Sources: Santonio agrees to Jets deal

Santonio Holmes will be taking flight with the Jets once again. Whether he'll be joined in the cabin by Nnamdi Asomugha remains an intriguing mystery.

Holmes, the Jets' top free-agent target, agreed to terms on a five-year deal Wednesday, according to three league sources. ESPN reported the wide receiver's new contract is worth as much as $50 million, with $24 million in guarantees.

Holmes was traded to the Jets in 2010 for a fifth-round pick after falling out of favor in Pittsburgh. He was the Jets' most clutch performer a season ago, coming through with several game-changing plays during their run to the AFC Championship Game.

After sitting out the first four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, Holmes racked up 746 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. He posted nine catches for 127 yards and two TDs in the playoffs, including a 45-yarder against Pittsburgh in the AFC title matchup.

So now that the Super Bowl XLIII MVP is back on board, the Jets can focus on the most pressing matter: Finding a way to sign Asomugha, by far the most coveted free agent left on the market.

According to three league sources familiar with the situation, the Jets' interest in the standout cornerback is genuine. The Jets, Texans and 49ers are strongly vying for Asomugha's services. One source said of the Jets' pursuit: "There's no doubt in my mind they are trying. Clearly, they are trying."

All-Pro cornerback and good friend Darrelle Revis essentially admitted as much Wednesday. "The talks that are going on right now," Revis said, "the focus is on Nnamdi Asomugha."

Revis said he's spoken with Asomugha recently, though it wasn't a recruiting pitch. He hasn't chatted with cornerback Antonio Cromartie since May, however, which could be an indication Cromartie won't return.

Landing Asomugha would make a big-time splash, creating a fearsome duo.

"Bringing Nnamdi on board, that would be great," Revis said. "He's the best cornerback in the league, and me and him as a tandem would be unbelievable.''

After a chuckle, Revis added: "It would be awesome. So I would love to have him as a teammate."

But to do that, the Jets probably would have to restructure Revis' contract and those of others so they could get enough salary-cap flexibility. Revis signed a four-year, $46-million deal last September, and he said the Jets hadn't asked him to rework it. He declined to say if he'd do so, indicating it's a matter solely up to his agents.

Rex Ryan knows the importance of shutdown cornerbacks, a staple of his 3-4 defense.

"I think corners are a huge priority for our team because we do play so much man coverage," Ryan said. "So you've got to be able to hold up in our system. I have a philosophy that you lose games at cornerback and quarterback. So you better make sure you have some corners that can cover some people."

Few can cover like Asomugha, a four-time All-Pro as a Raider.

"Everybody would love to see him as a member of their team," Revis said. "I would want to see it. Hopefully, it happens."

One rumored transaction that appears unlikely to happen: adding free-agent wideout Randy Moss. A league source told Newsday the Jets' chances of signing Moss were "very small."

Still, even if they did, Revis would welcome the man he once called a "slouch."

"I would love if we were to go get him," Revis said. "You can see on film, the guy can still play and he can still catch the ball. He's still a deep-threat guy . . . If anybody can come in and we can add another piece to the puzzle, it's great."