The New York Jets have a lot of holes on their roster. One of the biggest ones entering free agency was tight end. On Monday, the Jets added former Cincinnati Bengals standout tight end CJ Uzomah. On Wednesday, New York appears to have doubled down on the position, signing former Minnesota Vikings tight end Tyler Conklin.
NFL Network reported Mike Garafolo detailed the signing on Twitter.
#Jets are signing TE Tyler Conklin, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Another tight end for Joe Douglas & Co. after adding CJ Uzomah.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2022
Conklin is coming off the best year of his career. Last season, Conklin caught 61 passes for 593 yards and three touchdowns. He became a massive red zone target early in the season for Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. That led to a lot more attention being paid to him in the red zone as the year progressed. He is a big tight end, at six-foot three inches, 248 pounds.
Conklin will be paired with Uzomah, who is even bigger. The former Bengals tight end is six-foot-six inches tall and 260 pounds.
The hope for the Jets will be that having two big tight ends that can both catch and block will alleviate the struggles of quarterback Zach Wilson. Typically, a good tight end is a relief valve for young quarterbacks struggling with the speed of the game.
The Jets offense struggled immensely last season, especially in the passing game. In 2021, Ryan Griffin and Tyler Kroft were the two tight ends that played the most snaps. They combined for 43 catches, amassing only 434 yards and three touchdowns. Conklin bested those numbers by himself last season.
The specifics of Conklin’s contract are yet to be revealed.
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