The New York Jets may not be finished making offseason splashes. According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, the team has kept in contact with free agent linebacker Kwon Alexander and could re-sign the one-time Pro Bowler following the draft.
#Jets re-signed one of their own UFAs yesterday (Connor McGovern). Another UFA is LB Kwon Alexander, a key piece on D. The two sides have stayed in touch and it’s possible he could re-sign after the draft, per source.
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) April 25, 2023
Alexander appeared in all 17 games for the Jets in 2022, starting 12 and finishing with 69 total tackles. He earned a modest 63.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus for his efforts, but he was a functional cog in the Jets' effective defense: they ranked fourth in yards allowed and points allowed last season.
Alexander has bounced around the league since entering the league as a fourth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015, where he had his best years. Alexander led the NFL in solo tackles in 2016 and earned a Pro Bowl in 2017, which allowed him to land a significant four-year, $54 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2019. They quickly regretted it, trading Alexander to the Saints in 2020, where he played 19 games over two years before eventually being released following the 2021 season.
Alexander is a competent, veteran presence inside, but his days as a star are likely over, as his current availability can attest. Still, the defense that the Jets fielded last season was worth building on, and Alexander was a valuable piece of it. Bringing him back to serve as depth would be a solid move for a team that's ready to compete for a title with the addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Photo Credit: © Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
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