ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk 9m Calvin Pace re-signs with Jets, per league source. Two years, $5 million.
I like this signing. He's cheap and he provides solid depth at a position of need. I hope that we draft an OLB in the 2nd round.
A little bit overpaid but since it's a small contract it really isn't by much. It's nice to have him back
I like it also, but I can see the jets drafting OLB in the first, WR in the second and CB in the 3rd. Just a gut feeling based on what they have done so far in FA.
Unfortunately the OLB market seemed weak this year. Only guy I would've liked would be Mike Neal from GB but he seemed very interested in returning to that team. Pace was definitely a product of the DLine but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Considering the alternative would have been Anthony Spencer coming off a major injury at probably the same price I'm fine with the move. I think people are forgetting about Barnes. I was a big fan of him earlier in the year and unfortunately he got injured. If he can stay healthy I think he can be a solid part of the OLB rotation.
I would have liked to see them go younger, but at this point they have more roster needs/holes than the draft can fill. They need capable bodies. Probably a good move.
Idzik seems fine using B players to fill in a year or two until he has time to get his own A+ youngster from the draft. We'll probably see the same thing at DB....an 'adequate' FA to hold the fort until the next Revis comes around in the draft. Idzik seems determined to fill our roster with home grown talent, which takes time, so in the meantime he'll bring in guys like Pace. This strategy is what allows him to keep drafting BPA in the early rounds every year regardless of need, b/c the 'need' has been lessened by a B type FA.
Agree. But he would be one hell of a situational player on year one and Calvin's replacement in the future. I'll take him hands down over most of the WR except for perhaps the top 2-3, which might be go if Barr is still around.
Barr is a rare prospect as an ROLB in a 3-4. He's tall and quick and would be a very good pass rusher from that alignment. There's some work to do for him because he's new to LB but he has been really quite dominant both years he has played the position. The only WR you clearly take over him is Watkins. I don't want to prejudice people against him but the guy he reminds me a lot of is Jason Taylor.
I like this signing as well. And I would add that I think Pace has at least 1 more good year as a starter. He had 10 sacks last year, and his speed has not been great the last few years. In other words, he has the veteran savvy/skills to still be effective even after losing some speed to old age.
YES, and I look forward to seeing Coples and Pace wreak havoc again on opposing QBs! This is a position of strength! (we could use a middle round pick on a young OLB to eventually replace Pace)
Brian Bassett, TheJetsBlog.com After Pace collecting 10 sacks for Jets in 2013, the team should be able to manufacture more sacks out of their veteran group again in 2014. Pace will push for time on the edge along with Antwan Barnes, who will be back this year after a season-ending injury in 2013. Even though the team has now re-signed Pace the talent at the edge is still thin, so look to see if the Jets don’t add linebacker / defensive ends in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft in May as longer-term and depth solutions. While there were some tempting veteran edge players like DeMarcus Ware and Julius Peppers that were on the market shortly, none seemed interested in coming to New York. After letting DRC and a number of players walk without contracts, it’s hard to not feel frustrated with John Idzik’s slow-playing of free agency. So far the Jets have done more in re-signing or cutting their own players over to bringing new players into the organization. The problem with the 2013 team was that it needed more talent to compete for a playoff spot. So far, the team doesn’t seem substantially better than it was after almost a week into free agency outside the Eric Decker signing. 95% of the top 50 free agents have signed with clubs. Little top-tier talent remains, are the Jets going to make a few calculated risks? No one is suggesting that the Jets should throw good money after bad contracts. But comparing the amount of cap space the team has to the level of talent the team has imported thus far? As best I can tell, the natives are getting restless … Excellent read...
