New York Jets
Projected Cap Space: $18.2 million
Draft Picks: 8
- 1st (No. 7)
- 2nd (No. 42)
- 3rd (No. 92, DET)
- 4th (No. 109)
- 5th (No. 146)
- 5th (No. 157, PIT)
- 6th (No. 187)
- 6th (No. 209, KC)
Notable Free Agents:
- DE Haason Reddick
- CB D.J. Reed
- LB Jamien Sherwood
- DT Javon Kinlaw
- TE Tyler Conklin
- OT Tyron Smith
- OT Morgan Moses
- DT Solomon Thomas
- S Chuck Clark
- CB Isaiah Oliver
- S Jalen Mills
- S Ashtyn Davis
- CB Brandin Echols
- K Greg Joseph
Top Three Needs
1 – Quarterback
The Jets’ 14-year playoff drought has coincided with a turbulent stretch at quarterback. The last time the Jets had a passer start at least four consecutive seasons was Mark Sanchez from 2009 to 2012. Before that, it was Ken O’Brien from 1985 to 1991. For the Jets to find the sustained success they’ve been seeking, it all starts with finding a long-term solution at quarterback.
Unfortunately that’s the hardest position to solve in the NFL and it looks even harder this year. There are no clear answers in free agency, the trade market or the draft. The Jets might even be boxed out of the two passers who are seen as potentially worth first-round picks since they’re down at No. 7 in the order.
That’s not to say the Jets can’t find their quarterback this offseason. We’ve seen quality passers come from a variety of backgrounds, not just the top three picks, and sometimes a team just needs to get lucky. Still, it’s possible the Jets have to settle for a temporary solution this year, whether it’s veteran QB Tyrod Taylor, who remains under contract, or another veteran. We now know it won’t be Aaron Rodgers after the Jets elected for a fresh start under the new regime.
2 – Wide Receiver/Tight End
The Jets have other issues on offense besides quarterback. The offensive line appears to be in decent shape finally after being a chronic issue under former GM Joe Douglas. Last year wasn’t a banner year for RB Breece Hall but he’s going into a contract year and should have a lot of motivation for a career year. The Jets have WR Garrett Wilson who has a strong case as a true No. 1 receiver — but outside of Wilson the pass-catching group is in rough shape.
With Rodgers moving on, the Jets will also be losing veteran WR Davante Adams, as they won’t keep him at his current salary and Adams is likely to have offers he finds more appealing elsewhere. Veteran WR Allen Lazard is another probable cap cut. That would leave the Jets with Xavier Gipson, Irvin Charles, Malik Taylor and Malachi Corley under contract along with Wilson. Everyone on that list except for Corley is more known for contributions on special teams than offense, and Corley couldn’t earn playing time over any of them last year despite being a third-round pick.
Multiple additions might be needed for the Jets, especially because there’s speculation that Wilson is leery of signing a long-term deal with New York due to the persistent struggles, especially at quarterback. The Jets can pick up his fifth-year option to keep him under contract through the 2026 season with the franchise tag available after that, so Wilson doesn’t have a ton of leverage. Still, it’s a situation worth watching.
It’s also worth pointing out that Conklin is on an expiring contract and new Jets OC Tanner Engstrand might want to mimic how his former team, the Lions, utilized the tight end position. Not only could the Jets boost their offense by adding at receiver, they could target a pass catcher at tight end as well.
3 – Secondary
The Jets have six defensive backs set to be free agents who had notable roles on the defense last year, so there’s potentially a ton of turnover outside of star CB Sauce Gardner. New York could re-sign a few of these players or look for guys currently on the roster to step up but with a new regime coming in, it feels more likely the Jets go for the clean sweep. As things stand now they need a starting outside corner across from Gardner, two safeties and depth.
One Big Question
Can the new Jets differentiate themselves from the old Jets?
The last time the Jets were in the playoffs was 2010. Since then, the team has had 11 losing seasons, fired four head coaches and four GMs, started 15 different quarterbacks under center and had two different acting owners. The only consistent theme outside of the losing has been the dysfunction.
For years, the Jets kept cycling through GMs, coaches and quarterbacks without ever getting everyone on the same page. They’d keep the coach but fire the GM, and vice versa. One regime would inherit the former’s mistakes, delaying the implementation of their vision. Then they’d get the boot and the cycle would start again. In the past several years, there’s been significant influence on football operations from non-football sources, and owner Woody Johnson has quickly reasserted his reputation as a meddling and impatient owner after a four-year dalliance as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.
But for once, the Jets have a clean sweep. New HC Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey are arriving together and so far it looks like they’re being empowered to make the changes necessary to implement their vision. They’ll get to find their own quarterback with Rodgers not being brought back. Glenn in particular has a sterling reputation among his colleagues. They rave about Glenn, a former first-round pick of the Jets who transitioned to coaching after he was done playing, emphasizing his leadership skills and the key part he played in bringing the Lions back from a place that’s not too dissimilar from where the Jets find themselves now.
Still, winning is hard, even for organizations that don’t need a complete cultural reset. Glenn and Mougey have perhaps the two hardest tasks that a rebuilding NFL team can face ahead of them — changing the culture and finding a quarterback. They have to do it in one of the league’s brightest and harshest markets, too.
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