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Seattle Seahawks defensive back Coby Bryant reacting in the middle of an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The New York Jets could look to make a splash in free agency.
NFL Insider Matt Lombardo told me on “Boy Green Daily” that a name that makes sense is Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant.
“You look at the role he played: physical guy, tone setter in the secondary, ball hawk, four interceptions this past year, always around the football. I get the sense that he is going to cash in,” Lombardo explained on the podcast.
“If you’re the Jets and you’re looking at what the [New England] Patriots just did. What were some of their first moves in last year’s free agency? They got the veteran defensive back in Carlton Davis, they got the veteran defensive lineman in Milton Williams, and they built out from there,” Lombardo explained.
“You look at Coby Bryant with the experience, his traits, his skill set, I think he would be an ideal fit to import an attitude, and upgrade the talent level on the backend of Aaron Glenn’s defense for the Jets. If you’re looking for a safety, I think Coby Bryant is the guy at the top of the list, and the Jets have the cap space to not just swim in the pool, but dive into the deep end and set that market,” Lombardo added.
#NFL Insider Matt Lombardo told me that the #Jets could make a free agent splash by signing #Seahawks DB Coby Bryant this offseason:
“Physical guy, tone setter in the secondary, ball hawk.”
Lombardo spoke with several agents & front office execs about which player could
Bryant Is Set to Secure the Bag This Offseason
“I asked a couple of agents and front office folks around the league, give me a couple of names of guys who are going to sign big contracts that might surprise people. One of the first names that I kept hearing was Coby Bryant, the Seahawks safety [who] just won a Super Bowl,” NFL Insider Matt Lombardo revealed to me on “Boy Green Daily.”
Bryant made $4.4 million on his rookie contract over the last four years. The talented defender is now set for a massive pay raise.
According to Spotrac’s calculated market value, Bryant is expected to command a two-year $28.55 million contract in free agency. That $14.3 million annual salary would place him No. 12 among the highest-paid safeties in the NFL, per Over The Cap.
The projections from Daniel Popper of The Athletic are lower. Based on their projections, Bryant could land a three-year deal for $30 million. That $10 million annual salary would place Bryant No. 22 among the highest-paid safeties in the league, per Over The Cap.
A Massive Upgrade to the Jets’ DB Room
Bryant, 26, will turn 27 before the start of the 2026 season.
The former Cincinnati product entered the league as the No. 109 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Across his four seasons at the NFL level, Bryant has appeared in 58 games and has made 34 starts. With those opportunities, Bryant has collected seven interceptions, 17 pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, two sacks, seven quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, and 227 tackles.
Bryant is a versatile chess piece. This past season, Seattle lined him up in the box (153 snaps), at slot corner (56 snaps), and at free safety (747 snaps), per Pro Football Focus. As a rookie in 2022, Bryant logged 654 snaps as a slot corner, per PFF.
It just goes to show his role has evolved over the years. The Jets have needs all over the defense, so wherever he would line up would be an upgrade.
Specifically, the Jets’ safety room lacks sizzle. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic predicted that the Jets would make multiple additions to that room this offseason.
Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.
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