The NFL’s weakening strongside

A quick prediction: By the end of the season, Jets fans will love Jason Taylor(notes),  the same guy who used to taunt them as a Dolphins star. Taylor may be near the end, but he still has enough athletic ability to cause problems for offenses. Fortunately for him, he joins a deep and smart linebacking corps, which means he won't have to play a lot. With Bart Scott(notes),  David Harris(notes),  Calvin Pace(notes)  and Bryan Thomas(notes),  the Jets have a great mix of players with enough talent to allow head coach Rex Ryan to run all his exotic blitzes. None of these guys are great, but all of them are very good.

Thanks to their acquisitions, the Jets have a dozen position players who have been to the Pro Bowl, the same Dustin Keller number as the Patriots. Sure, the Patriots hold the edge because they have Tom Brady, but trading up and getting Mark Sanchez last year gave the Jets a quarterback to build around. The year before, the Jets didn't blink when Brett Favre became available, and gave up a second-round choice to get him.

Of those dozen Pro Bowlers, seven came from outside the organization; some came at a high cost. Kris Jenkins was a $7 million-a-year nose tackle. Right tackle Damien Woody costs $5.1 million a season. Wide receiver Braylon Edwards makes $6.105 million this season. They paid Alan Faneca $8 million a year before cutting him after two seasons. Linebacker Bart Scott costs $8 million a year.

Before doing the Ferguson deal, the Jets had the 13th-highest payroll. If you count their signing bonuses, roster bonuses and salaries for their top 51 players, the Jets have a payroll of $112.7 million, a number that will go up as they try to lock up key players.

They are a victim of their success. It's going to cost more than $200 million in contracts to extend Ferguson, center Nick Mangold, linebacker David Harris and cornerback Darrelle Revis. Ferguson cost $60 million over six years as an extension. Mangold, perhaps the best center in the game, will cost more than $7 million a year. Revis wants top cornerback money, and the top cornerback makes $15 million a year.

The trickiest deal could be Harris, who finished right behind Scott as a Pro Bowl alternate last season. Can the Jets afford two $8 million linebackers? They'll have to try.