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Report: Jets To Get Forte At A Very Affordable Price

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Let Mike Maccagnan do his job.

Though the Jets were mostly quiet on the first day of free agency, the second-year general manager did reportedly make one smart move. Though the team has yet to officially announce the signing of veteran running back Matt Forte, details of his contract with Gang Green trickled out on Thursday.

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According to the Daily News, the Jets will give Forte a three-year deal for $12 million with $8 million guaranteed. The $4 million per year average is $2.5 million less than what former starting running back Chris Ivory signed for with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday.

Forte, 30, has proven to be one of the more durable running backs in the NFL during his eight-year career, missing just eight games.

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The former second-round pick out of Tulane amassed 8,602 rushing yards, 487 receptions, 4,116 receiving yards and 64 total touchdowns, all with the Chicago Bears.

The Jets' signing of older running backs is nothing new. In recent years they have inked Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson, with both proving to be highly cost-effective moves.

As soon as the Forte deal is announced, the Jets will have two running backs under contract in 2016. Veteran Zac Stacy played sparingly before getting hurt last season. Expect Maccagnan to add another back, possibly re-signing Bilal Powell or delving deeper into the market.

There have also been rumblings that the Jets could target a running back in the draft.

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