I have never been very impressed by Bryan Thomas' game. Before Rex Ryan and Mike Pettine came, many were frustrated by his lack of playmaking ability at a playmaking position. The new coaches installed a defense that hides Thomas' flaws, but the biggest complaint in Ryan's three years as head coach of the Jets has consistently been the team's inability to get to the quarterback without blitzing. Thomas plays the position that is supposed to generate the pass rush. Ryan and Pettine rave about his positives like setting the edge in the run game, but I think they overstate his impact in the same way they talk up players like Eric Smith. Yes, Thomas does a solid job against the run, but I do not think he is an elite run stopping linebacker like Jarret Johnson. He gets beaten plenty.
I think the Jets need to revamp their outside linebacker corps this offseason. They need to find somebody who can consistently get to the quarterback. I think of Thomas as a backup caliber player who has been placed in a starting role. He is going to be 33 years old when the season starts and is coming off a torn Achilles tendon. I could see the Jets bringing him back as a backup on a minimum deal, but I would rather see his roster spot go to somebody younger to develop.
I vote go. How do you vote?