The Jets got on board Monday evening with a few free trade deals. Here are some thoughts on the movements of the Jets and what awaits us:
1. I am not a fan of spending a lot of money in free agency. I don’t think it’s a sustainable way to win. That said, I recognize that the Jets were in a position with their roster of where to spend some money and I think Joe Douglas took a sensible approach.
Douglas identified edge rusher and wide receiver as two positions in this market with more talent than usual, as the reduced salary cap forced teams to make tough decisions and prevented players who would normally get the franchise plaque.
He then pushed two players in Corey Davis and Carl Lawson who weren’t looking for the highest contracts in their position and who were also young enough (both turning 26 in week 1) that their best football should be ahead. them.
That said, no one knows what these contracts will look like in two years from now. They guaranteed Lawson $ 30 million, and he’s never had double-digit bags. They guaranteed Davis $ 27 million, and he’s never had 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
Free agents are free agents for a reason. The trick is to find out what that reason is and find out if they are worth investing in. In this case, it looks like the Titans had different priorities and didn’t want to pay Davis, and the Bengals tried to keep Lawson, but I suspect that’s not willing to structure the contract the same way the Jets did with guaranteed money. We will see when we have the full contract details.
Both players are risks, but the Jets are better at those positions today than yesterday. They also didn’t overpay for the biggest names available, as they did with Trumaine Johnson, Le’Veon Bell, and CJ Mosley. I preferred Yannick Ngakoue at edge rusher because he’s more proven, but Lawson may have a higher advantage.
It is impossible to know how these players will develop. That figure will come in two years. But Douglas’s logic, plan, and execution were solid.
2. The Jets are not ready yet. There are still gaps in this selection and Douglas will not be able to fill them all in the design. I’m not sure Douglas will hand out any more major contracts. I think he is now looking for value. The biggest positions that stand out are cornerback and run. The Jets believe that the draft in these positions is stronger than free will. But they still need to add on the position.
A player to watch: RB’s Kenyan Drake and Jamaal Williams, CB’s Shaquill Griffin and Richard Sherman.
I could also see the Jets adding another edge rusher to go with Lawson. Kerry Hyder had 8½ bag for Robert Saleh in San Francisco last season. He won’t break the bank and will be upgraded with familiarity with the schedule.
I also think the Jets need a little more depth with linebacker and tight end.
3. I didn’t mention the offensive interior line above because I don’t think the Jets have many options there. The free agent market was Joe Thuney on the watch, Corey Linsley in the middle, and then a massive drop-off. I’m not sure the names that remain are a major upgrade for the Jets. Douglas can discuss the need in the design or maybe find someone in a trade. I think he needs to do something on guard, and he can’t go into the season with Alex Lewis and Greg Van Roten as his only answers. The Jets loved Connor McGovern in the middle and felt he was playing better late in the season.
As for Thuney, you can’t criticize Douglas for not signing a security guard for $ 16 million per season. That’s insane money and good for Thuney to get it. And if the Jets matched the Chiefs’ offer, where does Thuney go? Kansas City was in the last two Super Bowls. So the Jets should have outpaced the offer, perhaps significantly, to land him.
As for Linsley, the Jets weren’t interested. They did their homework on Linsley and decided he was not fit. This was not that they were cheap. They just didn’t feel like he was the right player for them. You have to think they had a lot of information about him since he played for Matt LaFleur for the past two years and his brother Mike is now Jets’ offensive coordinator.
4. The signing of Jarrad Davis disappoints me. He didn’t play well in Detroit to the point where he had a diminished role last season. I’d love to hear about the Jets’ plans for him. They didn’t pay him a lot of money, so maybe they see him as a depth player.
As for Mosley, I wouldn’t trade him. I don’t think the Jets can move him because of his contract, and if they do, they won’t get much in return. He is a good footballer when he is healthy. Take the chance that you can get something out of him this season and then try moving him out of season.
5. A final note about a former Jet. When I saw the news that Washington quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had signed a one-year $ 10 million deal, I thought of the end of the 2016 season with the Jets. Fitz had played terribly that year, and everyone knew his time with the Jets was up. A reporter asked Fitzpatrick if he thought he was done playing football, period. Fitzpatrick didn’t like the question. That’s why I remember. He was shocked at the idea that he was done. Five years later, he got another $ 10 million. Long live Fitzmagic. He has had a fascinating football life.