Report: Jets Miss Out On 3-Time Pro Bowl Guard Mike Iupati
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- On to Plan C on the offensive line.
According to an earlier report in the Daily News, the Jets were aggressively pursuing three-time Pro Bowl guard Mike Iupati. But it appears Iupati will be calling Arizona home during the 2015 season.
A run-blocking beast for San Francisco for the past five seasons, the 6-foot-5, 335-pound interior lineman was reportedly being targeted by several teams.
As it stands, two of the top guards on the market that the Jets were reportedly very interested in have decided to go elsewhere. Orlando Franklin agreed to terms with the San Diego Chargers over the weekend.
Though they figure to be more balanced offensively in 2015, the Jets will likely still try to be a power running team from time to time with bruising back Chris Ivory and perhaps others, depending on how free agency shakes out.
They would likely pair a veteran guard with tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson on the left side, and move or platoon Oday Aboushi and Brian Winters at right guard next to tackle Breno Giacomini.
With new general manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles at the controls, the Jets reportedly will enter the official start of the free agent signing period on Tuesday more than $50 million under the salary cap, though that number could jump up dramatically if wide receiver Percy Harvin is released, which has been rumored for a while.
The Jets put a slight dent in their cap space late last week when they agreed to trade a fifth round pick to the Chicago Bears for wide receiver Brandon Marshall, before re-signing veteran linebacker David Harris to a three-year, $21.5 million deal, with $15 million guaranteed.
Those moves will become official on Tuesday afternoon.
New York is also reportedly interested in free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, in addition to veteran cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Chris Culliver.
