Jets Release CB Darryl Roberts, Won’t Sign S Marqui Christian

Today, 4:05pm: Christian won’t be joining the Jets after all. Brian Costello of the New York Post reports (via Twitter) that the Jets couldn’t agree to “final contract terms” with the free agent safety.

March 21st, 3:30pm: Both of the Jets’ 2019 Week 1 starting cornerbacks are now off the team. The Jets released four-year contributor Darryl Roberts on Saturday.

Roberts is gone despite signing a three-year, $18MM deal in 2019 to stay in New York. The Jets have changed GMs since and saved $6MM by making this move. Roberts would have been guaranteed $2MM of his 2020 salary on Sunday.

The Jets used Roberts on 713 defensive snaps last season — most among their corners — but the 29-year-old defender will need to find a new team to continue his career. Roberts graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 81 full-time corner last season — well behind some younger Jet contributors. While the Jets have not made splash moves at corner this offseason, they did re-sign slot man Brian Poole — PFF’s No. 9 corner in 2019 — and have Bless Austin and Arthur Maulet on the roster.

In addition to dropping Roberts, the Jets will bring in safety Marqui Christian. The former Rams safety and the Jets agreed on a one-year deal, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets.

Since going in the fifth round of the 2016 draft, Christian played in 55 games — all with the Rams — and contributed as a reserve defender and on special teams. The Division II product made 36 tackles in each of the past two seasons. One of this year’s youngest UFAs, Christian will not turn 26 until October.

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