Report: Jets to ink Lineman Carpenter
By Glenn Naughton
According to a report from Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo, In an attempt to bolster their offensive line the New York Jets have agreed to terms with free agent guard James Carpenter, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks. Terms of the deal are unknown at this time and the deal will not become official until Carpenter can sign at 4pm EST per NFL rules. Until then, Carpenter is free to go elsewhere should the deal hit a snag.
The 6′ 5”, 325 lb Georgia native spent two years at the junior college level before transferring to the University of Alabama where he would start for the Crimson Tide at left tackle for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Following the 2010 season, Carpenter’s NFL.com scouting report had this to say:
Carpenter has a chance to end up as a starter and certainly has the ability to provide valuable depth as a backup. Looks the part of an NFL left tackle with his great size and frame. At this stage, Carpenter grades out as a good pass blocker but just adequate in the running game. His game could benefit from some improved awareness in blitz pickup. Would become more valuable as a run blocker with increased strength and power. Carpenter should hear his name called during the middle rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft.
The Seattle Seahawks surprised some pundits on draft day when they selected Carpenter with the 25th overall pick with the intention of inserting him at the right tackle position. Carpenter struggled during his rookie year before being placed on IR with a season-ending ACL injury in week 10. Upon returning, the Seahawks moved Carpenter inside to play guard, but concussions and more knee problems forced Carpenter to miss a total of nine games in year two. Since that time however, he has remained relatively healthy but has started just 23 of the 29 games in which he’s played over that span.
According to PFF.com, Carpenter has shown steady improvement in pass protection, but has consistently graded out poorly in the running game which supports his pre-draft scouting report. Carpenter’s overall grade of -6.6 places him 47th among 78 guards. His pass protection score of 1.4 has him at no. 27 of 78, and his run block rating of -6.3 puts him in the bottom third of the NFL at no. 62 of 78.
In addition, Carpenter was fifth in the NFL in penalties among offensive lineman with 8, but did mange to keep quarterback Russell Wilson clean in surrendering zero sacks, four QB hits and fourteen hurries during the 2014 season.
Jets to sign former Seahawks OG James Carpenter, source says. Made runs at Orlando Franklin, Mike Iupati. Land Carpenter instead.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 10, 2015
According to Garafolo, Carpenter was the third lineman the Jets pursued in free agency after losing out on 49ers pro-bolwer Mike Iupati who agreed to join the Arizona Cardinals, and Orlando Franklin who opted to move from Denver to San Diego to sign with the Chargers.
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