call. He still may get a long-term deal. He earned some security after last season.

Quigley was OK, but not great. The Jets should find someone this spring to bring in to provide some competition for him.

I doubt they will chase any premium return men. They obviously need to draft wide receivers, and maybe they can find one with some return skills.