The New York Jets' pass defense last season was, to put it lightly, underwhelming. The need to upgrade in the secondary is up there with finding a quarterback for New York. Jets fans should expect the team to do some free agent shopping and some NFL draft perusing for cornerbacks this offseason.
While luring Darrelle Revis back to the Big Apple is a long shot, there are some other intriguing options out there.
"The Jets are expected to be one of the primary suitors for Seahawks free agent Byron Maxwell," Brian Costello of the New York Post wrote. "The talk in Indy was that the Jets and Eagles would be the two teams fighting for him.
"After Maxwell, there is a bit of a drop-off, but the Jets likely will add one of the second-tier corners, too - possibly Antonio Cromartie, who has publicly campaigned for a return to the Jets...
"In the draft, I heard the Jets are very high on LSU's Jalen Collins and Wake Forest's Kevin Johnson. Keep an eye on them if they slip into the second round."
Waiting until the second round may not be an option for the Jets. Competition for quality young defensive backs is at an all-time high, meaning the bottom half of the first round may see a run of corners.
"There are several teams picking between No. 11 and No. 26 overall that could use a corner, including the Vikings, Saints and Ravens, and Trae Waynes, Byron Jones and LSU's Jalen Collins (who also ran well with a 4.48) could be among those that benefit," ESPN NFL Draft Insider Todd McShay wrote. "Given the influx of talented receivers last year, and with another good class on the way, teams are starving for cornerbacks - especially ones with size. Teams simply have to find guys with length and speed to match up with some of these guys, and they might be more inclined than in past years to take a chance on a corner early who might not have the polish and technique they're looking for, but who does have the natural tools needed to develop into a good NFL cornerback."
