One of the top remaining centers on the market has found a new home. Josh Myers has a deal in place with the Jets, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
This will be a one-year contract, Fowler adds. Myers will collect $3.5MM after serving as Green Bay’s center starter over the course of his rookie contract. This marks New York’s second offensive line addition of the day, with tackle Chukwuma Okorafor also being added.
Neither addition will likely move the needle much for fans. Despite both players bringing a litany of starting experience with them to New York, neither player has graded out very favorably over the years, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Out of 40 centers graded this year, PFF ranked Myers at 38th. His best season analytically came when he ranked 26th of 36 graded players in 2022.
This is less important for Myers than for Okorafor. The team’s starting center from this past season, Joe Tippmann, graded out as the seventh-best center in the NFL, per PFF. Returning guards Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson also graded out favorably as the ninth- and 11th-best guards in the league, per PFF.
The Myers signing is interesting for a team that saw such strong seasons analytically from its three interior linemen. The team will be replacing both offensive tackle spots, though, as Tyron Smith is a free agent (and possibly a retiree), and Morgan Moses has signed with the Patriots. Okorafor and last year’s first-round pick Olu Fashanu are currently slotted for those starting roles on the outside.
Without a starting spot for Myers, it’s assumed that he’ll come in as a potential sixth-man for the offensive line. He doesn’t have the experience to perform as a swing tackle, having played center in college, as well, but he could serve as a fourth interior lineman with extensive starting experience in case of injury.
Green Bay will have a vacancy to fill at center now. They may opt to slide Elgton Jenkins into the role, as he’s started there for them in the past, or they may turn to the draft or other free agents to fill the role externally.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Packers didn’t want him at just 3.5? Huh
One of gutes biggest screw ups. Drafted this guy instead of creed Humphrey. (Who has been to 3 pro bowls, and 2 all pro teams and is on path to be a future HOF)
And no, he wasn’t some shocking surprise pick. He was widely seen as the top center available, especially after the combines. Just gute missing again on draft picks.
Gute throughout the past years has rarely missed on draft picks. This one he did
Rarely is a bit of a hyperbole.
Try looking at his 2022 and 2023 drafts and tell me he missed. Take notes son
Starters fill up those years
Weird. Are they gonna move Tippmann to guard and AVT to right tackle?
hopefully not. hoping this guy is purely a backup bc from what i gather, he isnt good
He’s not particularly, but linemen often don’t fully hit their stride until their second contracts and he’s played with Fields before, so it’s possible to be a good situation. But yeah, this might be more of a hedge on AVT’s health.