The Jets kicked off their "mini-draft," as GM Mike Tannenbaum calls cut-down weekend, by acquiring at least three players Saturday on waivers -- DT Isaako Aaitui (Dolphins), WR Clyde Gates (Dolphins) and TE Konrad Reuland (49ers).
Conversely, the Jets lost a player they wanted to re-sign, rookie Terrance Ganaway, whom they had hoped to re-sign to the practice squad. But he didn't clear waivers, as he was claimed by the Rams, according to a tweet by Ganaway. He will play for former Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
The Jets have yet to announce any of the moves officially.
Clearly, the Tony Sparano connection was at work with the addition of Aaitui and Gates.
Gates was brought in for his kick-returning ability as much as anything. Maybe the Jets are concerned about Joe McKnight (hamstring) being ready for the opener.
As a rookie last season, he averaged 24.8 yards on 34 kickoff returns. Gates, a fourth-round pick from Abilene Christian, has sub-4.4 speed. The Jets liked him a lot in last year's draft. He hasn't shown much as a receiver, with only two catches for 19 yards last season. That the receiver-needy Dolphins let him go says a lot. A source told ESPNNewYork.com that the Jets had claimed him.
Aaitui (6-foot-4, 315 pounds) was undrafted out of UNLV last year and spent the season on the Dolphins' practice squad. His agent tweeted that he was headed to the Jets. His arrival could mean that rookie free agent Damon Harrison will be waived.
Reuland (6-foot-4, 260), undrafted out of Stanford in 2011, has no playing experience. The Jets got into the market for a third tight end after the season-ending knee injury to Josh Baker. The Jets' claim was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. This means TE Dedrick Epps could be in trouble.
