The New York Jets have agreed to terms with former Baltimore Ravens guard John Simpson on a two-year deal worth up to $18 million, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Rich Cimini on Monday.
They also reached agreement with former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw on a one-year deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In his first full season with the Ravens in 2023, Simpson started every game at left guard for NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and the NFL’s fourth-highest scoring offense.
Simpson, who turns 27 on Aug. 19, ranked 24th among guards in pass block win rate (92.5%) and 67th among in run block win rate (66.3%). His eight sacks allowed was the second most on the Ravens.
He was among the most durable offensive linemen last year, playing a team-high 1,159 snaps. Simpson was flagged for 10 penalties, including a team-worst six for holding.
The Ravens had an opening at left guard after Ben Powers signed with the Denver Broncos last offseason. Simpson joined the Ravens’ practice squad in December 2022 and then won the training camp battle in 2023 over rookie Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and former third-round pick Ben Cleveland.
Simpson was a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, and he started 21 games in three seasons, including all 17 in 2021. He was waived by the Raiders in December 2022 and was picked up by Baltimore nine days later.
NFL Network first reported Simpson’s deal with the Jets.
Kinlaw, drafted by the 49ers with the 14th overall pick in 2020 in hopes that he could replace star tackle DeForest Buckner, has had a career filled with stops and starts because of injuries, especially in his knees.
Finally healthy in 2023, Kinlaw had his best professional season as the primary backup behind Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead on the interior. He appeared in all 17 regular-season games and finished with 25 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 12 pressures. He also had four tackles in the Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Through his first three seasons, Kinlaw, 26, was limited to 24 games and posted just 1.5 sacks and an interception. Because of those struggles, the Niners declined the fifth-year option on Kinlaw’s rookie contract before the 2023 season.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and Nick Wagoner contributed to this report.
