Is the New York Jets future truly “unsalvageable”?
At last, the Jets won their first game of the season in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams, but at what cost?
Surely, this has been a horrendous season for the Jets, especially due to a large split in the fanbase. On one hand, you have fans showing their pride and rooting for the team to collect their first win (in hopes of not repeating the Cleveland Browns winless 2017 season). However, the vast majority of Jets fans pleaded for the squad to lose in order to select the once-in-a-generation prospect in the upcoming 2021 Draft class, Trevor Lawerence.
One thing is for sure, the win over the Rams was extremely frustrating. Following a Jets win and a Jaguars loss, Jacksonville took control of the first overall pick in the 2021 Draft.
It’s a typical fashion New York Jets story as they cannot even tank properly. It seemed almost ‘too good to be true’ for the forthcoming season. The franchise quarterback the Jets desperately need was on track to wear Green and White, Adam Gase is on the brink of being fired, and the abundance of cap space. But now, reality struck and these dreams have been shattered.
As the season comes to a close, one thing is crystal clear, Adam Gase must be fired. The past two seasons with Gase as head coach have been dreadful, leading the Jets to a combined 9–22 record. This organization needs to make a drastic turnaround since they have to clean the mess left by Adam Gase and Mike Maccagnan. With Joe Douglas serving as the teams current general manager, expect big moves to be made in the offseason.
Realistically, the New York Jets must settle for the second overall pick in the 2021 Draft. The Jaguars without a doubt will select Trevor Lawerence as they are maneuvering to find the face of their franchise as well. So you may ask yourself, is there truly a light at the end of the tunnel for this franchise? The answer is, yes!
Since the beginning of the Mark Sanchez era (2009), the Jets have only selected two offensive players (Sam Darnold and Mekhi Becton) with their first-round picks. Truly astonishing considering how mediocre the Jets offense has been over the course of these years.
The Jets must switch gears and use their high draft picks (#2 and #27) for the offensive side of the ball. For the past decade, the Jets offensive line has mightily struggled and finished in the bottom portion of the league in sacks against the quarterback.
With that being said, the Jets should divert their attention towards Penei Sewell. The offensive tackle from the University of Oregon has cemented himself as the number one offensive lineman in the 2021 Draft class. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, he is extremely athletic for his frame.
Fortunately for the Jets, their current starting left tackle Mekhi Becton can play both LT and RT. If they were to select Sewell, he would slide into his natural position at left tackle and Becton would take over the right tackle position, finally solidifying their offensive tackles.
Additionally, the Jets can snag another offensive lineman off the draft board with their late first-round pick (via Jamal Adams trade) from the Seahawks. Despite this team having several gaping holes that need to be addressed, the main priority in this draft should be up front. By drafting Wyatt Davis (the Ohio State product) the Jets will have a solid line that can protect the quarterback for the years to come.
Come to free agency, Joe Douglas will seek to make some splashes in the market. On the top of his list should be re-signing cornerback Brian Poole. Regardless of this season being in shambles, the slot corner has continued to prove he is worthy of a multi-year deal.
Prior to being placed on the Injured Reserve list, Poole totaled two interceptions and two pass breakups. Without a doubt, he will be one of the most crucial pieces of this defense and a key veteran on the roster.
In this deep wide receiver free agency class, Allen Robinson will be the top target for the Jets. Joe Douglas has emphasized how he needs to place offensive weapons around Sam Darnold, and Robinson would be the perfect match. Robinson has hinted at his frustrations in Chicago due to the lack of consistent quarterback play (Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles), and it seems his time in the Windy City is coming to a close as he nears an expensive long-term contract.
Robinson has documented his third-career 1,000 yard season in 2020 and would fill the WR1 role for New York. With Jamison Crowder lined up in the slot and promising rookie Denzel Mims on the outside, this wide receiver trio can be extremely dangerous and steadily surprise teams across the league.
All in all, Joe Douglas has a bright opportunity to change the direction of this organization. Surely, it has been quite the rebuilding process, but the Jets have a promising future if they can connect the pieces this offseason.
