Buzz: OL Orlando Franklin visits with Jets

Via Adam Schefter:

Brian Costello from the New York Post pointed out on twitter that the Jets were in the mix for Franklin two years ago before they settled on James Carpenter instead. This seems to come from a Daily News report that suggested after he signed with the Chargers that the Jets had been "serious players" for him.

Franklin was far more expensive (five years, $36.5 million as opposed to four years, $19 million for Carpenter) and clearly proved to be a disappointment for the Chargers who cut him just two years into the deal. Whether or not their interest in Franklin was legitimate at that time, they certainly made the right move in the end.

Back when Franklin first hit the market, I cautioned against the fact that Franklin's recent pass protection numbers may be falsely inflated due to the fact that he was primarily blocking for Peyton Manning - an all-time great at reading pass rush packages, getting his protection set and getting rid of the ball when he senses pressure.

Sure enough, Franklin struggled badly with San Diego. He's graded out as one of the worst starting guards in the NFL over the past two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus:

Franklin won't be 30 until December, but it seems likely his days as an option at tackle are numbered as he hasn't played there since 2013. They presumably are looking at him as a veteran back-up option with Carpenter and Brian Winters both locked into starting roles at guard.

It's not unusual for the Jets to make a signing right before camp. Last year, they brought in Bernard Pierce at about this time. We'll keep an eye on the transaction wire to see if they add Franklin or anyone else and obviously we'll provide a full scouting report as and when they do.