The Jets have signed 25-year old kicker Nick Folk.  Folk played in 14 games for the Cowboys last season and he made 18 of 28 field goals (64.3%) and all 36 of his extra points good for 90 points.  Folk has now played in 46 games in his NFL career and he has connected on 64 of 81 field goals (79%) and all 131 of his extra point attempts good for 323 points.  It’s up in the air as to whether Folk will compete with Jay Feely or simply replace him.  I like this signing for the Jets as Folk was an outstanding kicker his first two years in the NFL.

The Jets have signed 25-year old CB/KR Justin Miller.  Miller played in 1 game this season for the Raiders in which he returned 6 kickoffs for 106 yards (17.7 avg).  With Leon Washington out for the season the Jets signed Miller to replace him on kickoff returns and to provide a little depth at CB.  Miller has played in 43 games in his five year NFL career and he has returned 147 kickoffs for 3,851 yards (26.2 avg) with 5 TDs.  He has also returned 6 punts for 9 yards (1.5 avg) but that is definately not his strength.  Miller does not have a lot of experience on defense as he has 99 tackles, 1 forced fumble and he has defensed 8 passes.  This was a smart move for the Jets as Leon Washington is a very hard player to replace but Miller should do a good job on kickoff returns.

The Jets have signed 29-year old TE Ben Hartsock to a 1-year deal.  Hartsock played in 11 games for the Falcons last season and he caught 3 passes for 26 yards (8.7 avg).  He has now played in 56 games in his 5 year NFL career and he has caught 27 passes for 273 yards (10.1 avg).  Hartsock is a good blocker in the running game so he will likely earn a lot of playing time with the Jets this season.

The Jets have signed undrafted safety Emanuel Cook.  Cook was expected to be drafted in the 6th or 7th round according to Pro Football Weekly.  He’s strictly a in the box strong safety who should help the Jets out on special teams.  He is not a good pass defender but he brings the pain in the running game to both the opposition and himself.  Cook is only 5′9″ but he’s a solid 205 pounds.  Cook played in 35 games (23 starts) in his three years at South Carolina and he made 226 tackles, broke up only 5 passes, had 3 interceptions (72 yards), forced 3 fumbles and he recovered 1 fumble. 

The Jets have signed 28-year old cornerback Donald Strickland to a 3-year contract.  Strickland played in 14 games for the 49ers last season and he made 38 tackles, defensed 5 passes and forced 1 fumble.  He has now played in 49 games in his NFL career and he has made 162 tackles, defensed 16 passes, forced 3 fumbles and has 2 interceptions.  Strickland looks like he will be the nickel back for the Jets in 2009 and he was a good signing for the team.