Friday was a busy day at One Jets Drive.
The final stages of the negotiations between the Jets and Joe Douglas were haggled out before the two parties came to terms on a six-year deal for the former Eagles executive to become Gang Green's general manager.
On the same day, with far less fanfare, another accord was struck that warranted your attention. Flying under the radar, like he so often does, free agent running back Bilal Powell agreed to a one-year contract.
Entering his ninth NFL season, all in New York, Powell will continue serving as the longest-tenured Jet.
If, of course, he makes the team.
That's not entirely a given considering the organizational upheaval this offseason. In addition to Douglas, the Jets have a new head coach in Adam Gase. That means everyone remaining from the prior regime is on notice.
Powell's previous pact signed in 2016 was for three years at $11.25 million, with $6 million guaranteed. The specifics of this contract had not been reported as of this writing, but it is assumed that the Jets are not taking such a major salary cap risk if he ends up getting cut.
That's because it's somewhat of a surprise that Powell will be ready to resume playing this season after his 2018 campaign ended suddenly with a scary neck injury in Week 7 versus Minnesota. Then-coach Todd Bowles initially said it could have been career-threatening.
Fortunately, Powell's subsequent surgery to repair a bulging disk in his neck had him cleared to return to duty by May. He worked out for Gase on Friday and was immediately whisked inside to ink a fresh agreement for one more season.
Powell has always been one of my favorites, a do-it-all back who I felt was criminally underutilized by Bowles. Only once has Powell led the team in carries, and it took Bowles about half of that 2017 season to realize that Matt Forte's tank was empty.
Running behind some of the worst offensive lines in the league on teams whose passing attacks often resembled a 1970s college program, Powell has averaged a solid 4.4 yards per carry in his career. The fumble he lost to Denver in Week 5 was his first ever on a rushing attempt in a Jets uniform. Though he struggled a bit in 2018, he had always received above-average grades in blitz pickups by ProFootballFocus.com. And he's a weapon catching passes out of the backfield, using his deceptive speed, elusiveness and nose for first-down markers to create excitement when the ball is in his hands.
In addition, Powell is reportedly well-respected in the Jets locker room. For a team with so many young players, some of whom have had off-the-field issues, Gang Green could use more positive role models.
Powell was brought back to compete for the backup slot behind marquee free agent signing Le'Veon Bell. Ty Montgomery, yet another free-agent pickup, is currently the No. 2 back. So far, the Jets have liked Montgomery's versatility. Drafted by the Packers in 2015 as a wide receiver, he was converted to a running back out of injury necessity the following season.
Montgomery is also an experienced kick returner, a role the Jets need to fill after allowing first-team All-Pro Andre Roberts to walk in free agency this offseason. As for Elijah McGuire and Trenton Cannon, sixth-round picks in consecutive seasons by prior general manager Mike Maccagnan who were expected to eventually contribute in the return game, training camp will be put-up-or-shut-up time. Cannon, in particular, had better learn how to catch punts if he has designs on making the final 53-man roster.
I'll be curious to see if Powell will be up to playing special teams. Per ProFootballFocus.com, Powell covered 64 kickoffs in 2014, but none since. He was on the field for 116 punt-coverage snaps in his career, but only 14, all in 2017, in the last three seasons.
I don't know if Powell's neck injury will make the Jets cautious about using him in these risky assignments. However, as with any team, nonstarters who play special teams have a distinct advantage when coaches configure their game-day rosters.
Gase has stated a few times that he believes this team needs more internal positional battles in order to get it ready for the harsh NFL season. He certainly will have it at running back.
Personally, I'm rooting for Powell to make the cut.
For a FAN's perspective of the Nets, Devils and Jets, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1.
