With the 2022 off-season gearing up, the New York Jets face a truly pivotal period in hopes of turning their fortunes around. But what does Douglas, Saleh and Co need to do to become a respectable team again?
Head Coach Robert Saleh and General Manager Joe Douglas
Free Agency
March 16th is nothing short of a vital day for the Jets, as it signals the start of the new NFL season and thus free agency. The 2021 class was disappointing, with most of the notable signings such as Carl Lawson, Corey Davis and Sheldon Rankins facing injury struggles in their maiden season with the team.
It is fair for fans to expect notable upgrades to the roster with veteran additions in the FA period. With money to spare and a feeling of ‘it’s now or never’ for Joe Douglas to make his true stamp on the team, the Jets should expect nothing less than to make some much needed reinforcements for the franchise.
The 2022 FA class is intriguing, and with many holes to fill, it will be interesting to see which direction the Jets opt to do business in, especially with one eye on the draft. Adding at least one veteran wide receiver to the group is a priority to many fans, and with good reason. Players such as Allen Robinson (Chicago Bears) Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Mike Williams (Los Angeles Chargers) may seem sensible options in order to help Zach Wilson reach his potential this year. The Jets offensive play has lacked a consistent dynamism, and splashing the cash on a potential WR1 would go a long way in increasing the team’s scoring proficiency.
Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin
Continuing the theme of helping the young quarterback, the Jets will likely seek to help improve offensive depth across the board. The Tight End position last year was arguably the worst unit of the entire league, with Tyler Kroft, Ryan Griffen and Dan Brown proving to be less than effective throughout the entire year. However, free agency could prove to be extremely valuable in addressing this clear problem. Dalton Schultz (Dallas Cowboys) and David Njoku (Cleveland Browns) are certainly fan favourites if they hit the open market, and would instantly improve offensive options. Alternatively, the Jets could opt to look towards more under the radar options at that position, with names such as Mo Alie-Cox (Indianapolis Colts) Tyler Conklin (Minnesota Vikings) and Max Williams (Arizona Cardinals) all potentially being shrewd signings for the Jets.
Cowboys’ Dalton Schultz
Anyone who knows Joe Douglas understands that his football philosophy starts in the trenches. Naturally, a lot of fans wish to continue building the o-line, although taking the draft route may seem like the most sensible option in this case. Guard Brandon Scherff’s (Washington Commanders) name seems to pop up every free agency, and his services will certainly be in demand. It would be a surprise if he ended up at the Jets, but a welcomed one if Douglas managed to pull it off.
Commander’s Brandon Scherff
Nevertheless, a ‘defence in free agency, offence in the draft’ is a popular form of Jets discourse, with a lot of options available to help boost the disappointingly bad defensive unit in 2021. Opting against adding a notable veteran cornerback in free agency last year, the Jets may seek to bolster the position to help the young unit take the next step. Carlton Davis (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and J.C Jackson (New England Patriots) would almost certainly be immediate upgrades and help the Jets be more competitive in a pass first league. However, it would be very difficult to acquire these two players, and they will certainly attract relatively high contracts. The Jets may opt to look at ‘low risk high reward’ type of players instead.
Patriots’ J.C Jackson
Depth at safety is looking precariously thin, and Douglas will certainly look to improve the role. The Jets certainly need two new starters in this position for the new season. Targets such as Jessie Bates III (Cincinnati Bengals) and Quandre Diggs (Seattle Seahawks) would give the Jets much needed improvements. It would be a surprise to see these two players hit the market, but if so, the Jets should be first in line to enquire.
Notably for the team, the Jets do not have any ‘big name’ re-signings to be made in 2022, with Marcus Maye, Foley Fatukasi, Braxton Berrios and Morgan Moses being key notable free agents from the team. Marcus Maye is it interesting situation and will not likely be a Jet in 2022. However it will be interesting to see whether the Jets offer him a contract considering the current safety depth and the market. Whilst some players can and probably will be brought back for the right price, the Jets need to allocate resources as best as they can, which will likely lead to members of the 2021 season moving on.
Bottom Line: The New York Jets must be active in the free agency market in order to put themselves in a good position for the draft. The key aim must be to add depth and add a much needed veteran presence on the team.
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