The Jets lost Foley Fatukasi to Jacksonville on Day 1 of NFL free agency talks, but appear to have made a huge upgrade on their other line.
Per multiple sources, the Jets have agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal with former 49ers guard Laken Tomlinson, with $27 million of that guaranteed.
Tomlinson, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 315 pounds, is familiar with the Jets’ offense, having spent the last five seasons playing in a similar offense in San Francisco – four of them around Jets head coach Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, and offensive line coach John Benton.
The 30-year-old was a Pro Bowler in 2021, and has started 104 of 112 games played since being a first-round pick of the Lions in 2015. He compiled a 73.6 grade from Pro Football Focus last year, well above the Jets’ 2021 starters at right guard in Greg Van Roten (68.1) and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (53.2), and will be a big upgrade to a line that ranked 21st in pass blocking and 13th in run blocking last year per PFF.
Duvernay-Tardif is a free agent, so Tomlinson’s addition opposite left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker will push Van Roten into a reserve role.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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