Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end…and in the NFL, the Bucs’ Super Bowl victory on Sunday is a signal to turn every team’s record back to 0-0. Yes, even the Jets.
While the official start to the new league year is still more than a month away, Jets general manager Joe Douglas is plugging away trying to figure out how to turn around a franchise that hasn’t experienced the playoffs in 10 seasons and is coming off a disgraceful 2-14 campaign.
Douglas’ hire of Robert Saleh to replace Adam Gase as head coach was a necessary first step, but the roster is also in dire need of an overhaul. Douglas may face pressure to throw the kitchen sink at Houston in an attempt to acquire superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson, but the current reporting indicates that such a trade is considered unlikely.
Going under the assumption that there will be no Watson deal, the Jets should initiate the following three steps:
1) Trade Sam Darnold
In previous posts, I’ve delved into the reasons why it is best for both parties if the Jets move on from the quarterback they selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Darnold’s woeful performance (not all of which is his fault) in his three seasons and his contract status make a return to New York untenable.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora have reported that multiple teams have expressed interest in trading for Darnold, which could present an opportunity for Douglas to garner a higher draft pick than a QB with the lowest passing grade this season (300 dropback minimum) from ProFootballFocus.com has a right to command.
Just guessing, but a return of a second-round pick isn’t out of bounds here.
2) Draft Zach Wilson
There will be a lengthy debate over the second-best QB in this draft behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. To me, the best fit for the 49ers-styled offense that new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is installing is Wilson, and not Ohio State’s Justin Fields.
At BYU, Wilson flashed the toolbox necessary to succeed in such a scheme, from a quick release to the ability to make off-schedule plays. He isn’t as gifted a runner as Fields, but he was athletic enough to rush for 10 touchdowns this season. With four other picks in the first three rounds, including the No. 23 overall pick acquired from Seattle in last season’s Jamal Adams trade, Douglas has plenty of dice rolls to buttress the team’s pitiful depth.
Once Douglas completes his Draft board, though, his first pick should be a no-brainer: take the best quarterback.
3) Spend to the cap
Nearly half the league will have to jump through hoops to get under the new salary cap total, which, due to the financial havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to drop from last season’s $198.2 million to approximately $180 million. The Jets, however, will enter the offseason with approximately $68 million in cap space, the third most in the league per overthecap.com. Easy cuts such as defensive end Henry Anderson could get New York another $10-15 million in room, and there is no excuse for the Jets to keep hoarding cap space this offseason.
A stressed team like Chicago will have a hard time putting a franchise tag on stud wide receiver Allen Robinson II, possibly allowing Douglas to swoop in with a high bid. Chris Godwin (Bucs) and Kenny Golladay (Lions) are two other receivers who will command over $20 million per year in free agency if they hit the market, and both would be worth it to the Jets.
Other than safety Marcus Maye and possibly cornerback Brian Poole, Douglas doesn’t have any in-house free agents that are high priority. He should be looking to take advantage of the unusual buyers’ market to find help on the interior offensive line and at edge rusher and cornerback.
For a FAN’s perspective of the Nets, Devils and Jets, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1.
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