Kelvin Beachum, Jarvis Jenkins visit Jets, sources say
Pittsburgh Steeler Kelvin Beachum, left, fist bumps a young fan during an appearance Feb. 4 during Super Bowl week in San Francisco. Beachum is one of several free agents in discussions with the Jets. Credit: AP Images / Tony Avelar
The Jets are doing their due diligence when it comes to offensive and defensive line talent.
According to two sources, Steelers free-agent offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum is in town for a visit. He arrived in New Jersey on Thursday night, one of the sources said.
According to another league source, Bears free-agent defensive end Jarvis Jenkins also is in Florham Park, New Jersey, for his visit Friday.
The Steelers reportedly are looking to re-sign Beachum, their 2012 seventh-round pick who tore his ACL last October. But the Jets’ interest in him isn’t a surprise, considering the questions surrounding their offensive line, starting with their two tackles.
Left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, from Freeport, is coming off a decent, but not great 2015 season. And his level of play will only diminish over time.
The 32-year-old also carries a $14.1-million salary-cap hit, the highest of any NFL offensive lineman.
The Jets could opt to release Ferguson (a savings of $9.1 million), though that seems unlikely, or they could try to get Ferguson to agree to a payout (though he and his agent might balk at that). The Jets, however, aren’t under any pressure to restructure his current deal because Ferguson’s workout bonus ($750,000) isn’t due until June and he isn’t scheduled to earn his $1-million roster bonus until the end of training camp.
Right tackle Breno Giacomini had a subpar season last year. Should the Jets cut him, they would save $4.375 million in salary-cap space.
Jenkins, 27, was drafted in the second round by Washington in 2011 and signed a one-year deal with Chicago last year. In his 15 starts with the Bears, he had a career-high four sacks (two of them in Week 3 against the Seahawks), six tackles for a loss and 17 pressures, according to The Chicago Sun-Times, which credited coaches’ reviews.
With the loss of nose tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison to the Giants and Muhammad Wilkerson’s uncertain future with the franchise, the Jets will look to add depth on their defensive line.
