Jet’s general manager Joe Douglas is unable to answer direct questions about Deshaun Watson while the star quarterback remains with the Texans, but he was asked an indirect question about him on Wednesday.
How would Douglas feel about trading different draft picks to recruit a player? His response may disappoint Jets fans.
“To eventually get to where the great teams are, the most consistent teams, you do that through the design,” said Douglas. “It’s the most team-friendly market in the sport. To really be that team that consistently competes for Super Bowls, we have to meet our design choices. “
This should not be read as excluding Douglas from an exchange for Watson. It was a hypothetical question asked during a Zoom call. There is no indication that the Texans are ready to trade Watson, who has requested relocation. If they do, the price tag will be exorbitant, probably starting with three first-round picks. That would go against Douglas’s philosophy of building through design, but Watson might be a player worth breaking that rule.
Douglas didn’t go crazy at free agency last year, opting instead to sign many players for short-term deals for less money. With free agency on March 17 of this year, Douglas has $ 76.1 million in estimated cap space (via Over The Cap) and holes across its entire roster. Will he be more aggressive in free service this year?
“We are better positioned than last year at the moment. I would say our philosophy and attitude has not changed, ”said Douglas. “Our goal and plan is to be a team that really builds this up through the draft and getting draft picks. Obviously, we use free agency to supplement our roster. When opportunity and value meet, that’s the point where we’ll be aggressive and get someone, we feel good helping this team not only on the field but with the culture in the building Even though we are better positioned are, I think our philosophy has remained the same. “
New head coach Robert Saleh recently met with linebacker CJ Mosley at Jets’ Florham Park headquarters. Mosley retired last season and missed all but two games in 2019, his first season with the team. The Jets expect to have Mosley back in 2021. Mosley has four years left on the five-year $ 85 million deal he signed in 2019.
He came over and said hello. It was great to meet him, ”Saleh said. ‘I’m not going into the details of our conversation. My expectation is no different from any other player out here. For CJ, that is to remain the pro he has been since the day he was called up and the leader he has been and find ways to get better every day. . “
After six weeks at work, Saleh was asked about his views on the prospects of the Jets.
‘We’re getting better. We’re going to win championships here, ”said Saleh. ‘To give you a timeline, I wish I knew. I would go to Vegas. “