Management of free agency crucial to Jets success

For months we have heard how important this free agent period would be for the New York Jets when the lockout was lifted.

Well with the lockout a thing of the past, NFL teams are now welcome to begin signing free agents, as training camps begin to open this week.

The Jets don't open training camp until Sunday, and by that time this team could have a drastically different feel to it.

The Jets have 17 free agents, most notably Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Brad Smith, Antonio Cromartie and David Harris.

While Harris has a franchise tag, and is likely to return to Gang Green this season, the others are not.

Speculation is rampant that Holmes, the Jets number one free agent priority, is heading to Washington to play for the Redskins. Even though Holmes' agent says the wide receiver would love to return to New York, Washington owner Dan Snyder is notorious for nabbing Jets wide receivers, and is not shy about spending big money.

Lossing Holmes would be a disaster for the Jets. When the Jets got Holmes last year in a trade with the Steelers, they knew they were getting a very special football player, who won a Super Bowl MVP three seasons ago.

Holmes proved his worth, winning three games by himself last year, highlighted by last second touchdowns against the Browns and Texans.

The Jets have to keep Holmes. If there is one player on this market that the Jets should break the bank for, this is the guy. He is Mark Sanchez's go to guy in the clutch, and with him Sanchez only got better last season.

Then there is Edwards, who has said numerous times he like to remain a Jet. Question is will the Jets want him back. Edwards pleaded guilty to that DWI charge from last fall. Even though he only has to pay a fine, do the Jets still want a guy with such a checkered past signed to a long term deal?

Edwards is a solid player. He had a great year for the Jets, with over 900 yards receiving, and made some clutch catches to help win games last year. Letting him go, if the Jets can't keep Holmes would be a mistake. If the Jets can keep both Holmes and Edwards they would be better for it.

Cromartie has already stated that he doesn't intend on signing with the Jets, and will test the free agent waters. If the Jets lose Cromartie it could open up the door for Nnamdi Asomugha. Asomugha told ESPN that he is interested in New York, and the bright lights that come with the town. He is even said to be interested in acting after he retires, and of course New York is the media capital of the world.

I find this hard to believe. Asomugha is asking for a deal over $16 million per season. The Jets already have a ton of money wrapped in Darrell Revis, and spending over $35 million a year on two players who play the same position makes little sense. Even though Jet fans would love to see the games top two corner's on their team, it's highly unlikely.

If the Jets lose Cromartie and don't sign Asomugha, it's up to second year player Kyle Wilson to take the huggies off and begin playing at a high level.

Oh, and then there is Brad Smith. Almost forgot. Will the Jets forget about Smith.

Smith is a dynamic special team's ace for the Jets. He had two kick returns for touchdowns last year, and had a big touchdown return against the Colts during the '09 regular season. Smith's speed changes field position from a special team's stand point, and his ability to play both wide receiver and quarterback makes him extremely versatile and valuable.

Teams like the Patriots and Dolphins, who love using gimmick plays like the wild cat would be smart to lure Smith away from the Jets. That fear, should force the Jets hand, one would think.

The Jets can ill afford to lose Smith. As true as it is that any team can find a guy with speed, it's very hard to find a guy with game breaking ability like Smith. The Jets had a guy like that in Leon Johnson years ago, and let him walk, their special teams weren't the same for years.

If the Jets lose any of these guys, players like Plaxico Burress, Santana Moss (the former Jet), and Steve Breaston become that much more desirable. Sure there are a lot of good players out there, but the Jets should lean toward keeping what worked for them the past two seasons; why break up a good thing?