In the hours leading up to free agency, the Jets locked up one of their own.
The Jets and offensive tackle Ben Ijalana agreed on a two-year, $11 million contract, a source confirmed, keeping Ijalana off the free-agent market.
Ijalana joined the Jets in 2013, but played sparingly until last year, when he played in all 16 games and started 13. He began the year at right tackle, splitting time with Brent Qvale. When starting left tackle Ryan Clady suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, Ijalana shifted to the left side.
Ijalana played well enough that the Jets wanted to bring him back.