New York Jets Must Address Offseason Safety Concern

With Lamarcus Joyner unsigned, the undrafted Tony Adams is the lone free safety on Gang Green's roster

The New York Jets' vaunted defense has no shortage of playmakers, but it unquestionably lacks proven depth at the safety position. 

Free safety Lamarcus Joyner, who made 14 starts and three interceptions while earning mixed reviews last year, remains a free agent.

When Joyner missed time in 2022, the Jets turned to undrafted rookie Tony Adams to fill in for the veteran, and now, the young Illinois product is the only true free safety on the roster.

Gang Green acquired strong safety Chuck Clark in an off-season trade with the Baltimore Ravens. The seventh-year pro, who made 49 of a possible 50 starts for the Ravens since 2020, lined up at free safety earlier in his career, but has established himself as more of a box safety who can lay the lumber. 

“Chuck [Clark], another one of those guys who just freaking loves ball. Eats it, lives it. Got a tremendous mindset to him. Fights through pain, fights through injury,” said Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh during his 30-minute press conference at the NFL Owners’ Meetings in Arizona.

Safety Chuck Clark pressures QB Daniel Jones / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Saleh hinted as to where Clark fits into the defensive plans.

“Just an incredible talent, tackling machine, so he’s getting into a safety room that we’re really excited about,” said Saleh. “I think Jordan’s [Whitehead] going to be a lot better playing his second year in the system. We got some young guys that with Ashtyn Davis and TA [Tony Adams], they’ll hopefully take another jump, so it’s a really good group. He’s going to add veteran leadership to that group.”

Although Saleh sounded pleased with the Jets’ stable of safeties, the third-year head coach can’t hide the fact that there’s only one true free safety on the roster right now.

Whitehead, who earned the reputation as a thumper with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has one year remaining on the two-year contract that he signed last offseason. The strong safety made all 17 starts for the Jets in 2022, but he did not endear himself to fans by dropping four potential interceptions (according to Pro Football Focus).

With Clark in the fold, Gang Green could theoretically move on from Whitehead to create some salary cap space. The Super Bowl LV champion reportedly carries a hefty $10 million cap hit this season.

Trying to decipher Saleh’s recent comments, it sounds as if Clark and Whitehead could play alongside one another. In that case, the Jets would have no pure free safety on the field and only one on the bench.

Safety Jordan Whitehead attempts to stop Vikings' WR Adam Thielen / Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The 6-foot-1 Ashtyn Davis, a third-round pick in 2020, enters the final season of his rookie contract as a back-up strong safety on Saleh's defense. The 26-year old Davis has made three interceptions and forced three fumbles over 37 career appearances for the team that drafted him at No. 68 overall.

Journeyman strong safety Will Parks, who was on the Jets’ Practice Squad this past December, signed a one-year deal for 2023. He is likely behind Davis on the projected depth chart heading into OTAs.

In terms of the safeties available on the free agent market, there aren’t many reputable options left outside of free safety John Johnson, who started the last two years in Cleveland after four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams.

All of the highly-coveted free agents have signed, including the versatile CJ Gardner-Johnson who left Philadelphia for the Detroit Lions. After playing the 2022 on the franchise player tag, Cincinnati Bengals’ free safety Jessie Bates found a new home with the Atlanta Falcons.

Following a productive season with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, Julian Love has moved across country from the New York Giants to the Seattle Seahawks.

Meanwhile, the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills re-signed strong safety Jordan Poyer and added Taylor Rapp from the Los Angeles Rams.

Although Rapp is more of a strong safety, the veteran starter carries Super Bowl credentials and was available for a relatively cheap price. The Bills signed Rapp, who logged 33 regular season starts over the past two years, to a one-year deal reportedly worth under $2 million.

In the defense of Jets’ brass, the salary cap makes it impossible for teams to stack starting talent at every position. For that reason, general manager Joe Douglas could be waiting for the NFL Draft to fill a clear Jets’ need.

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