The New York Jets have brought in some fresh protection for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Brian Costello of the New York Post shared that Gang Green is “signing” offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste. The update was announced on the morning of Tuesday, May 30.
The Jets are signing OT Yodny Cajuste, per source. Cajuste, a 2019 3rd round pick of the Patriots, played in 10 games for NE last year.
Cajuste stands in at 6-foot-5 and weighs 310 pounds.
Yodny Cajuste Adds Even More Depth to Jets Trenches
The 27-year-old will be continuing his football career in the AFC East. Cajuste entered the NFL in 2019 as the No. 101 overall pick in the third round.
He spent his first four seasons with the New England Patriots and it looked like he would stick around for a fifth. Cajuste signed his original round restricted free agent tender this offseason on April 5.
However, New England cut ties with the former West Virginia product on May 18.
After getting released he made a pair of visits to both New York teams, the Jets first and then the Giants.
Cajuste has struggled with injury issues throughout his professional career. He has missed time due to quad surgery and two stints on injured reserve with thumb and knee injuries to name a few.
During those four years in New England, Cajuste appeared in 17 games and made five starts.
Jets Have Done Its Job This Offseason for Aaron Rodgers
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic said the Jets’ offensive line “will be healthier” in 2023.
How does he know that? Well, it’ll be hard to be more injured than the Jets were last season. Rosenblatt noted that six different hog mollies for the Jets spent time on injured reserve:
No NFL team could have been prepared for that kind of carnage. However general manager Joe Douglas, a former offensive lineman, attempted to do everything in his power to do just that this offseason.
Douglas added new bodies to the fold via free agency signing Billy Turner, Wes Schweitzer, Trystan Colon, and the aforementioned Cajuste.
Right before the 2023 NFL draft, Gang Green also brought back Connor McGovern on a super cheap contract ($1.9 million). That provided the Jets with a ton of flexibility.
The current contract is a backup-level deal as opposed to the original $27 million contract he signed back during free agency in 2020 with the Jets the first time around.
So McGovern could very well seize the starting role in 2023, as he has over the last three years, or he could be an important reserve option.
The Jets selected Joe Tippmann in the second round of April’s draft and he has a clear path to playing time in year No. 1.
Gang Green also added some additional depth at offensive tackle with the selection of Carter Warren on the third day of the draft.
Competition breeds success and the Jets legitimately have depth at every single spot on the offensive line.
The only two starting gigs that are locked in on the offensive line are at the guard spots. Head coach Robert Saleh said it’s a safe assumption that Laken Tomlinson and AVT are the starters, but everywhere else in the trenches is up for grabs.
This level of depth should provide some insurance if offensive line injuries hit the Jets again in 2023.
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Jets Sign New 6-Foot-5 Protection for QB Aaron Rodgers: Report