The team most linked to Jay Cutler now that he’s a first-time free agent, the Jets may be split on acquiring the former Broncos and Bears quarterback. Gang Green is intrigued by the 12th-year passer, and the feeling is believed to be mutual. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News notes a faction of the Jets wants the 33-year-old Cutler on the roster, linking former Broncos and Bears assistant Jeremy Bates — the Jets’ new quarterbacks coach — to being in the pro-Cutler camp. The Jets, though, aren’t presently inclined to spend much on Cutler, with Mehta noting if he were available for “a few million” the Jets’ brass would probably sign him. Cutler played three seasons of the seven-year, $126MM Bears deal he signed in 2014.
Here’s more from the Jets and some of their division rivals.
- One team involved in talks with UFA linebacker Dont’a Hightower is convinced he will sign to stay with the Patriots, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com tweets. Breer doesn’t specify the team here, but the Patriots have been connected to the sixth-year ‘backer throughout free agency despite not placing the franchise tag on him. New England has been the only known team to be pursuing Hightower. While there are surely others in the hunt for a top-level free agent, none have been revealed yet.
- Lorenzo Alexander expects the two-year, $9MM contract he signed with the Bills to be his last. “I see myself walking off into the sunset and transitioning into life after football after I’m done,” the soon-to-be 34-year-old pass-rusher said, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. The Bills re-signed the 2016 wonder despite being set to shift to a 4-3 defense. Prior to last season, Alexander (12.5 sacks in ’16) had nine career sacks in nine seasons.
- The Jets would be interested in acquiring Trevor Siemian from the Broncos in the event they sign or trade for Tony Romo, Mehta reports. Unloading a late-round pick for Siemian would be something the Jets would consider. Cutler might be the Jets’ backup plan behind Siemian, Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com reported earlier this week. But there are a lot of moving parts to this string of deals, one that became murkier when the Texans cleared eight figures in cap space via their unorthodox Brock Osweiler trade. That opens the door for Houston to pursue Romo, and it’s unlikely the team will look to move Tom Savage in that event. The Broncos, though, would have less use for Siemian if they land Romo since Paxton Lynch is still tentatively viewed as their quarterback of the future. Siemian has two years remaining on his rookie contract.
- In addition to keeping Alexander, the Bills re-upped right tackle Jordan Mills on Saturday.
Patriots:Sign Hightower now
Jets:Get siemian to get worse
Jets are going to be awful no matter who they get at QB. They just need to reboot. I’d roll the dice on RG3 for a year or two until they can draft someone to build around.
The JETS need Romo! That would be the most JETS move to make.
Hey Hightower, come to Cleveland.
I like the idea of reuniting Hightower with Collins. Hopefully the Browns FO does too. Plenty of money….go sign him
It’s probably more of a issue with playing for a loser franchise than the $$$. That’s why the Browns will end up trading for Garappollo. Because they clearly can’t draft and they can’t get top free agents to come there at this point.
Well all it takes is a couple guys. Lebron or Bosh wouldn’t have gone to Miami without the other. Collins and Hightower could conceivably lead to more.
Even though the Browns have been in a bad spot I do see things changing for the better. Not talking playoffs or anything but their FA moves show signs of improvement. The more good vets they acquire via FA, the more time they will have to try and develop the teams they bring in via the draft. IMO