Jets announce several free agent signings, including WR Tyler Johnson and edge rusher Rashad Weaver

By Canadian Press on March 17, 2025.

The New York Jets made six of their free agent signings official Monday, including wide receiver Tyler Johnson and defensive lineman Rashad Weaver.

The team also announced it signed special teams standout Kris Boyd, tight end Stone Smartt and defensive tackle Jay Tufele, and re-signed defensive back Isaiah Oliver.

All six players agreed to terms with the Jets last week during the beginning of the NFL’s free agency period.

New York previously announced the signings of quarterback Justin Fields, who’ll replace the since-released Aaron Rodgers as the Jets’ starter after signing a two-year, $40 million contract, along with cornerback Brandon Stephens, safety Andre Cisco, offensive linemen Josh Myers and Chukwuma Okorafor, defensive lineman Byron Cowart and punter Austin McNamara.

The Jets also re-signed linebacker Jamien Sherwood last week to a three-year, $45 million deal.

Johnson has 76 catches for 828 yards and four touchdowns in five NFL seasons, including the last two with the Los Angeles Rams. He was a fifth-round draft pick of Tampa Bay in 2020 out of Minnesota. Johnson played two seasons with the Buccaneers before stints with Houston, Tampa Bay again and Las Vegas before joining the Rams.

Weaver and Tufele will add to the Jets’ defensive line depth, which has been depleted by the departures of Javon Kinlaw (Commanders), Solomon Thomas (Cowboys) and edge rusher Haason Reddick (Buccaneers) in free agency.

Weaver has 5 1/2 career sacks and 15 quarterback hits in four NFL seasons. He was a fourth-rounder by Tennessee in 2021 out of Pitt and played three season for the Titans — getting all of his sacks during his second season.

Weaver was waived by Tennessee last summer, signed with Houston’s practice squad and played in three games for the Texans before being waived and finishing the season on the Rams’ practice squad.

Tufele spent the past three seasons with Cincinnati, where he was a run-stuffing presence. He played in a career-high 13 games last season, including three starts. Tufele was a fourth-round pick of Jacksonville in 2021 out of USC. He has 44 career tackles, four quarterback hits and three tackles for loss in 34 games.

Boyd has been a special teams standout during his six NFL seasons, including most of the last two with Houston. He made headlines during the Texans’ divisional playoff loss to the Chiefs after he celebrated causing a fumble on a kickoff by ripping off his helmet and nearly shoving his special teams coach to the ground.

Boyd, also a cornerback, was a seventh-round pick of Minnesota in 2019 out of Texas. He played four seasons with the Vikings before joining the Arizona Cardinals in 2023 and then signing with Houston’s practice squad later that season.

Smartt had 31 catches for 380 yards and a touchdown in 38 games in three seasons for the Chargers after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion in 2022. He converted from being a quarterback — first at stops at Northern Arizona and Riverside City Community College — to wide receiver at Old Dominion before becoming a tight end.

Oliver played in every game last season in his first year with the Jets, making seven starts with 57 tackles, three passes defensed and a sack. He has played safety and cornerback during his NFL career, including five seasons with Atlanta and one with San Francisco.

Oliver has three career interceptions and 327 tackles in 96 NFL games since being a second-round pick of the Falcons out of Colorado in 2018.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press

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