Jets 2021 Mock Offseason: a Glimmer of Hope

[FidelioJet]

6 hours ago, football guy said:

I know that no fan wants to hear me right now, but I've seen this coming for a while. It was only a matter of time when the Jets screwed up the tank, and with that, I fully expect the Jets to win one (if not 2) more games which will further eliminate them from contention. Having been said, I still maintain that the Jets can truly use this opportunity to get things right for the next decade if they play their cards right. Hence, below is a combination of what I think Joe Douglas would do/what will happen/what I want the Jets to do this offseason... 

BREAKING: Jets hire Arizona State co-DC, former Bengals' HC Marvin Lewis to replace Adam Gase 

Although I believe in Sam Darnold, I do comprehend the reality that landing a competent Head Coaching candidate is going to be far more difficult. For starters, an offensive coach is going to want to have his say at QB, and if the plan going in is that Sam will continue to be the QB, that will turn off some candidates. Those candidates may very well like Darnold the prospect, but they don't always sign up for reclamation projects unless the situation is a great one. Secondly, the job comes with a front office already intact, and while Joe Douglas has a great reputation a top candidate usually wants his own guys. For these reasons, I think the Jets are bound to make what many will deem to be an unpopular hire. The Jets want a CEO type, regardless of the coaches specialty, and that's what they will get in Marvin Lewis. Lewis and Douglas have just barely crossed paths (Marvin was the DC in Baltimore from 1996-2001), but I think what's more important is Lewis's relationship with Ozzie Newsome, who Douglas is sure to consider when vetting candidates. It's a relationship driven business, and the opinions of people like Ozzie Newsome and Phil Savage (current Senior Football Advisor) will hold weight. Also, there's been a lot of chatter that the Jets will pull their head coach from the college ranks. I don't think many confused that to mean Lewis, but he technically is coming from the college ranks and opens up the field of positional coaching candidates given that Marvin has contacts at both the pro and college levels. 

Personally, I would not be crazy about the hire. I think hiring Lewis is "playing it safe" and about restoring the credibility of the franchise more than anything. We've seen many in the media praising him as a candidate, and from a PR perspective, you would think the Jets feel they need that. However, the only good thing I can say about Lewis is that I'd have confidence in his ability to assemble a good staff, which will be very important. With Lewis up there in age (he turned 62 in September), there should be an emphasis on hiring young coaches who can eventually take over if that time needs to come. Hence, below is what I would project to be the Jets entire coaching staff: 

Head Coach	Marvin Lewis	ASU
Offensive Coordinator	James Urban	BAL
QB Coach	Press Taylor	PHI
RB Coach	Bernie Parmalee	ATL
WR Coach	Hines Ward	NYJ
TE Coach	Justin Frye	UCLA
OL Coach/Asst. HC	Juan Castillo	CHI
Asst. OL Coach	Travis Switzer	BAL
Offensive Assistant	Joe Callahan	XFL
Offensive Assistant	Todd Washington	NYJ
Defensive Coordinator	Teryl Austin	PIT
DL Coach/Asst. HC	Anthony Weaver	HOU
LB Coach/Sr. Asst.	Jason Rebrovich	JAX
DB Coach	Ryan Downard	GB
Asst. DB Coach	Leigh Torrence	NYJ
Defensive Assistant	Chip Vaughn	NYJ
Defensive Assistant	Deon Broomfield	HOU
ST Coordinator	Brian Polian	ND

 

 

ROSTER MOVEMENT

• Re-sign S Marcus Maye – 4-year, $48 million contract 
• Re-sign OL Pat Elflein – 3-year, $8.25 million contract
• Re-sign WR Breshad Perriman – 1-year, $6.5 million contract 
• Re-sign OLB Tarell Basham – 1-year, $3.75 million contract 
• Re-sign S Matthias Farley – 1-year, $1.2 million contract 
• Re-sign LB Patrick Onwuasor – 1-year, $1 million contract
• Re-sign OL Josh Andrews – 1-year, $990,000 contract 
• Release DE Henry Anderson
• Release WR Josh Doctson
• Release OL Leo Koloamatangi

 

• Sign G Joe Thuney (NE-28) – 5-year, $70 million contract 
• Sign WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT-24) – 3-year, $47.5 million contract 
• Sign DE/OLB Matt Judon (BAL-29) – 3-year, $45 million contract 
• Sign CB Rasul Douglas (CAR-25) – 1-year, $5 million contract 
• Sign S Jaquiski Tartt (SF-29) – 1-year, $3.5 million contract
• Sign LB Anthony Walker (IND-25) – 1-year, $3.5 million contract
• Sign DL Jihad Ward (BAL-26) – 1-year, $2.5 million contract 
• Sign DL Carlos Watkins (HOU-28) – 1-year, $2 million contract 
• Sign RB Corey Clement (PHI-26) – 1-year, $950,000 contract
• Sign CB Cre’Von LeBlanc (PHI-26) – 1-year, $950,000 contract

 

TRADE: the Philadelphia Eagles agree to trade DE Derek Barnett and their 5th round pick (149) to the New York Jets in exchange for their 3rd round pick (89 via SEA) 

• Acquire DE Derek Barnett (PHI-25) – 1-year, $10.5 million contract 

 

2021 NFL DRAFT 

The Jets infamously played their way out of the #1 pick, gift wrapping QB Trevor Lawrence to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they still find themselves in a position where they can take a top level quarterback prospect. Sam Darnold regressed in year 3, which left Douglas in a precarious position of determining whether (1) if his play was a product of the environment; and (2) if Darnold is salvageable. This draft is not so different from the 2018 draft class in the sense that there are easily 4 prospects who will be considered in the top 10: Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance. If Douglas and his new staff determine that Sam is not the guy, they will draft the top QB available and trade Darnold for what is likely to be a 2nd round pick. If they determine that Darnold, who is only 23, is still capable of developing into an elite franchise-QB prospect the team felt was the case just one year ago, then the right move for Douglas would be to stockpile on draft picks and continue building around the player while providing himself a safety net in 2022 in the event Darnold is not the guy (multiple draft picks). 

After much deliberation, I think Douglas will make the decision to trade the pick. When you consider how much draft capital the Jets can add by trading down, as well as some of the prospects that should still be available to him by keeping a top 10 pick, its hard not to want to explore such a trade. If it works, the Jets have a loaded roster for the next 4-5 years. If Darnold falls flat, then the Jets have a readymade roster and massive amounts of draft capital to acquire a QB in 2022. 
 

TRADE: the New York Jets send their 1st round pick (2) and 2022 5th round pick to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 1st round pick (8), 2nd round pick (40), 4th round pick (110), 2022 1st round pick, and QB Jimmy Garoppolo

TRADE: the Baltimore Ravens send their 1st round pick (22) to the New York Jets in exchange for their 1st round pick (26 via SEA) and 4th round pick (105) 

TRADE: the New York Jets send their 5th round pick (154 via NYG) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for LB Chris Board and their 2022 5th round pick 

• Round 1, Pick #8: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
• Round 1, Pick #26: Teven Jenkins, OL, Oklahoma State
• Round 2, Pick #34: Carlos Basham, DE, Wake Forest
• Round 2, Pick #40: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina 
• Round 3, Pick #66: Camryn Bynum, CB, California 
• Round 4, Pick #110: Keith Taylor, CB, Washington
• Round 5, Pick #145: Austin Watkins, WR, UAB
• Round 5, Pick #149: Erroll Thompson, LB, Mississippi State
• Round 6, Pick #198: Jack Helfin, DL, Northern Illinois 

 

 

Have at it

I appreciate the effort.  Thank you for doing this.  I think it’s an interesting, if unlikely scenario....

As many have stated there’s little hope for the future of this team, but it will surely make them better.  They would be a competitive team next year and fall in the 7-9 range.

Which they’re sure to be for the next 4 or 5 years without a FQB.  

None of this really matters.  The trickle down effect of winning that game is massive.

[jetswinbaby!]

6 hours ago, football guy said:

BREAKING: Jets hire Arizona State co-DC, former Bengals' HC Marvin Lewis to replace Adam Gase 

Is "football guy..."

Marvin Lewis practicing his future sales pitch to the Johnson Bros?

[Pac]

If they dare try to sell me on Marvin m'fin Lewis after having endured this abomination of a season, the bonfire I start with my Jets gear will burn so brightly it will be able to be seen from the international space station.

[IndianaJet]

Y’all got way too much time on your hands. 

[JetBlue]

4 minutes ago, football guy said:

Not who I want. It's what I expect

Why would you expect that especially after the disaster that is AG.  Douglass is going to turn out and hire a guy how coached God knows how many years and made the playoffs like once?  I don't think he ever made it out of the first round.  His teams were perennial underachievers and you think AD would hire him to coach a young impressionable team?   I am just not seeing it at all. 

[Coffee Is Great]

Marvin Lewis gets a bad rap but he's not a terrible coach. If you're going to go the retread route he should be near the top of your list. Cincy (the worst organization in the NFL) was solid for a long time with him in charge and had a couple of great seasons despite having miserly owners who were way behind the times when it came to resources (scouting department, etc.). They got some brutal breaks in the playoffs (Palmer's knee, Dalton getting hurt when they were 12-4 a few years back) and everyone likes to make fun of Lewis' 0-7 playoff record but he's really not a bad coach.

[jeremy2020]

I immediately thought that Adam Gase became GM in this scenario

[Jetsfan4life90]

3 hours ago, kevinc855 said:

Kyle Pitts? LMAO HAHAHHAHHA

He's a top 10-15 talent, not that much a reach really at #8.

[heymangold]

4 hours ago, football guy said:

Maybe try not being a cuck for a minute and appreciate the fact that some try to be realistic when putting these things together... anyway... 

1. I personally want no part of Lewis, but who am I to say that it won't happen? Matt Campbell isn't coming here. Bieniemy isn't coming here. I'd put my money on Harbaugh or Lewis at this point, and Lewis feels more like a guy Joe Douglas would want RE: culture. Simply put: the Jets are not going to satisfy anyone with their hire, and I don't anticipate an offensive head coach will be on their way absent a say in personnel, which I don't see Douglas giving up. 
2. There's a legitimate argument as it relates to Darnold vs. a rookie QB. I don't think any QB not-named Trevor Lawrence is worth drafting, and the only reason I say draft Trevor is because he's going to attract a top-notch coach. Otherwise, I don't think any QB is walking into some stellar situation here in New York. As far as replacements go, I don't see anyone who is *that* much better than Darnold. Fields is not special. Wilson is not special. Lance is not special. I want no part in drafting a run-of-the-mill QB prospect to replace Darnold. That's not to say they're bad prospects, rather, they offer no more upside than Darnold does. I would rather build around the position, even if that means Darnold being a placeholder, rather than taking a guy just to start fresh. Let a 24 year old Darnold try to recalibrate with a new staff and if it doesn't work out, rest easy at night knowing that you have 3 1st round picks to work it out in 2022. Two-to-three of Carson Strong, Sam Howell, Kedon Slovis, Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, Mac Jones (if he doesn't declare) will wind up being top 12 prospects next year. 
3. You can nitpick all you want on free agent choices. I would personally be annoyed by signing a guy like JuJu Smith-Schuster because there's other options available, but I think it will happen. Crowder is a free agent next year which will open up slot reps for him in 2022. Douglas has been after guys like Thuney and Judon for a year now. I think the Jets will have buyers remorse on Judon and JuJu, but this is what happens in the NFL... 
4. The "glimmer of hope" for Jets fans isn't Marvin Lewis. It isn't Sam Darnold. It's the fact that the Jets would be able to trot out a real offense in 2021... 

QB	Sam Darnold	1st
QB	Jimmy Garoppolo	2nd/T
QB	James Morgan	4th
RB	La'Mical Perine	4th
RB	Ty Johnson	UD/W
RB	Javonte Williams	2nd
RB	Corey Clement	UD/FA
TE	Kyle Pitts	1st
TE	Chris Herndon	4th
TE	Ryan Griffin	6th/FA
TE/HB	Trevon Wesco	4th
WR	JuJu Smith-Schuster	2nd/FA
WR	Denzel Mims	2nd
WR	Jamison Crowder	4th/FA
WR	Breshad Perriman	1st/FA
WR	Austin Watkins	5th
WR	Braxton Berrios	7th/W
OT	Mekhi Becton	1st
OT	George Fant	UD/FA
OT	Teven Jenkins	1st
OT	Chuma Edoga	3rd
OG	Joe Thuney	3rd/FA
OG	Alex Lewis	4th/T
OG	Greg Van Roten	UD/FA
OG	Cameron Clark	4th
T/G	Conor McDermott	6th/W
C/G	Connor McGovern	5th/FA
C/G	Pat Elfein	3rd/W

 

If you can come out of this offseason adding that much firepower, your offense should improve no matter who the QB is. An OL of Becton-Thuney-McGovern-Jenkins-Fant has the potential to be best in the NFL. Mims-JuJu-Crowder-Perriman is a very competent WR core. Williams has the makings of being a great RB. Pitts-Herndon could be a lethal combination. 

Again. If Darnold can't be salvaged with this supporting cast than at least you find out properly but I'll tell you what. An offense with Williams, Pitts, JuJu, Mims, Becton, Thuney, and Jenkins wouldn't be the worst situation for a QB to walk into in 2022. But the upside? If Darnold develops into the QB he's capable of being, the Jets have 3 1st round picks in 2022 to spread around the roster. That is the glimmer of hope. 

There’s literally nothing special about that offense.  No RBs, 2 slot receivers and a rookie TE

[Wonderboy]

7 hours ago, football guy said:

Have at it

You must have Trevoritis.  I'm really upset. Has a headache last night after winning this meaningless game but this is really seriously affecting some people's mental sanity.

[Wonderboy]

1 hour ago, Coffee Is Great said:

Marvin Lewis gets a bad rap but he's not a terrible coach. If you're going to go the retread route he should be near the top of your list. Cincy (the worst organization in the NFL) was solid for a long time with him in charge and had a couple of great seasons despite having miserly owners who were way behind the times when it came to resources (scouting department, etc.). They got some brutal breaks in the playoffs (Palmer's knee, Dalton getting hurt when they were 12-4 a few years back) and everyone likes to make fun of Lewis' 0-7 playoff record but he's really not a bad coach.

Marvin Lewis is the Tom Glavine of head coaches.  Great during the regular season and just crumbles in big games.

[football guy]

57 minutes ago, heymangold said:

There’s literally nothing special about that offense.  No RBs, 2 slot receivers and a rookie TE

Javonte Williams is no RBs. Arguably the best TE prospect ever plus Chris Herndon is nothing special apparently. May not be special, but a huge improvement overnight. 

I do agree with the slot receiver comment. I am going to hate it if we sign JuJu. However, it is inevitable that he will be signing with the Jets or Giants. 

[football guy]

44 minutes ago, Wonderboy said:

You must have Trevoritis.  I'm really upset. Has a headache last night after winning this meaningless game but this is really seriously affecting some people's mental sanity.

 

1 hour ago, IndianaJet said:

Y’all got way too much time on your hands. 

Eh I've had this prepared for months with slight tweaks each week. I never expected us to have the 1st pick and felt it was only a matter of time before it became the case. My long version with player blurbs is a lot more in-depth, but posted the condensed version. 

[Greensleeves]

Nice - Kyle Brady in the first round all over again. We'll never have Warren Sapp, will we?!

[RutgersJetFan]

Just so we're clear on this glimmer of hope post, it's built on the premise that we just sat through a 1-15 season so we could hire Marvin Lewis and draft a tight end right

[heymangold]

7 minutes ago, football guy said:

Javonte Williams is no RBs. Arguably the best TE prospect ever plus Chris Herndon is nothing special apparently. May not be special, but a huge improvement overnight. 

I do agree with the slot receiver comment. I am going to hate it if we sign JuJu. However, it is inevitable that he will be signing with the Jets or Giants. 

Chris Herndon is literally uninvolved and has been horrendous this season.  Sure, pitts is good but I’m not banking on a rookie te vaulting our offense into the top 15.

[football guy]

1 hour ago, Coffee Is Great said:

Marvin Lewis gets a bad rap but he's not a terrible coach. If you're going to go the retread route he should be near the top of your list. Cincy (the worst organization in the NFL) was solid for a long time with him in charge and had a couple of great seasons despite having miserly owners who were way behind the times when it came to resources (scouting department, etc.). They got some brutal breaks in the playoffs (Palmer's knee, Dalton getting hurt when they were 12-4 a few years back) and everyone likes to make fun of Lewis' 0-7 playoff record but he's really not a bad coach.

I don't think he's a bad coach, but it's too bland of a hire for me if he really does get the nod. 

I've been a Jets fan for far too long. I want a guy who will be here for 10 years to build a program. I don't have unreasonable expectations for a Super Bowl every year, but I don't think it's too much to ask for a long-term answer. 

As far as how I would see Marvin Lewis's tenure in NY: 

7-9. 11-5. 9-7. 6-10. Retired. 

I don't want that. It's just what I think is going to happen. 

[Wonderboy]

13 minutes ago, football guy said:

 

Eh I've had this prepared for months with slight tweaks each week. I never expected us to have the 1st pick and felt it was only a matter of time before it became the case. My long version with player blurbs is a lot more in-depth, but posted the condensed version. 

Next time post the invisible ink version.

[Viermoo]

Thanks for putting the time on this but if the Jets take a TE with the first pick I’m going ballistic. Wife better not be anywhere near me.


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

[football guy]

1 minute ago, RutgersJetFan said:

Just so we're clear on this glimmer of hope post, it's built on the premise that we just sat through a 1-15 season so we could hire Marvin Lewis and draft a tight end right

Point is that there's really not much to celebrate today, but the "glimmer of hope" is that a new coaching staff---even one led by an underwhelming Marvin Lewis---coupled with an influx of young talent and competition will result in Darnold realizing his potential and the Jets being a competitive football team sooner rather than later. If Darnold were to have a year 4 jump that gave the Jets enough confidence to move forward with him as a starter in 2022, Joe Douglas could use 3 first round picks on positional players. I don't think people truly fathom how significant that could be. 
I do understand that "if" is not a guarantee, hence the opportunity Jimmy Garoppolo represents as a Ryan Tannehill-like veteran. If both don't work, well then you have 2022 draft capital to acquire a QB.