2019 Jets Free Agency Profile: Mitch Morse

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: Mitch Morse

Birthday/Age: April 21st, 1992 (age 27 on September 1st)

Height/Weight: 6’6, 305

College: Missouri (selected 49th overall by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2015 Draft)

Team(s): Chiefs (2015-18)

Position/usage: Center. Better suited for and primarily ran a zone blocking scheme in Kansas City. Played right tackle in college

2018 stats: 13 starts (11 regular season, 2 playoffs), PFF #13 center (Never use PFF ratings as gospel, but they are a solid tool to get a hint on the overall value of a player who you haven’t watched much of)

FA type: Unrestricted

Previous salary: 2015 second round, 49th overall rookie contract. $1.5M cap hit in 2018

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: Chiefs teammate of Kevin Pierre-Louis

Measurables (via mockdraftable.com)

Pros:

• Allowed only four pressures on 443 pass-blocking snaps this past season (via PFF). Finished 2018 with the longest active streak of pass blocks without allowing a sack at 1543, hasn’t allowed one since the 2015 season. His streak is the eighth-longest by an offensive lineman in the last 13 years (also via PFF)
• Relatively young with only four seasons in the books at just 27 years old
• Very good quickness and power workout numbers
• IQ and smarts have been regarded as pluses since he came into the league. Uses those tools to thrive on zone runs where he can use his timing and angling to beat defenders, and in pass protection where he is a smart and aware protector.

In pass pro, Morse’s instant recognition of the 4i-technique defensive end curling inside allows him to set up perfectly for a punishing pancake to open up a scramble lane for Patrick Mahomes.

Cons:

• Only 52 of 70 (74%) career games played, including just 20 of 35 (57%) over the past two seasons. His 2017 season was cut short by a foot injury and he missed a large chunk of 2018 with a concussion, though he did return for the end of the season and both Kansas City playoff games

I like Morse. I definitely think that Matt Paradis is a superior player and the best offensive lineman that could potentially hit the market, but Morse is a solid option B if he does shake free. His injury history is very frightening, but when healthy he is a tremendous pass protector, a good mover in space, and a high-IQ presence that is essential to have in the middle of your line. Maybe his injury history cuts deeply into his price tag.

It will be interesting to see how the Chiefs handle Morse’s free agency, and if he shakes free, how big a deal he reels in. I’d be nervous giving Morse too much guaranteed money, but if the Jets are keen on coming out of free agency with a starting center, Morse seems to clearly be one of the two most talented options and worthy of a one-year shot. That proposition does reek of the 2018 Spencer Long deal, but Morse has a much better track record than Long had coming into New York.