Jets free agency and trade buzz: Gang Green signs C/G Trystan Colon

New York Jets offensive lineman Trystan Colon while playing for the Baltimore Ravens.
New York Jets offensive lineman Trystan Colon while playing for the Baltimore Ravens. / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Here's the latest Jets free agent and trade buzz during the 2023 NFL offseason...

March 17, 4:20 p.m.

The Jets have signed veteran punter Thomas Morestead.

Morestead broke the news that he was returning for his second stint with Gang Green on Twitter Friday. He punted with New York for seven games during the 2021 season after signing to fill in for the injured Braden Mann. Those two will now compete for the Jets’ gig.

Morestead, 37, played the first 12 seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints before splitting time during the 2021 season with New York and the Atlanta Falcons. He was the punter for the Miami Dolphins last year and averaged 47.15 gross yards on 60 punts.

March 17, 3:00 p.m.

The Jets are signing offensive lineman Trystan Colon, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. ESPN's Rich Cimini reports it is a one-year deal.

Colon, 24, was an unrestricted free agent and decided to join New York after he visited Friday with the Atlanta Falcons, per Garafolo. He spent the past three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens after he joined as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri in 2020.

As a reserve lineman with Baltimore, Colon played 47 snaps at right guard and two at center a season ago. He played 115 snaps at center, six at right guard, and 26 as an eligible receiver in jumbo packages in 2021. And all 127 of his offensive snaps during his rookie campaign came at center. (All stats according to Pro Football Focus.)

In total, Colon has appeared in 20 games with four starts over three NFL seasons.

March 16, 8:30 p.m.

The Jets have added some depth and versatility to their offensive line.

The team announced on Thursday night that they've agreed to terms with lineman Wes Schweitzer on a two-year deal worth up to $7.5 million.

Schweitzer has taken snaps at every offensive line position since being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth-round back in 2017.

He was limited to just six games last season with the Washington Commanders due to injuries, but appeared at both right guard and center.

March 16, 12:29 p.m.

Another former Jet has signed with a division rival.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, former Jets receiver and punt returner Braxton Berrios is signing a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, reuniting with former Jets teammate Mike White in South Florida.

Berrios was released by the Jets after he and the team couldn't agree on a contract restructuring, a move that created $5 million of cap space.

March 15, 9:05 p.m.

The Jets have signed veteran DL Solomon Thomas, reports SNY's Connor Hughes. The deal is for one year and worth up to $3.9 million, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Hughes added that the Jets are "not done here" and will add another interior DL.

March 15, 3:30 p.m.

Jets free agent DT Sheldon Rankins has agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Houston Texans, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

Rankins, 28, played the last two seasons in New York after spending the first five years of his career with the New Orleans Saints. The 6-foot-2, 305 pounder was drafted by the Saints with the No. 12 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Jets prior to the 2021 season.

He made 75 combined tackles (40 solo) with six sacks, 14 QB hits, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries over 31 games (18 starts) in two seasons with New York.

Rankins started in all 15 games he played during the 2022 season.

March 14, 1:45 p.m.

The Jets have been linked to just about every former Packer in this year's free agency group, and it's clearly no coincidence.

According to ESPN's Dianna Russini, Aaron Rodgers has provided a "wish-list" of free agents that he would like the Jets to target. They've already been linked to receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, along with tight end Marcedes Lewis, but you can also add Odell Beckham Jr. to the list.

The Jets were among the teams in attendance for Beckham's Friday workout in Arizona.

The veteran is still reportedly searching for a deal worth $20 million per season.

March 14, 11:30 a.m.

If Aaron Rodgers does ultimately end up with the Jets, a pair of his favorite receivers might be coming with him.

Reports earlier on Tuesday indicated that the Jets were "actively working" to sign Allen Lazard, with another team involved, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Jets are now the only team working on a deal with the former Packer.

Also, according to multiple reports, Rodgers favorite Randall Cobb could also end up with the Jets if the QB gets traded to Gang Green. Cobb has played 10 of his 12 pro seasons with the Packers, and has been on the receiving end of 48 Rodgers TD passes.

March 14, 8:32 a.m.

The Jets are "actively working" to sign free agent wide receiver Allen Lazard, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Per ESPN, there is another team in on Lazard.

While the connection between the former Green Bay Packers receiver and Aaron Rodgers is clear, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Gang Green likes Lazard in their offense regardless of who the quarterback is.

It should also be pointed out that the Jets' new offensive coordinator is Nathaniel Hackett, whom Lazard is familiar with from their time together in Green Bay.

Lazard, 27, had 60 catches for a career-high 788 yards with six touchdowns last season.

He has spent five years in the league, all with the Packers.

March 13, 2:01 p.m.

All eyes are on who the Jets bring in at the quarterback position, but they had one of their QBs leave on Monday afternoon, with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting that Mike White has signed a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.

Per Schefter, White's new two-year deal is worth up to $16 million.

White, 27, electrified the fan base during his chances to start with Gang Green, but he ultimately wasn't successful enough to win the full-time starting job, posting a 2-5 record. He threw for 2,145 yards with the Jets in seven starts, including a 405-yard performance in a memorable 2021 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.