San Diego center Colin Baxter was claimed by the Jets today.
Aside from Matt Slauson, who saw a few snaps at the position as a rookie in 2009, the Jets lacked a guy with center experience behind Nick Mangold since Robert Turner is out.
Baxter is an undrafted rookie from Arizona. He was a Rimington and Outland Award finalist in 2010 as best center and lineman respectively in college football. He started 37 games for the Wildcats. Center is a position that is generally underrepresented in the Draft. Good ones fall to late and out of the Draft.
The scouting reports I have read indicate he is a fiesty competitor on the line who loves getting physical. He seems to have some Rob Turner in him. He likely would have been drafted if not for a knee injury that required surgery.
I think this is a solid addition. He has some good potential. We will see what Bill Callahan can get from him. It also makes me scratch my head even more about yesterday's trade for Caleb Schlauderaff since the Jets just landed another interior lineman. Is this a vote of no confidence for Vladimir Ducasse?