New York Jets Not Missing Much in Free Agency, Should Try to Add Tight End Depth via NFL Draft

Jeff Cumberland New York Jets — The Star-Ledger-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets did not “miss out” on Fred Davis, Dustin Keller or Jared Cook in NFL free agency, as some have described it. GM John Idzik is not foolish enough to overspend on one-dimensional tight ends.

It may not be as pressing as a team need as outside linebacker, but there’s no doubt that the Jets are in need of better tight end depth, even if letting Keller walk and sign with a division rival amounted to addition by subtraction.

Jeff Cumberland (above) is currently atop the Jets’ tight end depth chart, with rugby-convert Hayden Smith and Konrad Reuland the only other tight ends on the roster as the month of March winds down.

But don’t expect those guys to be the only tight ends on the roster by the time next month is through.

With the 2013 NFL Draft fast approaching, there will be plenty of young, talented and more cost-efficient tight end options available for the Jets, with some exceptionally good value guys in the middle rounds of the draft.

One of those guys is Travis Kelce, a projected third-round pick who I’ve been selecting over and over again in my weekly Jets’ mock drafts and I think would be a big upgrade over Keller and many other former Jets’ tight ends.

Kelce is one of many tight ends in this draft class that could make a big impact as rookies. Tyler Eifert, Zach Ertz, Gavin Escobar, Jordan Reed, Ryan Otten and Vance McDonald are some others, just to name a few.

It may be one of the deepest tight end classes in years, and there should be great value throughout. That’s one of the biggest reasons you don’t see the Jets spending big bucks on free agent tight ends. The draft is where it’s at.