Just a day after being blindsided by the retirement of long-time left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, the New York Jets have apparently found his replacement.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Jets have acquired former Denver Broncos Pro Bowler Ryan Clady and a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth rounder in this month’s draft:
The #Jets trade a 5th rounder to the #Broncos for Ryan Clady and a 7th rounder. More ammo for Denver in a potential Kap trade & cap space.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 9, 2016
While Ferguson’s retirement left a huge hole for the Jets to fill, they did a tremendous job in picking up this four-time Pro Bowl performer.
The primary issue for Clady, 29, has been injuries. He missed all but two games during the 2014 season due to a Lisfranc injury in his right foot. Then, last May, Clady suffered a torn ACL — an injury that forced him out for the entire 2015 campaign.
In the six seasons Clady has been healthy, he’s been among the best left tackles in the NFL. In addition to those four Pro Bowl nods, the veteran has earned First-Team All-Pro honors twice.
This move frees up enough cap room for the Broncos to actually take on Colin Kaepernick’s current contract without a restructure. Though, it remains to be seen whether the team is willing to do that.