Jets showing interest in veteran OT Duane Brown
NFC tackle Duane Brown of the Seahawks on the field before the Pro Bowl against the AFC on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/David Becker
Veteran left tackle Duane Brown met with the Jets on Saturday and stood on the sideline watching their Green & White practice at MetLife Stadium.
The Jets have a definite need for proven depth and talent at offensive tackle. Brown, who played in all 17 games for the Seattle Seahawks last season and made the Pro Bowl, would provide that stability up front.
“Any time you have a chance to add a Pro Bowler like him and add to the depth of our roster, we’ll look into it,” Robert Saleh said. “We’re always going to search. We’re going to search far and wide. There’s interest on both sides.”
Saleh said general manager Joe Douglas — who is always looking to bolster the offensive line — has been “working on that one for a little bit.”
The 6-4, 315-pound Brown has spent his 14-year career playing left tackle. He’s a seven-time Pro Bowler and has been named first-team All-Pro once and earned second-team honors twice.
Brown, who will turn 37 on Aug. 30, spent time chatting with owner Woody Johnson, Douglas, assistant GM Rex Hogan, offensive line coach John Benton and former Seattle teammates D.J. Reed and George Fant.
Saleh also has a link to Brown. He was a Texans coach when Brown was drafted by Houston in 2008.
The Jets certainly need insurance at tackle and to improve their overall depth at the position. That became more apparent during Saturday’s practice and could help push a deal between Brown and the Jets.
Mekhi Becton, who is switching from left to right tackle, is returning from knee surgery. The Jets held him out of the last two series to give him a rest. Fant, the left tackle, also is returning from knee surgery and recently began participating in team drills. Fant also was on a “pitch count” and didn’t take part in all of practice.
Backup tackle Conor McDermott, playing for Fant with the first team, injured his ankle early on in the scrimmage and needed to be helped off the field by trainers.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
