Joe Douglas quickly got to work filling the New York Jets’ greatest needs in free agency.
Monday’s re-signings included veteran running back Tevin Coleman and Braxton Berrios, an All-Pro kick returner. The Jets also reached agreements with Laken Tomlinson, a former 49ers guard, and C.J. Wilson, a former Bengals tight-end. According to sources with direct knowledge, Uzomah signed as the NFL’s legal-tampering period for free agency began.
Berrios was signed to a $12 million, two-year deal. This contract will keep the versatile wide receiver after his breakout season. Drew Rosenhaus, Berrios’ agent, stated that the deal included $7 million guaranteed.
In his first season with New York Jets, Coleman ran for 356 yards and he also caught 11 passes for 49 yards. Michael Carter, who is coming off a strong rookie season, will again lead Coleman’s change-of-pace presence back in New York’s Backfield.
Tomlinson arrives in New York with a three-year contract that could be worth as high as $41.2 million, which includes incentives and $27 million guaranteed. One of the people who spoke to The Associated Press under condition of anonymity because it was not yet announced by the team.
ESPN reported Uzomah’s deal with the Jets, who led Cincinnati to the Super Bowl. ESPN reported that the Jets had signed a $24 million three-year contract with Uzomah, whose tight end had 163 catches and 1,591 yards.
Uzomah will instantly help fill a spot where the Jets have struggled for years to find production. Last season, he set career records with 49 catches and 493 yards of receiving. He also scored five touchdowns in Bengals’ Joe Burrow-led offense.
Berrios, 26, spent three years with the Jets. He emerged as one of the NFL’s top returners this season while leading the league in kickoffs with an average 30.4 yards. In Week 15, he also returned a kickoff of 102 yards to score a touchdown against Jacksonville. After previously returning punts mainly, Berrios was able to return kickoffs for the first time in his extended career.
Berrios was also a consistent and reliable receiver for Zach Wilson’s rookie quarterback, catching 46 passes for 431 yards with two touchdowns. He also ran seven times for 40 yards, scoring two touchdowns.
Berrios posted that he was back with the Jets, saying: “WE’RE BAAACK”
General manager Joe Douglas has added a 30-year-old Tomlinson to his offensive line. He is a veteran and durable player who just returned from his first Pro Bowl selection as an alternative. He missed only one game in his seven-year NFL tenure, as well as none of the four previous seasons.
Tomlinson, a 2015 first-round draft pick from Detroit, was traded to San Francisco in 2017. He’ll be back in New York with Robert Saleh, the Jets’ coach, and Mike LaFleur (the offensive coordinator Tomlinson played under)
Tomlinson was a left-guard throughout his career but will likely shift to the right with the Jets. Alijah Vera Tuckerer, a first round pick last year, had an excellent rookie season as left guard. Tomlinson is an improvement over Greg Van Roten or Laurent Duvernay–Tardif, both of whom started at right guard last year.
Van Roten will be either released or become a backup, while Duvernay Tardif will be a free agent.
Douglas pledged to improve the block unit in the coming seasons. Douglas has already spent two first-round draft picks in the past two years — Vera Tucker last year and Mekhi Becton 2020 — and now he is signed as one of the most sought-after interior offensive linemen through free agency.
The Jets have previously signed four potential free agents: safety Lamarcus Joyner, Will Parks, backup offensive-lineman Conor McDermott and fullback Nick Bawden.
