DE Curry, RB Coleman join Gang

Jets general manager Joe Douglas made deals Wednesday with a player he knows well and another that his new coaching staff is familiar with.

Douglas and the Jets agreed to contracts with veteran defensive end Vinny Curry, who Douglas spent two years with in Philadelphia, and running back Tevin Coleman, who was on the 49ers the past two seasons with now Jets head coach Robert Saleh.

The deals were modest, indicating the Jets view them as role players. Curry signed a oneyear, $1.3 million deal, according to a source. Coleman received a one-year deal worth up to $2 million, according to ESPN.

Coleman, who turns 28 next month, not only knows Saleh but also new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. The two were together in San Francisco for the past two years and in Atlanta in 2015-16, when Coleman began his career with the Falcons and LaFleur was an offensive assistant.

It was essential that Douglas add to the running back room, and he surely is not done. The Jets could select a running back early in next month’s draft. Coleman joins La’Mical Perine, Ty Johnson and Josh Adams at the position. In LaFleur’s offense, a version of Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, running backs are critical.

Coleman suffered a sprained knee last year against the Jets in Week 2 of the season. He played just eight games, starting one. He rushed 28 times for 53 yards. The year before he rushed 137 times for 544 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games.

Curry is the latest addition to the defensive line. He turns 33 in June and is entering his 10th season in the NFL. He spent eight with the Eagles and one with the Buccaneers. He visited the Jets on Wednesday before signing.

Douglas got to see Curry up close in Philadelphia when he was in the Eagles front office. The Eagles selected Curry in the second round of the 2012 draft. He has been a rotational player for most of his 123-game career. He did start all 16 games and three playoff games in the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl run. He has 32.5 career sacks.

Curry made three starts and played in 11 games last year for the Eagles. He had three sacks and 10 quarterback hits.

Saleh’s defenses in San Francisco always had good lines. It is clear he wants that to be a strength with the Jets, too. Curry is the latest piece of that.