Brian Costello

Brian Costello

NFL

Free-agency primer: For the Jets, it’s better to receive

After months of talk, it’s time for some players to sign on the dotted line. Free agency gets underway over the next few days with teams permitted to speak with other teams’ free agents Saturday and begin signing them Tuesday.

Jets fans have been waiting a long time for free agency to arrive. The team had little flexibility last year because of limited salary-cap space. Not this year. Second-year general manager John Idzik has money to spend and that’s a good thing because the Jets have plenty of holes to fill.

Here is a Jets Q&A to get you ready for free agency:

Q: How much salary-cap space do the Jets have to work with?

A: The Jets are about $24 million under the salary cap right now. That number is expected to grow, though, to as much as $50 million once the team makes some cuts. The Jets are expected to cut wide receiver Santonio Holmes ($8.25 million in cap savings), quarterback Mark Sanchez ($8.3 million) and cornerback Antonio Cromartie ($9.5 million).

These cuts could come any day. It is possible the Jets would keep one of those players, but highly unlikely at those salary figures.

Q: Can the Jets find a game-changing wide receiver in free agency?

A: You don’t have to be Vince Lombardi to figure out what the Jets’ most pressing need is. The team got little production from its receivers last season. No one had 50 catches and only Jeremy Kerley had more than 40.

This position needs a total overhaul. There are not many, if any, receivers in free agency you would consider a No. 1. Eric Decker of the Broncos is considered the top free agent at the position, but most talent evaluators see him as a No. 2 and question what he will do without Peyton Manning throwing to him.

The Seahawks’ Golden Tate and Emmaunel Sanders of the Steelers are interesting options and could give the Jets a solid veteran they can rely on, even if they are not typical No. 1 receivers.

Giants wideout Hakeem Nicks is also a possibility, but the Jets have questions after he had a down year in 2013.

The Patriots’ Julian Edelman is available, but would the Jets chase someone who is mainly a slot receiver when Kerley is the most reliable receiver they currently have?

Q: Will Michael Vick be a Jet?

A: The most popular speculation has been Vick will wind up with the Jets. It’s hard to decipher whether people are just throwing his name out there because he and Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg worked together with the Eagles or if there is actual interest from the Jets.

Vick would be a good fit for Mornhinweg’s system and he could help mentor Geno Smith, but he is injury-prone.

I think ultimately the Jets look elsewhere, but the Vick-Jets rumors are only going to heat up when free agency opens. The other backup quarterback candidates on the market are Josh McCown, Matt Cassel and Shaun Hill.

Q: The focus is on the offense, but can the Jets improve their defense in free agency?

A: This is where we will see if Idzik is willing to open up the checkbook. Bills safety Jairus Byrd is expected to hit the market, and would give Rex Ryan’s defense something it has lacked — a ball-hawking safety. Byrd could want more than $10 million a season, a ton for a safety. But this might be too good to pass up. The Jets secondary was a weakness last year. He instantly makes it better.

Q: Who should they re-sign among their own free agents?

A: Right tackle Austin Howard is the top priority and the two sides could have a deal done by Tuesday, preventing Howard from hitting the open market. The others to keep an eye on are tight end Jeff Cumberland, linebacker Calvin Pace and guard Willie Colon.

Potential targets

Golden Tate, WR (Seahawks): Had 64 catches for the Super Bowl champs and would improve the Jets’ punt return.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR (Steelers): Jets could be fighting the rival Patriots, who signed him to an offer sheet last year.

Michael Vick, QB (Eagles): Knows Marty Mornhinweg’s system from their days in Philadelphia.

Josh McCown, QB (Bears): The best option in a thin quarterback market besides Vick.

Jairus Byrd, S (Bills): Could break the bank, but would give the defense a new dimension