The New York Jets reportedly re-signed backup safety Will Parks to a one-year contract this week. While that was a simple and inexpensive decision, the Jets must make more significant ones in the coming weeks and months. We’ll examine players the Jets must re-sign in the 2023 NFL offseason.

Several starters, including linebacker Quincy Williams, defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins, tackle George Fant and center Connor McGovern are free agents. Quarterbacks Mike White and Joe Flacco are in that mix, too, as are defensive linemen Solomon Thomas and Nathan Shepherd.

The Jets are actually in the red (negative $2.6 million) in salary cap space, per Over the Cap. They’re going to need to rework current contracts, cut some veterans and make difficult decisions on their free agents in order to create more room. This is especially important this offseason when New York needs to sign All-Pro defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to a new contract and seeks a veteran quarterback — perhaps Aaron Rodgers, who was endorsed by Jets legend Joe Namath last week.

That said, let’s look at four players the Jets must re-sign in the 2023 NFL offseason (listed alphabetically).

Kwon Alexander, LB

Playing roughly 50 percent of the defensive snaps in all 17 games this season, Alexander was an excellent fit for the Jets. He was seventh on the team with 69 tackles and had six tackles for a loss and five QB pressures. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 63.0, including 63.6 against the run.

Beyond the numbers, Alexander has a non-stop motor and his energy juices the defensive unit. He’s a favorite of the coaching staff and should return in the specific role he played this season.

He made $1.273 million last season, signing during training camp, and a modest raise is acceptable for what he brings.

Bryce Huff, DE

Huff is a one-dimensional player on defense. But it’s an important dimension.

He is a terrific pass rusher.

In a limited role in 14 games this season, Huff totaled 36 QB pressures and an NFL career-high 3.5 sacks playing only 191 defensive snaps. Those 36 pressures were fourth on the Jets, behind starters Quinnen Williams (52), John Franklin-Myers (51) and Carl Lawson (49). PFF gave him an overall grade of 90.4, tops on the defense, though obviously in a small sample size.

Huff was in for only 16 snaps on running plays and finished with two tackles this season. This points to his one-dimensionality. He’s not good against the run but he’s a helluva’ pass rusher, so the restricted free agent is worth re-signing in a specialty role. And bringing him back shouldn’t stunt the growth of either Jermaine Johnson nor Micheal Clemons, who are more well-rounded players.

Connor McGovern, C

Though he didn’t have his best season, McGovern has shown enough over three years with the Jets that they should bring him back. In fact, his 74.7 overall grade the past two seasons is third best among NFL centers, per Pro Football Focus.

He’s durable, playing 100 percent of New York’s offensive snaps in 2022 (and 11th most among all centers in the NFL), smart and respected by his teammates. He did struggle in pass protection this season, allowing five sacks (tied for third-most among centers) and 24 pressures (tied for eighth-most), but was better in the run game.

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Greg Zuerlein, K

After the Jets spent three years cycling through multiple kickers each season, Zuerlein stepped in and settled the position in 2022. The 35-year-old nailed 81.1 percent of his field goals (30-for-37) and all but one of his PATs (28-for-29).

“Greg the Leg” made 6 of 11 attempts from 50+ yards and set the Jets record for its longest field goal when he connected from 60 yards out against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13.

Quite often, Zuerlein was the Jets most effective player offensively and certainly their most consistent. The veteran of 168 NFL games deserves to be back in 2023.