Jets sign free agent quarterback Drew Stanton and wide receiver Chaz Schilens

After three relatively quiet days, the Jets signed their first two free agents on Friday.

The Daily News first reported on Twitter that Gang Green signed quarterback Drew Stanton to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. The team announced that it also agreed to terms on a deal with wide receiver Chaz Schilens. A source told the News that Schilens inked a one-year deal for $765,000 (with $500,000 guaranteed).

One week after the Jets renewed their commitment to Mark Sanchez by signing him to a three-year contract extension, Gang Green has found his backup for 2012.
 
The Jets targeted Stanton, the Lions’ second-round pick in 2007, shortly after the start of the free agency on Tuesday. Stanton flew to New Jersey on Thursday before coming to an agreement on Friday.
 
"I'm extremely excited to get an opportunity to come to an organization like this,” Stanton said in a team press release. “Everybody from top to bottom has impressed me. I just think everything in general is first-class. The nice thing is we're all going to be learning Tony Sparano's offense together. My goal is to help Mark (Sanchez) produce on the field and to help this organization win football games.”

Stanton, 27, had four career starts in four seasons in Detroit. He won two of his three starts in 2010 after getting thrust into the starting role after injuries to Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill.
 
Stanton didn’t take any snaps as the Lions’ third-string quarterback last season. He left little doubt that he wanted an opportunity to be a No. 2 quarterback.
 
Now, he gets his wish.

"It's tough to survive over a long haul as a third guy in this league," Stanton told Pro Football Weekly earlier this month. "I feel like I have a unique situation where I still have room to grow and learn stuff from the upper-echelon guys in this league that have established themselves ... like a Dallas, or something of that nature. Tony Romo has kind of ingrained himself as the starter, and it would be a great opportunity."

"Then you look at something like Tampa Bay, or New York, where I have more experience than those younger guys and (can) kind of maybe help them along, show them the ropes a little bit," Stanton added. "It's that fine line, but I think I can play both sides of the fence, which is exciting for me in looking at different teams that need something like that."

The 6-4, 225-pound  Schilens played for new wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal in Oakland. Although Schilens fits the profile of a tall and speedy wideout that the Jets’ were lacking, he’s had trouble staying healthy in the past.

Schilens, who played four seasons with the Raiders, missed 13 games from 2009-2010 due to injury. He has 72 career receptions and seven touchdowns.

“It was just too good a place to leave (without signing a contract)," Schilens said in a press release. "It was a combination of everything that impressed me. The two most important things were the mindset of the coaching staff on where the team is going, and the overall feeling of the commitment of the team to want to win with this great facility. I just always liked playing the Jets — it always seemed to be a big-time game. I always liked the type of players they have on their team. And I like Rex Ryan's mentality."

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