The Jets are pursuing free agent outside linebacker Jason Taylor,...

The Jets are pursuing free agent outside linebacker Jason Taylor, according to an NFL source. (File photo, 2007) Credit: Getty Images

It's going down.

Jason Taylor has agreed to join the Jets, a league source confirmed to Newsday. The longtime Dolphins outside linebacker is reportedly scheduled to fly here to the metropolitan area sometime tomorrow to officially sign his contract, which is reportedly a two-year, $13 million deal.

But in essence, it's a one-year deal that can reach roughly $4 million.

Taylor had been wrestling with his decision ever since he visited the Jets two weeks ago. It's no secret that he wanted to stay in Miami, but the Dolphins put his situation on the back burner and said they were going to wait until after this week's draft before addressing his status.

He went on a preplanned family vacation to Costa Rica on Thursday and wasn't going to decide on his next move until after he returned. But apparently, nothing much had changed and a reported meeting between coach Dolphins coach Tony Sparano and Taylor was called off.

Taylor likely didn't want to spurn the Jets' offer because doing so would put him in a predicament if the Dolphins -- or no one else for that matter -- ended up not clammoring much for his services.

Although Taylor, 35, isn't the same player he once was, he still has something left in the tank. He played in all 16 games last season, starting 15, succesfully making the switch from defensive end to outside linebacker. He registered seven sacks and combined for 42 tackles, rebounding from a disappointing 2008 campaign with the Redskins in which he finished with some of the worst numbers of his 13-year career: 3.5 sacks and 29 combined tackles in 13 games.

Plus, Jets fans don't need to be reminded of his 48-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in Miami's 30-25 victory on Nov. 1 at the Meadowlands. Taylor showed he has plenty of speed on that play, scooping up Shonn Greene's fumble, scampering untouched into the end zone -- and easily sidestepping QB Mark Sanchez's tackle attempt -- to help the Dolphins grab a 17-6 lead with 7:32 left in the third quarter.

Taylor, who had shoulder surgery after the season, would likely be a situational pass rusher with the Jets. He'll probably come in mostly on passing downs with a specific task: go get the quarterback. It's unclear at the moment what this means for linebacker Bryan Thomas, who could be on the trading block or even outright released according to one report.

Taylor is the latest acquisition for the Jets, who were supposed to be handcuffed a bit because of the Final Four/Final Eight rules. But they've traded for cornerback Antonio Cromartie, traded for Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes, signed future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson and even signed free agent safety Brodney Pool.

Now that Taylor is about to be on board, his arrival could affect what the Jets do in this week's draft. They were looking for pass rush help -- and still very could be -- but they may not have to use their first-round pick to select an outside linebacker or defensive end to bolster the defense's ability to get after the quarterback.

They can likely wait until the mid to later rounds to get their pass rusher, and are now possibly freed up a bit to draft a cornerback such as Rutgers' Devin McCourty or Texas' Earl Thomas.

So tell me Jets fans. What do you think of this move?

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