Welcome to the 2019 Jets Free Agency Profile series! Up until the start of the 2019 free agency period in March, I’ll be running through a bunch of names the Jets could potentially bring in with their hoard of cap space. Let’s get into it!

Name: Matt Paradis

Birthday/Age: October 12th, 1989 (will turn 30 mid-season)

Height/Weight: 6’3, 300

College: Boise State (selected 207th overall by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 2014 Draft)

Team(s): Broncos (2014-18)

Position/usage: Center. Lots of experience in Denver with both man and zone running schemes, but if one were to choose which one he thrived in more, choice would probably be zone

2018 stats: 9 starts, PFF #2 center (Never use PFF ratings as gospel, but they are a solid tool to get a hint on the value of a player who you haven’t watched much of)

FA type: Unrestricted

Previous salary: 2018 second-round restricted free agent tender, $2.9M cap hit

Comparable contracts:

2018 - Weston Richburg (signed by SF, age 27): 5 years, $47.5M, $28.5M guaranteed

2018 - Ryan Jensen (signed by TB, age 27): 4 years, $42.0M, $22.0M guaranteed

2016 - Alex Mack (signed by ATL, age 30): 5 years, $45.0M, $28.5M guaranteed

Jets connections: Drafted by the Broncos while Adam Gase was the team’s offensive coordinator

Measurables (via mockdraftable.com)

Pros:

Consistently highly-regarded center in both phases, has been considered one of the league’s best throughout each of his four years as a starter

Throughout his time starting for Denver, the Broncos have consistently been one of the league’s most efficient teams rushing up the middle. In 2018, Denver ranked 3rd in total rushing yards, 5th in yards per carry, and 8th in first down rate on carries up the middle with Paradis in the lineup, and dropped to 9th, 11th, and 15th, respectively, after he went out. Denver has ranked in the top eleven of adjusted line yards per carry on attempts directed middle/guard in each of the past three seasons

Has posted very good pressure numbers allowed in pass protection each year. PFF has him tagged for one sack allowed over the past two seasons

Very low penalty counts. Only seven penalties in 57 regular season starts

Championship experience with Denver in 2015

Paradis can make plays in both man and zone concepts. I personally feel like he is more suited to a zone scheme, as his athleticism is more impressive than his power, but he seems like a good enough player to where he can make a profound impact in an offense built around either philosophy.

Here is an example of Paradis getting it done on a power play. On this Iso concept, Paradis does a great job completely removing the backside nose tackle out of the A gap that the play is designed to run through. Phillip Lindsay picks up 53 yards here.

Paradis does not strike you as a brawling mauler who will toss bodies all over the place. He is an athlete who has good smarts and knows exactly where to be and what to do in order to get his job done.

Here, Paradis does a great job executing the combo block on the playside 1-technique with his right guard, easily taking him out of the play. Paradis then quickly hits the second level and lays a crushing shot square on the linebacker’s shoulders that is plenty enough to keep him from making a play, even if he wasn’t tossed on the ground.

Here’s a great display of Paradis’ impressive instincts. On this zone play, Paradis doesn’t find a man to block, but he improvises and makes his way back towards the ball and springs Royce Freeman free for the touchdown with a clutch last second hit on a closing defender.

Cons:

This will be a question mark with just about every offensive lineman who ever hits the free agent market: injuries. Paradis missed the final seven games of 2018 after suffering a fractured fibula. While Paradis did start all 51 out of 51 possible games from 2015-17, he has dealt with ailments before that he played through. He received two hip surgeries following the 2016 season for injuries that he suffered during the year

His age, as he will turn 30 during the 2019 season, is a minor concern. It shouldn’t be a huge one, though. Offensive linemen tend to come into the NFL older than most other prospects, and also tend to play deeper into their 30s than players at other positions usually do. Paradis turned 25 during his rookie season and was 26 at the conclusion of his first season as a starter. His mileage doesn’t match his age. He has started 60 NFL games over four seasons as a weekly starter. I wouldn’t worry too much about this factor if I were a team looking into signing Paradis

Let me just say this much: I don’t think any offensive free agent target excites me more than Paradis. He is a great player who fills a position of dire need for this franchise - a spot that has a vital impact in the development of a young quarterback and one that was an absolute catastrophe last season. I have never done a backflip in my life, but I might pull one out if the Jets find a way to make the Idaho native the next man in the middle of their offensive line. I would be surprised if the Broncos let him the market, but I certainly hope they do.