The Jets got off to a fast start to free agency on Monday but have slowed to a crawl since then.
Quarterback Justin Fields, cornerback Brandon Stephens and safety Andre Cisco were quickly added on the first day the Jets were able to negotiate contracts with free agents.
But the only additions since then were defensive end Rashad Weaver and offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor on Wednesday, and they project as a depth pieces on the lines.
It is clear that new head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey are not fans of throwing money around in free agency.
That usually proves to be smart in the long term if you can draft well. We’ll see if they can accomplish that very big if.
In the short term it gives Jets fans angst as they watch free agents fly off the board to other teams and it makes the holes on the roster feel glaring.
Free agency is not over.
The Jets will sign players for the coming days and weeks and maybe even months, but the options dwindle the longer the offseason goes.
Here are some of the Jets’ remaining holes and what’s out there still to fill them:
Defensive tackle
The Jets are supermodel thin at this position.
Quinnen Williams is the only proven player at a position that usually has a heavy rotation in games.
The Jets are going to need to add a few bodies here.
Dalvin Tomlinson, Raekwon Davis, Morgan Fox, Dre’Mont Jones and Benito Jones are some of the names still on the market.
If the Jets wait to address defensive tackle until the draft, Mason Graham is the top player but he could be gone by the time they are on the clock at No. 7.
Right tackle
Joe Douglas spent much of his time as Jets GM trying to fix the offensive line.
He finally had success in his final year on the job, and the Jets have four returning starters but there is a hole at right tackle.
Morgan Moses agreed to a three-year deal with the Patriots and is gone.
The team did sign Okorafor, who has 60 career starts but only one last year, but he is more likely a depth piece and not a starter.
Jedrick Wills is a former first-round pick who is the most recognizable name, but he has been a left tackle for his entire career.
Germain Ifedi, Dillon Radunz and Kendall Lamm are other options.
Wide receiver
The happy reunion story of Fields and Garrett Wilson is going to sour quickly if Fields does not have someone else to throw to.
With the release of Davante Adams and the expected release of Allen Lazard, that leaves the Jets with Xavier Gipson and Malachi Corley to play with Wilson.
Tim Patrick makes sense for the Jets because of his history with Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, but he is not really a No. 2 receiver.
The most notable names on the market are all older than 30 — Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen and Cooper Kupp.
Signing an older receiver does not make much sense for the Jets. Maybe someone shakes free in a trade?
Mougey is going to have to get creative here.
Tight end
The best option for the Jets may be bringing back Tyler Conklin, who officially hit free agency on Wednesday.
There are not a lot of great options in free agency, and Conklin has been solid in his three years with the Jets.
Mo Allie-Cox and Gerald Everett are other tight ends in free agency.
The Raiders are expected to trade Michael Mayer and the Jets should explore what the price is there.
Penn State’s Tyler Warren is an option with the No. 7 pick.
Safety
The Jets added Cisco, tendered Tony Adams and they re-signed Isaiah Oliver, who can play both safety and corner, but they still need to do more here.
Justin Simmons is now 31 but Mougey knows him well from Denver. Julian Blackmon and Marcus Epps are other possibilities.
