Jets offseason primer: interior offensive line

While offensive tackle was quite the game of musical chairs in 2022 for the Jets, the interior offensive line was just as much of an issue, if not more. Fortunately, the Jets have a key piece coming back but they also have an important free-agency decision to make at the center position. Let’s dive into it.

Alijah Vera-Tucker

Without a doubt, the best offensive lineman for the Jets in 2022 and he did so at three different positions (right guard, left tackle, right tackle). Once he went down with a season-ending tricep injury, the Jets’ season spiraled out of control. Getting AVT back is going to be huge for the Jets. Knowing they can move him anywhere and he’ll give you All-Pro production makes it that much sweeter. He becomes eligible for an extension after the 2023 season.

Laken Tomlinson

While AVT was the best offensive lineman in 2022, Laken Tomlinson was arguably the worst. Compounding the problem is the Jets already have a ton of guaranteed money tied up in Tomlinson. $10 million of Tomlinson’s $12.7 million base salary is already guaranteed and he carries a cap hit of almost $17.4 million.  Only C.J. Mosley (about $21.5 million) currently carries a higher cap hit than Tomlinson.

If the Jets wanted to, they could make him a post-June 1 cut and save about $3 million in cap space, but it would leave about $14 million in dead money this year and about $4 million in dead money in 2024.

Chris Glaser

Glaser was mostly a practice-squad player in 2022 and signed a reserve/futures contract after the season.

Connor McGovern

McGovern is one of the biggest decisions the Jets have to make heading into free agency. He’s been very solid in the middle of the offensive line. He’ll likely get a similar contract to the one he signed with the Jets a few years ago, somewhere around $8 million per year. He’s set to turn 30 years old. Do the Jets re-sign him or go after another free agent center or search in the draft?

Nate Herbig

Herbig moved into the starting lineup when Alijah Vera-Tucker shifted over to left tackle. He was fine but inconsistent. He’s an option to re-sign as a depth piece with starting experience.

Dan Feeney

Feeney also saw time and started late in the season due to injuries and the constant shuffling of the lineup. He may end up elsewhere in 2023.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

The good doctor returned to the Jets in 2022 after a stint in 2021, starting on the practice and eventually moving up to the active roster as depth for the Jets. He’ll be an interesting one to see if the Jets re-sign him.

Adam Pankey

Pankey was mostly a practice-squad lineman for the Jets but did get called up to the active roster for Week 18.

Ethan Pocic, Cleveland Browns

After an up-and-down stint with the Seattle Seahawks, Pocic joined the Browns in 2022 and had a career year. He was the third-highest-graded center on Pro Football Focus and ranked fourth in PFF’s WAR metric. If the Jets want to stay with a veteran center but move on from McGovern, Pocic is the cream of the crop on the market. He’s younger and, interestingly enough, could be a bit cheaper than McGovern. PFF and Over the Cap project Pocic’s average per year at $7 million while McGovern’s is projected at $7.5 million.

Garrett Bradbury, Minnesota Vikings

Bradbury also had arguably his best season as a pro in a contract year with the Vikings after what had been a bit of a roller coaster to begin his career. He’s strong in the run game but still has issues in pass protection, though he was better in that category in 2022. His projected contract is about $6.5 million per year.

John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota

Schmitz was an exciting prospect to watch down in Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl and made a case to be one of the first centers taken in April’s draft. The Jets could double-dip on offensive line to start the draft with a tackle at No. 13 and Schmitz in round two.

O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

Torrence could have entered the draft last year but wanted to prove himself against top competition in college before heading to the NFL. After three successful years at Louisiana, Torrence followed Billy Napier to Florida and absolutely proved himself against SEC competition and then did so again at the Senior Bowl. The concern is that Torrence may not be available for the Jets in the second round. He has some first-round buzz to him. Still, a player the caliber of Torrence would add a nasty streak to the Jets’ offensive line.

Olesugun Oluwatimi, Michigan

If the Jets want to wait until the middle rounds for a center, Oluwatimi is another player that looked good at the Senior Bowl and was a top-ten center at Pro Football Focus last season. He was arguably the leader of the Michigan offensive line that produced a very efficient ground game — 5th-best in the nation at 238.9 yards per game — that helped carry the Wolverines to another Big Ten championship and another appearance in the College Football Playoff before losing a thriller against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.