The perks of being 0-9 are hard to find, but the New York Jets put their awful record to good use today.
Being at the top of the waiver wire allowed them to land a useful offensive lineman for the rest of the season:
Source: The #Jets claimed former #Vikings OL Pat Elflein.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 16, 2020
The Jets claimed offensive lineman Pat Elflein off waivers in what is a low-risk move for a team playing out the string. And in doing so, took him off the market for contenders and wannabes trying to claw their way into contention.
Elflein, 26, was a third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft who the Vikings let go over the weekend. From where I’m sitting, a Bears pursuit of Elflein would’ve made sense. Because even though he hasn’t performed as well as he did as a rookie, Elflein has starting experience as a center and guard. And considering the Bears’ issues at those positions, I encouraged kicking the tires on Elflein. But because the Jets claimed Elflein before he hit free agency, that possibility is off the boards.
So, at least he didn’t reach free agency and sign elsewhere for the minimum.
On a happier note, at least the Bears have potential reinforcements on their way.
UPDATE: At least they tried:
Pat Elflein was pretty popular. Source said #Jets, #Ravens, #Washington, #Bears, #Dolphins and #Jaguars all put in claims. Jets got him. https://t.co/3qw6IQxlqp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 16, 2020
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport tweets the Bears were among the teams who put in a waiver claim on Elflein. But even had the Jets not claimed him, Jacksonville and Washington had waiver priority. Sigh … just the Bears’ luck.