There are multiple reasons for the New York Jets to re-sign strong safety Jordan Whitehead, according to the man himself.
Having completed the two-year, $14.5 million contract he signed in 2022, Whitehead is set to hit free agency for the second time in his career and the former fourth-round draft pick claims the best is yet to come.
"26 I’m in my prime," said Whitehead in January via his @jwhite_333 Twitter account.
Whitehead, who will turn 27 years old on March 18, has already played 93 career regular season games and also started for the triumphant Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV.
"Already shown what I do in the box . Had 10 tfl the year I went to Super Bowl . Word was I couldn’t play the ball … Went to a different scheme played deep safety showed y’all 6 picks 18 pass deflections in 2 years," said Whitehead on March 1 via Twitter.
Whitehead made 34 consecutive starts for the Jets, totaling 186 tackles and six interceptions. He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after picking off Buffalo Bills' quarterback Josh Allen three times in a season-opening victory last September. He was charged with four dropped interceptions during the 2022 campaign by Pro Football Focus.
"Jordan Whitehead was a really good signing," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh at his closing press conference on January 8.
With Whitehead and Ashtyn Davis no longer under contract, the Jets have only two safeties on the roster — starter Tony Adams and 2023 sixth-rounder Jarrick Bernard-Converse.
There are plenty of proven safeties in this year's free agent pool, including Antoine Winfield Jr., Xavier McKinney and Kyle Dugger. The market became even more competitive when the Chicago Bears moved on from Eddie Jackson and the New England Patriots released Adrian Phillips.
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