The New York Jets have classically been movers and shakers in the free agency frenzy. This year, not so much. Being cap-strapped will do that to you.

But it hasn't completely left their hands tied. They have made some under-the-radar moves along the way—enough to warrant a look back on how they've done.

I looked at some of the moves last week, and here is a look at the moves they've made since then.

 

Trade

QB Tim Tebow, D-

I've gone on tangents about this, giving statistical support to the mindset behind the move.

But as we all know, it's never just about what happens between the lines when Tim Tebow's name is in the mix. In fact, it's almost more about what happens off the field. And in that regard, this move has more potential for disaster than it has potential to help the Jets win football games on Sundays. 

 

Re-Signing

DE/OLB Aaron Maybin, A

It's scary to imagine what the Jets pass rush would have been like without Maybin. The Jets logged 35 sacks as a team, with Maybin accounting for six of those sacks in just 239 snaps.

He won't be expected to take on a full-time role, but Brian Costello of the New York Post points out that he'll only be making $1.3 million in 2012, so it's not as though the Jets had to break the bank to keep him. And with an "original round" tender that forces a team to forfeit a first-round pick for him, it's not likely anyone's going to try to snipe him out from under the Jets' nose.

Maybin suffered from square-peg-in-a-round-hole syndrome in Buffalo, where the team tried to plug him in at defensive end and had him in on far too many running downs. With the Jets, he'll get to continue to pin his ears back and go after the quarterback.

OLB Bryan Thomas, B+

The Jets were smart to bring back Bryan Thomas, even if he's not the long-term answer to their need at outside linebacker. And they should probably address that need this offseason, before it really becomes a need.

Having lost Jamal Westerman—who didn't figure to become a big time contributor anyway—the Jets are thinner than paper at outside linebacker.

If they lost Thomas, you could crumble up that paper and throw it away.

QB Mark Sanchez, C-

Restructuring contracts left and right has left the Jets in a salary cap bind. That bind forced their hand into restructuring Sanchez's contract as well.

Well, that and their pursuit of Peyton Manning and the subsequent damage it may have done to Sanchez's confidence.

Regardless, this was the move they had to make if they didn't want to lose some of their own key free agents, including Sione Pouha and Bryan Thomas, both of whom were re-signed last week. Still, the fact that their past mistakes have led to this decision doesn't pardon them.

Sanchez has been mediocre at best throughout his career. Now, he's guaranteed to get paid like a starter for the next two years whether that mediocrity continues or he improves. 

WR Patrick Turner: B

With 10 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in his career, it's clear the Jets didn't keep Patrick Turner around for his past production.

Instead, they kept him for his potential. At 6'5" and 221 pounds, he is a big body that will give Sanchez a decent weapon in the red zone.

The Jets are hoping to recapture some of the magic Turner and Sanchez created when the two were teammates with USC. Turner had 49 receptions for 741 yards and 10 touchdowns in Sanchez's lone year as a starter for the Trojans. This keeps him around for another year on the cheap.

 

SIGNING 

S LaRon Landry: B-

The Jets needed a safety, that's unquestionable. To give LaRon Landry a one-year deal at $4 million, though, seems a little risky. Landry has played a combined 17 games in the past two years.

Even if he's fully healthy, he still won't be an every-down defensive back. He's limited in coverage, and is mostly an in-the-box safety who can deliver hard hits. 

He was at his best when he had an elite safety playing alongside him in Sean Taylor. The Jets' last line of defense remains fairly thin—they already lost Brodney Pool to the Cowboys, and the team has yet to re-sign Jim Leonhard.

Although Eric Smith remains on the roster, that's not much consolation for Jets fans.

 

Let Walk

S Brodney Pool: C+

Pool took a backseat in his role in 2011, starting just six games and playing 60.7 percent of team snaps according to Pro Football Focus.

But who's behind him? No one.

In fact, the team added Landry and still hasn't filled the pass coverage void left open by the departure of Pool. And 326 of his 561 snaps were in pass coverage. They'll likely look for help there in the draft, as they've yet to find it in free agency and their options are narrowing down.

 

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