inside linebacker targets for the Jets"Welcome to the 2019 Jets Free Agency Profile series! Up until the start of the 2019 free agency period in March Jermaine Kearse Jerseys 2019 , I’ll be running through a bunch of names the Jets could potentially bring in with their hoard of cap space. Let’s get into it!Inside linebacker is not near the top of the list of needs for the Jets, but it isn’t an untouchable position, either. Avery Williamson and Darron Lee made up a decent duo last year, but it’s far from formidable, as both players have their share of weaknesses and are rather one-dimensional.With the Jets sticking in a 3-4 base, I’m OK if inside linebacker isn’t addressed and the Jets head into 2019 with that aforementioned pair, but there are a couple of names on the free agent market that caught my eye.If the Jets think one of these guys can be a substantial upgrade over Lee, then they should by all means go for it, as long as the pursuit doesn’t restrain them from going after priority targets at positions of greater need.Let’s take a look at C.J. Mosley and Kwon Alexander.Name: C.J. MosleyBirthday/Age: June 19th, 1992 (age 27 on September 1st)Height/Weight: 6’2, 241FA type: UnrestrictedCollege: Alabama (drafted 17th overall by the Ravens in the first round of the 2014 draft)Team(s): Ravens (2014-18)Position/usage: 3-4 inside linebacker2018 stats: 15 games, 105 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 5 passes defended, two QB knockdowns, one interception, half sackPrevious salary: Ravens accepted fifth year option. $8.7M cap hit in 2018Spotrac Market Value: $9.7M/year (would currently be 6th highest among inside linebackers)Jets connections: Alabama teammate of James Carpenter (impending free agent)Measurables (via mockdraftable.com):Mosley is a four-time Pro Bowler for the Ravens. Since joining the team, he’s played in 80 of 83 possible games, usually playing 100% of the defensive snaps. He’s primarily been a top-notch run stopper, but I think he’s more solid than given credit for in coverage. He’s a notoriously crushing hitter and a quality big play producer.Name: Kwon AlexanderBirthday/Age: August 3rd, 1994 (age 25 on September 1st)Height/Weight: 6’1 White Brandon Shell Jerseys , 227FA type: UnrestrictedCollege: LSU (drafted 124th overall by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2015 draft)Team(s): Buccaneers (2015-18)Position/usage: 4-3 outside linebacker2018 stats: 6 games, 45 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, two passes defended, two QB knockdowns, two fumbles forced, one sackPrevious salary: Signed a 4 year, $2,758,322 rookie contract. $2.0M cap hit in 2018Spotrac Market Value: $10.2M/year (would currently be 4th highest among inside linebackers)Jets connections: LSU teammate of Jamal Adams and Rashard RobinsonMeasurables (via mockdraftable.com):Alexander has had trouble staying on the field in Tampa Bay. He suffered a torn ACL six games into 2018, after missing four games each in two of his first three seasons.Only 25 years old this August (just two months younger than Lee), Alexander has primarily been a 4-3 outside linebacker for the Buccaneers, but I think he could project well into the role Lee has been playing for the Jets. I could see Alexander matching or even beating Lee in coverage, while representing an upgrade in run defense. Alexander is similarly athletic and smallish for the position. He’s been solid in coverage for the Buccaneers and a very high level playmaker.Speaking of playmaking, this is the primary reason I think the Jets should at least consider the idea of trying to upgrade off of their current duo. Williamson and Lee both can do a few things pretty well, but one thing that neither has proven able to do at a high level is make big plays. It’s really something that the Jets defense as a whole has struggled to do for a while, though some steps forward were taken in 2018. Conversely, it’s something that Alexander and Mosley have done exceptionally well.In the chart below, I compared the amount of “splash plays” (interceptions, passes defended, fumbles forced Brandon Shell Jerseys 2019 , fumbles recovered, sacks, and tackles for loss) each of these have players averaged per game in their careers, projected over a sixteen game span.Alexander and Mosley blow the Jets duo out of the water.Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how those numbers were compiled.Here are a couple of interesting bits I found. Since 2015, Alexander has collected eight tackles for loss in the passing game (T-7th in the league). Mosley has seven (T-16th).The Jets duo has combined for only four, with Lee notching three, and Williamson, one.Let’s look at third down stops since 2015 - tackles short of the sticks, sacks, pass deflections, and interceptions on third down. Mosley has collected 43.5 (11.4 per sixteen), Alexander, 38 (13.2). In comparison, the league leader in total third down stops since 2015, Alexander’s Tampa Bay teammate Lavonte David, has averaged 14.8 third stops per sixteen games, with 54.5 in total over the past four seasons. Alexander’s average is equal to Luke Kuechly’s.The Jets duo? Williamson has 26 (6.6 per sixteen), Lee, 18 (7.2).What do you think? Should the Jets make a play at inside linebacker? GREEN BAY, Wis. 鈥?A lost season coming to a close without a trip to the playoffs for the Green Bay Packers is ending in a familiar spot for Aaron Rodgers. He’s headed to the Pro Bowl for the seventh time in his career.“Yeah, I think there’s a lot of pride with that. Especially knowing the struggles early in the season with my health White Eric Tomlinson Jerseys , and I’m very appreciative,” Rodgers said Wednesday.More Packers coverage from FOX Sports WisconsinGreen Bay Packers 2019 NFL draft capsulesPackers close out 2019 draft, select LB Summers in seventh roundPackers add CB Hollman, RB Williams in sixth roundPackers address defense in fifth round, select DL Kingsley KekePackers use third-round pick to select TE Jace SternbergerIt has been quite the winding road for the Packers and their franchise quarterback since the season-opening win in September against the Chicago Bears. Rodgers hurt his left knee in that game before returning after halftime to lead Green Bay’s rousing聽24-23聽win following falling to a 20-point deficit.The victory turned out to be the highlight for a disappointing year in Titletown.Rodgers worked through the injury early in the season, missing practice at times to focus on rehab. Injuries to receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison meant more playing time for Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown, rookies who hadn’t developed the kind of rapport veterans Cobb and Allison had with the quarterback.Going into this weekend’s game against the New York Jets, Rodgers’ 61.8 percent completion rate was his lowest since his 60.7 rate in 2015, the year that then-top receiver Jordy Nelson was sidelined with a knee injury. The Packers (5-8-1) are 0-7 on the road, having led or been competitive in the second half in each of their last five road defeats before falling short.Season-long struggles on third down and in the red zone helped contribute to the demise of coach Mike McCarthy, who was聽fired after a stunning 20-17 home loss聽on Dec. 2 to the lowly Arizona Cardinals.Rodgers still set an NFL record after throwing 402 attempts without an interception, a streak that ended last week in the聽24-17 loss聽at Chicago that helped extinguish Green Bay’s faint playoff hopes.“I think there (are) a lot of teams in the National Football League that would love to have a quarterback with 23 touchdowns and two interceptions, and who’s battled through some things and provided leadership to the football team each and every week,” interim head coach Joe Philbin said.12View Gallery Gallery:PHOTOS: Packers at BearsQuinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports | Quinn HarrisRodgers said he hurt his groin last week, though he played the whole game. A year ago, Rodgers sat out the final two weeks after a one-game return from a collarbone injury when the Packers were eliminated that week following a loss to Carolina.Rodgers said he is playing this week, adding he was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.“Well, I think it’s a lot about leadership. If I want to be listened to and followed and looked up to, how could I stand here and say that ‘these games that don’t matter for playoffs, I’m going to cash it in,'” Rodgers said.“That’s just not the way I lead Eric Tomlinson Jerseys 2019 , and I’m super competitive,” he added, “and I want to be out there with the guys, and I look forward to being out there.”Another motivating factor to playing could be how close Davante Adams is to setting franchise receiving records. After reaching 100 catches for the first time in his career, Adams needs 13 over the final two games to break Sterling Sharpe’s mark for catches in a season.At 1,315 yards receiving, Adams is 205 from breaking Nelson’s single-season yardage record set in 2014. Asked if he was keeping track, Adams said he wasn’t counting.“That would be cool, we’ll see,” Adams said with a smile. “Hopefully A-Rod’s counting, so we’ll see.”Adams was also voted to the Pro Bowl roster on Tuesday. It’s the second trip for Adams, but his first original selection.NOTES: DL Kenny Clark, who missed last week’s game with an elbow injury, said he had not been told Wednesday that he was going to be placed on injured reserve, and that he would play if cleared. Clark, who has six sacks, is third on the team with 55 tackles. … RT Bryan Bulaga, who missed the last two games with a knee injury, practiced. He said he hopes to return on Sunday.