Winning football games in the NFL is no easy task for any team since game plans are designed weekly to exploit your opponent’s weaknesses. To no surprise, the New York Jets had a tough time finding a solution at the corner back position. As a result, the Jets allowed 30 touchdown passes last year. The lack of play making in the cornerback position left no choice for Mike Macagnnan to spend a chunk of their cap space on a legit shutdown corner.
The new signing for the Jets:
In comes the best free agent corner in the market, Trumaine Johnson. With the third largest guarantee in Jets history (34 million), Gang Green expects Johnson to pair up with Morris Claiborne, who was resigned this past off season for one-year and 7 million and create a fearsome pair at the cornerback position. This would enable Todd Bowles and Kacy Rodgers to play their style of defense with more confidence, meaning having two ideal press corners that can play physical at the point of attack allowing the front seven to pressure the quarterback and dial up more blitzing packages to create more turnovers.
The duo presents stable veterans that have been in the league since the year they both entered in 2012. Trumaine Johnson offers consistent, play-making ability and is a tone-setter, both with his leadership and the ability to shut down the opponents number one receiver. Morris Claiborne was the Jets’ best cornerback last year until injuries took a toll on his body as the season came to a close.
Claiborne has always been capable of being a shutdown corner, but his only issue has been the ability to stay healthy at a consistent basis. Injuries aside, the Jets were confident enough in resigning Morris for another year after seeing his potential in their system last year.
I truly believe this 1-2 punch can mesh well together and become one of the most efficient pairings in the NFL. Alongside stud second year safeties in Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, the Jets may have of the most fearsome secondaries in the league. You have two playmakers that can easily shut down the opposing teams best receivers and give the front seven enough time to get to the quarterback and disrupt their offense. The signs are pointing the right way and last years stuggles may well be behind us as long as both corners can deliver.