Schwartz: Holmes Is Signed, What's Next For The Jets?

By Peter Schwartz
» More Columns

On the first day of free agency, the Jets crossed off #1 on their to-do list by coming to terms on a five-year $50 million cap friendly deal to bring back WR Santonio Holmes.

There's no question that this was the Jets top priority and now Mark Sanchez and company can sleep a little easier with Holmes in the fold. He developed an instant chemistry with Sanchez last season and hauled in some big time catches.

The Jets are not allowed to officially announce or discuss free agent acquisitions until Friday night at 6 so GM Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Rex Ryan didn't talk about it during their Wednesday conference call.

However, there was nothing stopping CB Darrelle Revis from talking about Holmes when he addressed reporters on Wednesday.

"It's a celebration for the organization and for his family," said Revis. "We know what type of player he is and what he's capable of doing, play in and play out. We congratulate him and are proud of him. The guy is unbelievable as a receiver with his intelligence and his route running and he is tough. He's a tough sucker. He is a leader. He made a couple of speeches in our locker room last year. You can tell how he has a passion to play football. I think Santonio and Mark's chemistry is great and you can see it throughout last year. They were quick and had a one-two punch as a quarterback and a receiver tandem."

There was a concern that perhaps the Redskins were going to blow Holmes away with an offer.

However…

I guess Daniel Snyder doesn't get everything that he wants!

As for Revis, he just might be joined in the Jets secondary by another high-profile cornerback and I'm not talking about bringing back Antonio Cromartie.

According to reports, the Jets are going hard after Raiders free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, considered by many to be right up there with Revis as the top two corners in the game.

So how would Revis feel about having some Pro Bowl company in the defensive backfield?

"Bringing Nnamdi aboard, that's great," said Revis. "He's the best cornerback in the league. Me and him as a tandem would be unbelievable. It'd be awesome, so I would love to have him as a teammate."

The Jets do have some competition as the 49ers and the Texans are believed to be making strong pitches for Asomugha as well. One thing that the Jets have going for them is that Asomugha wants to get into acting.

Since there isn't a team in Los Angeles (yet), then playing in the New York City area would be the choice if that were important to him. Asomugha would have to take less money to come to the Jets, which is probably why he hasn't signed with Gang Green yet. His waiting on all offers to see just how much less it would be to join Revis with the Jets.

Now let's get onto some other business.

The Jets announced the signing of ten undrafted free agents on Wednesday.

TE Josh Baker (N.W. Missouri/Chesapeake, VA/6-3/244)
LB Nick Bellore (Central Michigan/Whitefish Bay, WI/6-1-250)
WR Michael Campbell (Temple/Edison, NJ/6-2/205)
WR Dan DePalma (West Chester/Verona, NJ/5-11/200)
TE Collin Franklin (Iowa State/Simi Valley, CA/6-5/252)
LB Stafford Gatling (Ohio/Burlington, NC/6-4/249)
C Tom Ottaiano (Monmouth/East Hanover, NJ/6-1/295)
CB Julian Posey (Ohio/Cincinnati, OH/5-11/187)
WR Courtney Smith (South Alabama/New Orleans, LA/6-5/230)
OL Chris Stewart (Notre Dame/Spring, TX/6-5/351

I can add one more to that. I've learned that the Jets have also signed Virgina Tech safety Davon Morgan as an undrafted free agent.

At 6'0" and 196 pounds, Morgan played free safety for the Hokies. In high school he played safety and quarterback.

Before the lockout, the Jets designated linebacker David Harris as their franchise player. He signed the one year tender that is expected to pay him a little more than $10 million in 2011. However, it's in the interests of both Harris and the Jets to come to terms on a long-term contract.

Although discussions have not yet started (the Jets and many agents are a little busy right now with free agency), I'm told that it's just a matter of time before Harris and the Jets put pen to paper on a long-term contract. It would give Harris the years that he is looking for and it would reduce his cap number to give the Jets some salary cap flexibility.

With the Jets pursuing Asomugha and Cromartie as a fallback option, the status of Drew Coleman remains up in the air. He was very valuable for the Jets last season with four sacks and five forced fumbles. If the Jets lock up Asomugha or Cromartie, that probably means the end of Coleman as a Jet.

With 2010 first round pick Kyle Wilson in the fold, there probably doesn't figure to be much money left for him and Coleman will get some good offers in free agency. In fact, he's already received interest from three other teams, all in the AFC.

The Jets have yet to formally announce their 2011 pre-season schedule but the first practice will take place on Monday. It's not yet known which practices will be open to the public but I've been told about a couple of special nights.

I've heard that either next Friday or Saturday (August 5th or 6th), the Jets will hold their annual Green/White scrimmage at the New Meadowlands Stadium. In last year's game up in Cortland, Mark Sanchez and LaDainian Tomlinson hooked up on a 70-yard touchdown pass.

I'm also told that there will, once again, be a practice at Hofstra University, the Jets former long-time training camp home home. Last year's evening practice at Hofstra drew a crowd of over 10,000 people. No word yet as to whether or not they will stop at the McDonald's next door for hamburgers again!

That's all for now! Check back soon for more!