Sources: Guard Laken Tomlinson, TE C.J. Uzomah to sign with New York Jets; WR Braxton Berrios to ...

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Monday, March 14, 2022

San Francisco 49ers free-agent guard Laken Tomlinson intends to sign a three-year deal worth up to $41.2 million and including $27 million guaranteed with the New York Jets, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.



The Jets also added weapons for quarterback Zach Wilson, agreeing to a contract with Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah and re-signing wide receiver and All-Pro kick returner Braxton Berrios.




Uzomah intends to sign a three-year, $24 million contract with the Jets, a source told Schefter. Berrios is re-signing on a two-year, $12 million deal that includes $7 million fully guaranteed, agent Drew Rosenhaus told Schefter.



In another move, the Jets agreed to re-sign running back Tevin Coleman, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by NFL Network. He had 356 yards rushing in 11 games last season, his first with the Jets.



By joining New York, Tomlinson will be reunited with head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who were with the 49ers before joining the Jets last season.



Tomlinson is slated to start at right guard for the Jets -- a new position for him. He has played left guard his entire career, but the Jets are comfortable with his ability to make the transition.



The Jets targeted Uzomah after other tight ends, most notably the Dallas Cowboys' Dalton Schultz, received the franchise tag. It addresses a huge need for the Jets, who haven't had a true pass-catching tight end since Dustin Keller in 2011. Since 2012, the Jets have a league-low 489 receptions by tight ends, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.



Uzomah joins a nondescript group led by veteran Ryan Griffin, a potential cap cut. They also have backups Trevon Wesco and Kenny Yeboah. Tyler Kroft is a free agent.



General manager Joe Douglas has devoted significant resources to the offensive line, using first-round picks on tackle Mekhi Becton (2020) and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (2021) and giving out one of the richest guard contracts to Tomlinson.



After suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 2 of the 2020 season, Uzomah bounced back with a career year during the Bengals' run to Super Bowl LVI.




He set career highs in receptions (49), receiving yardage (493) and touchdowns (5) during the regular season. He also played a key part in Cincinnati's postseason success. In four playoff games, he had 15 catches -- seven were for first downs -- and scored a touchdown.



Despite suffering an MCL sprain in his left knee during the AFC Championship Game, Uzomah returned for Super Bowl LVI -- vowing to bathe in Cincinnati-style chili if the Bengals had won, which did not happen against the Los Angeles Rams.



Berrios, who turned 26 last October, hit free agency at the right time. He set career highs in receptions (46) and receiving yards (431) while becoming a special-teams star last season, receiving first-team All-Pro recognition as a kick returner.



Berrios led the NFL in kickoff return average (30.4), bolstered by a 102-yard return against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On that play, he registered the fastest speed (20.99 mph) on any kickoff returned for a touchdown in the league for 2021, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.



He bolstered his value late in the season, scoring four touchdowns over his final three games -- two rushing, one receiving and one return. Berrios, who also rushed for 40 yards on seven carries, became the first Jets wide receiver in franchise history to record multiple rushing touchdowns in a season.



Interestingly, Berrios wasn't a full-time kickoff returner until last season. He was always known as a punt returner, but he established himself as a double threat. He would've finished second in punt return average (13.4), but he didn't have enough attempts to qualify.



Tomlinson became Mr. Reliable for the 49ers after they traded for the former first-round pick in 2017. He started 80 consecutive regular-season games after moving into the lineup at left guard.




Considered a disappointment with the Detroit Lions, Tomlinson has barely even missed snaps in his time with the 49ers, leaving a game only because a shoe came off.



Tomlinson, 30, was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2021, coming up just short of landing his first Pro Bowl bid.



The Lions used the No. 28 pick in the 2015 NFL draft on Tomlinson, who played his college football at Duke.



Uzomah, 29, spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Bengals after they selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, catching 163 passes for 1,591 yards and 13 touchdowns. He signed a three-year contract in 2019 worth just over $18 million.



Berrios, undersized at 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, lasted until the sixth round of the 2018 draft. He was selected by the New England Patriots, who put him on injured reserve that year and cut him the following preseason. The Jets claimed him on waivers.



In four seasons, Berrios has 89 catches for 940 yards (10.5 average) and five touchdowns.



ESPN's Rich Cimini, Ben Baby and Nick Wagoner contributed to this report.

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