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          NFL Nation

          With Ryan Clady gone, Jets search for another Brick in the wall

          Ben Ijalana has showed versatility in four seasons with the Jets and, at 27, could be help the offensive line for a while. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 16, 2017, 01:00 PM
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              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
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          For a decade, the New York Jets were spoiled.

          They had D'Brickashaw Ferguson at left tackle, and he never missed a practice, let alone a game. Week after week, season after season, they never had to worry about that position.

          Now?

          Big-time worries.

          Ryan Clady's release, though not unexpected, leaves the Jets with no experienced left tackles on the roster. It's a hole the size of the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, and it won't be easy to fill. The free-agent class is thin and so is the draft. This is a concern because left tackle is a position of premium importance:

          Possible replacements:

          • Ben Ijalana, Jets: They're interested in re-signing him before he hits the open market. That would be a smart move. Ijalana, who replaced Clady (rotator cuff) midway through the 2016 season, has value because he's only 27 and can play both tackle positions. Would he be the long-term answer? Maybe, maybe not, but he'd be a solid, hold-the-fort guy.

          • Kelvin Beachum, free agent: On Wednesday, the Jaguars declined an option, making him a free agent. You might recall the Jets showed interest in Beachum last offseason. He played 965 snaps at left tackle in 2016, per ESPN Stats & Information. He turns 28 in June.

          • Russell Okung, Broncos: With an $11.7 million cap charge, Okung, 29, could be a casualty. He played 1,004 snaps, but he wasn't the old Okung.

          • Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin: He's considered by many to be the best left tackle in the draft. He'd be a reach at No. 6, the Jets' draft position, but he could be an option in a trade-down scenario.

          • Andrew Whitworth, Bengals: He's widely regarded as the best of the free agents, but buyer beware: He's 35 years old.

          • Clady: Teams won't be breaking down the 30-year-old's door with offers, so there's a chance the Jets could re-sign him at a lower price. He was due to make $11 million before the Jets declined his option.