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The new league year in the NFL begins on March 10 when free agents can take visits from teams and discuss contracts.
The New York Jets currently have approximately $20 million in salary cap space, a number that is certain to go up once the team makes cuts to the roster.
It will be interesting to see how new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey will approach free agency. Will they strike fast on the first day or wait for the smoke to clear and do their shopping on day two? And are there any of the Jets own free agents they want to bring back next season and beyond?
Jets Wire will take a look at each of the team’s free agents and determine if they should return next season or let them move on to somewhere else. For our next free-agent profile, we look at an under utilized weapon on the offense, tight end Tyler Conklin.
Conklin signed a three-year, $21 million contract during the 2022 offseason, a day after the Jets signed another tight end to a similar deal, former Bengals tight end CJ Uzomah. Conklin was coming off his best season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 where he had 61 receptions for 593 yards and three touchdowns. The Jets envisioned Conklin and Uzomah serving as a two-headed monster at the position to help quarterback Zach Wilson.
While Uzomah struggled during his first year in New York, Conklin thrived putting up similar numbers to his 2021 season. He finished with 58 receptions for 552 yards and three touchdowns. Conklin’s numbers slightly improved in 2023 with 61 receptions for 621 yards, but he did not have a touchdown.
Uzomah was released before the start of the 2024 season which made Conklin the top tight end on the roster. Most writers predicted he would have a great year with a healthy Aaron Rodgers under center and how AR loved throwing to the tight end.
But, Conklin’s numbers dropped a little as he finished with 51 receptions for 449 yards and four touchdowns. He finished with an overall PFF grade of 58.8, which ranked him 34th out of 37 tight ends in the league. His PFF receiving grade was 61.4, which also ranked him towards the bottom of the league (33rd out of 37).
Should the Jets Bring Him Back in 2025?
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Verdict: Yes.
If new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand is bringing Detroit’s style of a passing attack to the Jets, then Conklin is exactly the tight end I’d like to see in that offense next season. The Lions turned Sam LaPorta into one of the top tight ends in the league and a dangerous weapon each week. With Adams and Allen Lazard most likely gone to free up additional cap space, Conklin could potentially carve out a bigger role as a pass catcher if Glenn and Engstrand view him in the same regard as LaPorta.
Conklin’s numbers for all three seasons in New York were basically the same and even though 2024 was disappointing for him, it wasn’t entirely his fault. The offense focused more around Garrett Wilson, Adams and Breece Hall, which cut into Conklin’s targets. Rodgers struggled plenty of times as well in his first season back from his torn achilles tendon injury, which was also a factor for Conklin’s production.
The Jets tight end depth chart is very weak heading into the start of free agency. The only player currently under contract is Jeremy Ruckert and he could be a cap casualty due to poor play. They could bring back Kenny Yeboah to take on a bigger role outside of special teams. They could also look to the NFL Draft where Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland are the top two players at the position.
The Jets have not featured the tight end in their offensive schemes since the days of Dustin Keller. That could change under this new coaching staff. Conklin is still a solid offensive player and an excellent security blanket for the next Jets quarterback. They should strongly consider bringing Tyler Conklin back next season.