Things that I think: Jets 2022 Offseason Edition

[football guy]

Chalk this up as a rumor thread, a discussion thread, or just general discussion. As far as my initial points, they're a combination of my own observations from studying this administration over the past year-plus, conversations with people in the league, my own scouting/pulse on a situation, and media sources. I'll do my best to point out which is which. I also hope others on here will contribute because I've come to learn there are a lot of guys on here that contribute some quality stuff - whether it be information or takes

 

The priority of this offseason is to continue building around the QB position. This has been a popular topic addressed by the beat-writers, but it's been made very clear within the organization that they need to build around the QB position if they're to be successful. The way the Jets see it, there's no downside if your properly surrounding the QB position with talent. The Jets front office has admired Buffalo from afar (and to some extent Baltimore - where Douglas cut his teeth for over a decade) and when they tackled their 2021 coaching search, they wanted to somewhat replicate their model of having a stern yet player-friendly "CEO" style coach with an excellent, innovative offensive coaching staff and scheme and a uniform philosophy of building the team through the lines of scrimmage. Not only did they feel that model was most sustainable in today's game, but they felt that model was best for getting the most out of a talented young QB. Both Douglas and Saleh share similar experiences being on teams that have won in-spite of the QB play, so in their mind it isn't just about propping up Wilson, it's propping up the entire room. 

 

The particular focus early in the draft will be on the lines of scrimmage. This one seems obvious, but emphasizing it because there's been a lot of mocks out there ignoring the OL/DL in round 1. Even before Saleh, this was, is, and will continue to be Douglas's MO. He has a lot of conviction as it relates to the LOS, and if it were up to him (it is) he would take an OL in round 1 every year. Saleh is in lockstep with him. This year, you can be sure they're going to address both lines of scrimmage, and could do so with both their first-round picks.

• OFFENSIVE LINE: the team wants to improve the offensive line and continue funneling talent into that group, but make no mistake, Joe Douglas and his staff do not want to see Becton on the bench next year. In recent years, Joe Douglas was salivating at the opportunity to sign one of Brandon Scherff or Joe Thuney, but was never given a realistic chance. He also had interest in Graham Glasgow back in 2020. Clearly, Douglas hasn't been afraid to spend money or draft capital on offensive linemen so on the surface it would seem like the Jets would go in heavy for Scherff, but based on what I've gathered, I don't get the sense this one will come to fruition for a few reasons: (1) the Jets will look into extending both Fant and McGovern as they've played their way into new contracts; and (2) signing a RG of Scherff's caliber comes with caveats - specifically as it relates to flexibility and how Becton fits in the overall construction of the OL. The frustration with Becton is out in the open and moving him to RT is likely going to be the case, but the Jets don't really see it as a demotion as much as Becton's camp does. RT is just as important as LT in this scheme and is especially important in the run game, and if anything, playing him at RT would allow them to great more creative with the scheme and playcalling. Also, it would be easier for them to adjust their scheme to account for a lesser talent at RT if Becton were to miss time than it would be to replace a LT. Having been said, if the Jets find themselves in a position where they add a high-profile FA guard and have a tackle staring them in the face at #4 or #10, Douglas is going to find himself in a very tough spot because he is not prepared to give up on Becton. For this reason, I think the more likely scenario to play out is re-signing Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (or a similar caliber player), drafting an OL in round 1. I believe Evan Neal goes #1, so it would likely be Ikem Ekwonu at #4 or Trevor Penning later, then bring everyone in to compete for the top 5 spots. 
• DEFENSIVE LINE: mark this under obvious, but this is going to be another group that the Jets focus on in 2022. Ideally they would like a steady rotation of 8 DL: 4-to-5 DEs and 4-to-5 DTs. They have a solid interior, but I would expect some change in 2022. They ran a ton of wide-9 fronts in 2021, basically lining up the DTs on the outside of the OGs and the DEs wide outside of the OTs. Quinnen Williams missed some time, but he's the keystone of the group. He primarily lined up over the LG, playing most of his snaps as a pure 3-tech on the right side of the line. Nathan Shepherd, a free agent, was essentially his direct backup. My guess is he signs elsewhere. They want to bring back Folorunso Fatukasi, who played served as the teams primarily "run stuffing" DL/NT in the 1/2i-tech. Personally, I'm not confident this gets done. Both the FA and draft interior DL classes aren't deep, which could result in Foley's market gets pumped up. The Jets value him and will submit an offer, but he may need to be willing to take a "hometown discount" for it to get done. By nature of Saleh's philosophy the team will always look to have a heavy DL rotation, coupled with a big contract on the horizon for Quinnen, I don't see them making a big investment on Foley. Sheldon Rankins essentially replaced Foley on passing downs, playing on the left side of the DL or a passing down NT. I don't get the sense he will get cut, nor do I see his role really changing much, so if he does return my guess is he remains as the "6th man" of the interior DL and could see his usage scaled back to make way for JFM at the LDT spot more often. If that were the case, they may need to sign another veteran to take over Foley's early-down work or consider Jonathan Marshall in that spot. There's also the possibility that the Jets could take one of the top interior DL early in the draft... Fans are going to hate this, but I want to provide the disclaimer: do not rule out a high pick on Jordan Davis or Travis Jones. If they went that route, Davis/Jones would be the long-term answer at "left" DT/NT and could likely play all 3 downs, albeit their usage would be scaled back.  John Franklin-Myers will likely stay at LE in base formats, my guess is he will see more snaps in the interior this upcoming season. He was most effective lining up at the 3/4/5-tech spots with rather than a LEO, which lines up at the 7/9-tech. If the Jets were to move on from Rankins, my guess is JFM would see his LEO usage scaled back substantially. Kyle Phillips essentially operated as JFM's backup at the LEO spot only. I would think he'll be back as a RFA but haven't heard anything and it may be tied to how they feel about Jabari Zuniga and Hamilcar Rashed as backups. Either way, I am sure they will look for upgrades. Carl Lawson is going to slide right into the RE spot vacated by Shaq Lawson. The Jets "like" Bryce Huff, Ronnie Blair, and Tim Ward, all of whom primarily backed up Shaq Lawson at the RE spot, but they're not liked enough to prevent the team from upgrading. Again, I think back to how the construction of the Buffalo Bills have been a team Douglas admires from afar and can't help but wonder if he takes a similar approach that they have by investing several Day 1-2 picks in DEs starting with this draft. I wouldn't rule out a veteran acquisition - specifically Derek Barnett - who is close with members of the Jets coaching staff and front office dating back to their days together in PHI. Barnett did not adjust well to Gannon's defense, which limited the "wide 9" usage that he grew accustomed to during his time in PHI. The Jets were interested in Barnett before landing Carl Lawson, so you wonder if they would consider bringing him in if the price was right... if so, he would likely occupy that Bryce Huff/Ronnie Blair role as a backup. More likely, the Jets will look to add via the draft. Everything I've read and heard suggests the NFL is lower on Kayvon Thibodeaux than the media and fans; it's to the point where others who I trust that say he may not crack the Jets top 4 DE prospects. I think it's more likely the team takes a DE with their #10 pick (or later). 3 names to keep an eye on in round 1 are Jermaine Johnson, Travon Walker, and George Karlaftis. It wouldn't at all shock me if they double-dipped and selected someone like Arnold Ebiketie, Kingsley Enagbare, or Boye Mafe in the second frame. 

 

The team will invest heavily in the TE position. Everyone associated with the Jets knows that their TEs weren't good enough last year. They tried to sign Jonnu Smith in free agency, but saw him join the rival Patriots. They were high on Tommy Tremble in the 2021 draft, but after trading out of the 3rd round there really wasn't a chance to get him. One thing I'm sure of: this position will be the priority in free agency, and I have heard they are going to prioritize is David Njoku. The Browns want him back, but the question is how badly? Will they franchise tag him or make him among the higher paid players at the position when they have really good players in Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant on the roster? Time will tell, but if he makes it to the market, I would handicap the Jets as the favorite. If he's not available, it's hard to say who they would pivot to at the moment... best guesses are OJ Howard, Tyler Conklin, or Hayden Hurst. I don't get the sense the draft is filled with guys who the Jets would take in round 2 unless they moved down. More likely, that's a position they would target in rounds 3-5. There are a ton of TEs in this years class who don't get enough love, so don't be surprised if it were someone not-named Ruckert or McBride when all is said and done. 

 

How the Jets address the WR position is a hotly debated topic at 1 Jets Drive. It's been discussed with virtually everyone in the organization from ownership down to Zach Wilson himself. The certainly know that continuing to add to the WR room is a priority, but how they go about it is an entirely different story. They want Braxton Berrios back, and no, he’s not asking for $9 million a year. I think that deal gets done. They believe wholeheartedly that Elijah Moore will be an upper-echelon receiver. They think Corey Davis will show better in 2022. Still, the preference is to add a veteran, but they don't want to sign a guy just to sign a guy. Last year they were prepared to go hard after Chris Godwin had he made it to the open market; all I’ve heard with him is that he’s likely to return to TB (besides, not sure how the Jets would feel about him coming off the ACL). They have enough receivers in the room for depth purposes and will look to add someone in the draft, so carrying 6+ vets again is unlikely. Despite their feeling that Moore is a "#1" guy, they want to explore a trade for a "WR1-caliber" player, with Calvin Ridley among the most sought after names. Jeremy Fowler recently suggested Chase Claypool and rumors have connected Amari Cooper, but Ridley is the only one I’ve actually heard that will be a target. If they can't land one, they may hold off and look to acquire one in the draft, more likely on Day 2 than 1. I’ve read all the rumors connecting the Jets to the top WRs in the draft; I’ve heard some Drake London and Garrett Wilson chatter. Still, I’m not sure they would view either as an option to select at #10. More likely, I wouldn’t be surprised if they targeted someone in rounds 2-3 instead. Christian Watson has a lot of fans…

[OilfieldJet]

6 minutes ago, football guy said:

Chalk this up as a rumor thread, a discussion thread, or just general discussion. As far as my initial points, they're a combination of my own observations from studying this administration over the past year-plus, conversations with people in the league, my own scouting/pulse on a situation, and media sources. I'll do my best to point out which is which. I also hope others on here will contribute because I've come to learn there are a lot of guys on here that contribute some quality stuff - whether it be information or takes

 

The priority of this offseason is to continue building around the QB position. This has been a popular topic addressed by the beat-writers, but it's been made very clear within the organization that they need to build around the QB position if they're to be successful. The way the Jets see it, there's no downside if your properly surrounding the QB position with talent. The Jets front office has admired Buffalo from afar (and to some extent Baltimore - where Douglas cut his teeth for over a decade) and when they tackled their 2021 coaching search, they wanted to somewhat replicate their model of having a stern yet player-friendly "CEO" style coach with an excellent, innovative offensive coaching staff and scheme and a uniform philosophy of building the team through the lines of scrimmage. Not only did they feel that model was most sustainable in today's game, but they felt that model was best for getting the most out of a talented young QB. Both Douglas and Saleh share similar experiences being on teams that have won in-spite of the QB play, so in their mind it isn't just about propping up Wilson, it's propping up the entire room. 

 

The particular focus early in the draft will be on the lines of scrimmage. This one seems obvious, but emphasizing it because there's been a lot of mocks out there ignoring the OL/DL in round 1. Even before Saleh, this was, is, and will continue to be Douglas's MO. He has a lot of conviction as it relates to the LOS, and if it were up to him (it is) he would take an OL in round 1 every year. Saleh is in lockstep with him. This year, you can be sure they're going to address both lines of scrimmage, and could do so with both their first-round picks.

• OFFENSIVE LINE: the team wants to improve the offensive line and continue funneling talent into that group, but make no mistake, Joe Douglas and his staff do not want to see Becton on the bench next year. In recent years, Joe Douglas was salivating at the opportunity to sign one of Brandon Scherff or Joe Thuney, but was never given a realistic chance. He also had interest in Graham Glasgow back in 2020. Clearly, Douglas hasn't been afraid to spend money or draft capital on offensive linemen so on the surface it would seem like the Jets would go in heavy for Scherff, but based on what I've gathered, I don't get the sense this one will come to fruition for a few reasons: (1) the Jets will look into extending both Fant and McGovern as they've played their way into new contracts; and (2) signing a RG of Scherff's caliber comes with caveats - specifically as it relates to flexibility and how Becton fits in the overall construction of the OL. The frustration with Becton is out in the open and moving him to RT is likely going to be the case, but the Jets don't really see it as a demotion as much as Becton's camp does. RT is just as important as LT in this scheme and is especially important in the run game, and if anything, playing him at RT would allow them to great more creative with the scheme and playcalling. Also, it would be easier for them to adjust their scheme to account for a lesser talent at RT if Becton were to miss time than it would be to replace a LT. Having been said, if the Jets find themselves in a position where they add a high-profile FA guard and have a tackle staring them in the face at #4 or #10, Douglas is going to find himself in a very tough spot because he is not prepared to give up on Becton. For this reason, I think the more likely scenario to play out is re-signing Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (or a similar caliber player), drafting an OL in round 1. I believe Evan Neal goes #1, so it would likely be Ikem Ekwonu at #4 or Trevor Penning later, then bring everyone in to compete for the top 5 spots. 
• DEFENSIVE LINE: mark this under obvious, but this is going to be another group that the Jets focus on in 2022. Ideally they would like a steady rotation of 8 DL: 4-to-5 DEs and 4-to-5 DTs. They have a solid interior, but I would expect some change in 2022. They ran a ton of wide-9 fronts in 2021, basically lining up the DTs on the outside of the OGs and the DEs wide outside of the OTs. Quinnen Williams missed some time, but he's the keystone of the group. He primarily lined up over the LG, playing most of his snaps as a pure 3-tech on the right side of the line. Nathan Shepherd, a free agent, was essentially his direct backup. My guess is he signs elsewhere. They want to bring back Folorunso Fatukasi, who played served as the teams primarily "run stuffing" DL/NT in the 1/2i-tech. Personally, I'm not confident this gets done. Both the FA and draft interior DL classes aren't deep, which could result in Foley's market gets pumped up. The Jets value him and will submit an offer, but he may need to be willing to take a "hometown discount" for it to get done. By nature of Saleh's philosophy the team will always look to have a heavy DL rotation, coupled with a big contract on the horizon for Quinnen, I don't see them making a big investment on Foley. Sheldon Rankins essentially replaced Foley on passing downs, playing on the left side of the DL or a passing down NT. I don't get the sense he will get cut, nor do I see his role really changing much, so if he does return my guess is he remains as the "6th man" of the interior DL and could see his usage scaled back to make way for JFM at the LDT spot more often. If that were the case, they may need to sign another veteran to take over Foley's early-down work or consider Jonathan Marshall in that spot. There's also the possibility that the Jets could take one of the top interior DL early in the draft... Fans are going to hate this, but I want to provide the disclaimer: do not rule out a high pick on Jordan Davis or Travis Jones. If they went that route, Davis/Jones would be the long-term answer at "left" DT/NT and could likely play all 3 downs, albeit their usage would be scaled back.  John Franklin-Myers will likely stay at LE in base formats, my guess is he will see more snaps in the interior this upcoming season. He was most effective lining up at the 3/4/5-tech spots with rather than a LEO, which lines up at the 7/9-tech. If the Jets were to move on from Rankins, my guess is JFM would see his LEO usage scaled back substantially. Kyle Phillips essentially operated as JFM's backup at the LEO spot only. I would think he'll be back as a RFA but haven't heard anything and it may be tied to how they feel about Jabari Zuniga and Hamilcar Rashed as backups. Either way, I am sure they will look for upgrades. Carl Lawson is going to slide right into the RE spot vacated by Shaq Lawson. The Jets "like" Bryce Huff, Ronnie Blair, and Tim Ward, all of whom primarily backed up Shaq Lawson at the RE spot, but they're not liked enough to prevent the team from upgrading. Again, I think back to how the construction of the Buffalo Bills have been a team Douglas admires from afar and can't help but wonder if he takes a similar approach that they have by investing several Day 1-2 picks in DEs starting with this draft. I wouldn't rule out a veteran acquisition - specifically Derek Barnett - who is close with members of the Jets coaching staff and front office dating back to their days together in PHI. Barnett did not adjust well to Gannon's defense, which limited the "wide 9" usage that he grew accustomed to during his time in PHI. The Jets were interested in Barnett before landing Carl Lawson, so you wonder if they would consider bringing him in if the price was right... if so, he would likely occupy that Bryce Huff/Ronnie Blair role as a backup. More likely, the Jets will look to add via the draft. Everything I've read and heard suggests the NFL is lower on Kayvon Thibodeaux than the media and fans; it's to the point where others who I trust that say he may not crack the Jets top 4 DE prospects. I think it's more likely the team takes a DE with their #10 pick (or later). 3 names to keep an eye on in round 1 are Jermaine Johnson, Travon Walker, and George Karlaftis. It wouldn't at all shock me if they double-dipped and selected someone like Arnold Ebiketie, Kingsley Enagbare, or Boye Mafe in the second frame. 

 

The team will invest heavily in the TE position. Everyone associated with the Jets knows that their TEs weren't good enough last year. They tried to sign Jonnu Smith in free agency, but saw him join the rival Patriots. They were high on Tommy Tremble in the 2021 draft, but after trading out of the 3rd round there really wasn't a chance to get him. One thing I'm sure of: this position will be the priority in free agency, and I have heard they are going to prioritize is David Njoku. The Browns want him back, but the question is how badly? Will they franchise tag him or make him among the higher paid players at the position when they have really good players in Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant on the roster? Time will tell, but if he makes it to the market, I would handicap the Jets as the favorite. If he's not available, it's hard to say who they would pivot to at the moment... best guesses are OJ Howard, Tyler Conklin, or Hayden Hurst. I don't get the sense the draft is filled with guys who the Jets would take in round 2 unless they moved down. More likely, that's a position they would target in rounds 3-5. There are a ton of TEs in this years class who don't get enough love, so don't be surprised if it were someone not-named Ruckert or McBride when all is said and done. 

 

How the Jets address the WR position is a hotly debated topic at 1 Jets Drive. It's been discussed with virtually everyone in the organization from ownership down to Zach Wilson himself. The certainly know that continuing to add to the WR room is a priority, but how they go about it is an entirely different story. They believe wholeheartedly that Elijah Moore will be an upper-echelon receiver. Still, the preference is to add a veteran, but they don't want to sign a guy just to sign a guy. Despite their feeling that Moore is a "#1" guy, they want to explore a trade for a "WR1-caliber" player, with Calvin Ridley among the most sought after names. If they can't land one, they may hold off and look to acquire one in the draft, more likely on Day 2 than 1. 

Best news I've heard since the end of the season.

[ZachEY]

I agree that Douglas is OL obsessed, and for good reason.  But, a GM worth his salt needs to be able to find OL talent outside of top 10 picks.  We also need playmakers, on both sides of the ball, and devoting all our top picks to the line makes that significantly harder to do.

I'd love to see us go Edge (4) then WR (10), and then, where he earns his money is by finding guys who can start in round 2 and 3 on the line.  That said, I recognized the Thibs/work ethic issue, and this draft may not line up to do that.  Still, I'd rather us not be fishing for a playmaker on either side of the ball on day 3 when we have the opportunity on day 1.

[Larz]

I don’t usually read long posts lol

but

 

[Cbucco19]

44 minutes ago, football guy said:

Chalk this up as a rumor thread, a discussion thread, or just general discussion. As far as my initial points, they're a combination of my own observations from studying this administration over the past year-plus, conversations with people in the league, my own scouting/pulse on a situation, and media sources. I'll do my best to point out which is which. I also hope others on here will contribute because I've come to learn there are a lot of guys on here that contribute some quality stuff - whether it be information or takes

 

The priority of this offseason is to continue building around the QB position. This has been a popular topic addressed by the beat-writers, but it's been made very clear within the organization that they need to build around the QB position if they're to be successful. The way the Jets see it, there's no downside if your properly surrounding the QB position with talent. The Jets front office has admired Buffalo from afar (and to some extent Baltimore - where Douglas cut his teeth for over a decade) and when they tackled their 2021 coaching search, they wanted to somewhat replicate their model of having a stern yet player-friendly "CEO" style coach with an excellent, innovative offensive coaching staff and scheme and a uniform philosophy of building the team through the lines of scrimmage. Not only did they feel that model was most sustainable in today's game, but they felt that model was best for getting the most out of a talented young QB. Both Douglas and Saleh share similar experiences being on teams that have won in-spite of the QB play, so in their mind it isn't just about propping up Wilson, it's propping up the entire room. 

 

The particular focus early in the draft will be on the lines of scrimmage. This one seems obvious, but emphasizing it because there's been a lot of mocks out there ignoring the OL/DL in round 1. Even before Saleh, this was, is, and will continue to be Douglas's MO. He has a lot of conviction as it relates to the LOS, and if it were up to him (it is) he would take an OL in round 1 every year. Saleh is in lockstep with him. This year, you can be sure they're going to address both lines of scrimmage, and could do so with both their first-round picks.

• OFFENSIVE LINE: the team wants to improve the offensive line and continue funneling talent into that group, but make no mistake, Joe Douglas and his staff do not want to see Becton on the bench next year. In recent years, Joe Douglas was salivating at the opportunity to sign one of Brandon Scherff or Joe Thuney, but was never given a realistic chance. He also had interest in Graham Glasgow back in 2020. Clearly, Douglas hasn't been afraid to spend money or draft capital on offensive linemen so on the surface it would seem like the Jets would go in heavy for Scherff, but based on what I've gathered, I don't get the sense this one will come to fruition for a few reasons: (1) the Jets will look into extending both Fant and McGovern as they've played their way into new contracts; and (2) signing a RG of Scherff's caliber comes with caveats - specifically as it relates to flexibility and how Becton fits in the overall construction of the OL. The frustration with Becton is out in the open and moving him to RT is likely going to be the case, but the Jets don't really see it as a demotion as much as Becton's camp does. RT is just as important as LT in this scheme and is especially important in the run game, and if anything, playing him at RT would allow them to great more creative with the scheme and playcalling. Also, it would be easier for them to adjust their scheme to account for a lesser talent at RT if Becton were to miss time than it would be to replace a LT. Having been said, if the Jets find themselves in a position where they add a high-profile FA guard and have a tackle staring them in the face at #4 or #10, Douglas is going to find himself in a very tough spot because he is not prepared to give up on Becton. For this reason, I think the more likely scenario to play out is re-signing Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (or a similar caliber player), drafting an OL in round 1. I believe Evan Neal goes #1, so it would likely be Ikem Ekwonu at #4 or Trevor Penning later, then bring everyone in to compete for the top 5 spots. 
• DEFENSIVE LINE: mark this under obvious, but this is going to be another group that the Jets focus on in 2022. Ideally they would like a steady rotation of 8 DL: 4-to-5 DEs and 4-to-5 DTs. They have a solid interior, but I would expect some change in 2022. They ran a ton of wide-9 fronts in 2021, basically lining up the DTs on the outside of the OGs and the DEs wide outside of the OTs. Quinnen Williams missed some time, but he's the keystone of the group. He primarily lined up over the LG, playing most of his snaps as a pure 3-tech on the right side of the line. Nathan Shepherd, a free agent, was essentially his direct backup. My guess is he signs elsewhere. They want to bring back Folorunso Fatukasi, who played served as the teams primarily "run stuffing" DL/NT in the 1/2i-tech. Personally, I'm not confident this gets done. Both the FA and draft interior DL classes aren't deep, which could result in Foley's market gets pumped up. The Jets value him and will submit an offer, but he may need to be willing to take a "hometown discount" for it to get done. By nature of Saleh's philosophy the team will always look to have a heavy DL rotation, coupled with a big contract on the horizon for Quinnen, I don't see them making a big investment on Foley. Sheldon Rankins essentially replaced Foley on passing downs, playing on the left side of the DL or a passing down NT. I don't get the sense he will get cut, nor do I see his role really changing much, so if he does return my guess is he remains as the "6th man" of the interior DL and could see his usage scaled back to make way for JFM at the LDT spot more often. If that were the case, they may need to sign another veteran to take over Foley's early-down work or consider Jonathan Marshall in that spot. There's also the possibility that the Jets could take one of the top interior DL early in the draft... Fans are going to hate this, but I want to provide the disclaimer: do not rule out a high pick on Jordan Davis or Travis Jones. If they went that route, Davis/Jones would be the long-term answer at "left" DT/NT and could likely play all 3 downs, albeit their usage would be scaled back.  John Franklin-Myers will likely stay at LE in base formats, my guess is he will see more snaps in the interior this upcoming season. He was most effective lining up at the 3/4/5-tech spots with rather than a LEO, which lines up at the 7/9-tech. If the Jets were to move on from Rankins, my guess is JFM would see his LEO usage scaled back substantially. Kyle Phillips essentially operated as JFM's backup at the LEO spot only. I would think he'll be back as a RFA but haven't heard anything and it may be tied to how they feel about Jabari Zuniga and Hamilcar Rashed as backups. Either way, I am sure they will look for upgrades. Carl Lawson is going to slide right into the RE spot vacated by Shaq Lawson. The Jets "like" Bryce Huff, Ronnie Blair, and Tim Ward, all of whom primarily backed up Shaq Lawson at the RE spot, but they're not liked enough to prevent the team from upgrading. Again, I think back to how the construction of the Buffalo Bills have been a team Douglas admires from afar and can't help but wonder if he takes a similar approach that they have by investing several Day 1-2 picks in DEs starting with this draft. I wouldn't rule out a veteran acquisition - specifically Derek Barnett - who is close with members of the Jets coaching staff and front office dating back to their days together in PHI. Barnett did not adjust well to Gannon's defense, which limited the "wide 9" usage that he grew accustomed to during his time in PHI. The Jets were interested in Barnett before landing Carl Lawson, so you wonder if they would consider bringing him in if the price was right... if so, he would likely occupy that Bryce Huff/Ronnie Blair role as a backup. More likely, the Jets will look to add via the draft. Everything I've read and heard suggests the NFL is lower on Kayvon Thibodeaux than the media and fans; it's to the point where others who I trust that say he may not crack the Jets top 4 DE prospects. I think it's more likely the team takes a DE with their #10 pick (or later). 3 names to keep an eye on in round 1 are Jermaine Johnson, Travon Walker, and George Karlaftis. It wouldn't at all shock me if they double-dipped and selected someone like Arnold Ebiketie, Kingsley Enagbare, or Boye Mafe in the second frame. 

 

The team will invest heavily in the TE position. Everyone associated with the Jets knows that their TEs weren't good enough last year. They tried to sign Jonnu Smith in free agency, but saw him join the rival Patriots. They were high on Tommy Tremble in the 2021 draft, but after trading out of the 3rd round there really wasn't a chance to get him. One thing I'm sure of: this position will be the priority in free agency, and I have heard they are going to prioritize is David Njoku. The Browns want him back, but the question is how badly? Will they franchise tag him or make him among the higher paid players at the position when they have really good players in Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant on the roster? Time will tell, but if he makes it to the market, I would handicap the Jets as the favorite. If he's not available, it's hard to say who they would pivot to at the moment... best guesses are OJ Howard, Tyler Conklin, or Hayden Hurst. I don't get the sense the draft is filled with guys who the Jets would take in round 2 unless they moved down. More likely, that's a position they would target in rounds 3-5. There are a ton of TEs in this years class who don't get enough love, so don't be surprised if it were someone not-named Ruckert or McBride when all is said and done. 

 

How the Jets address the WR position is a hotly debated topic at 1 Jets Drive. It's been discussed with virtually everyone in the organization from ownership down to Zach Wilson himself. The certainly know that continuing to add to the WR room is a priority, but how they go about it is an entirely different story. They want Braxton Berrios back, and no, he’s not asking for $9 million a year. I think that deal gets done. They believe wholeheartedly that Elijah Moore will be an upper-echelon receiver. They think Corey Davis will show better in 2022. Still, the preference is to add a veteran, but they don't want to sign a guy just to sign a guy. Last year they were prepared to go hard after Chris Godwin had he made it to the open market; all I’ve heard with him is that he’s likely to return to TB (besides, not sure how the Jets would feel about him coming off the ACL). They have enough receivers in the room for depth purposes and will look to add someone in the draft, so carrying 6+ vets again is unlikely. Despite their feeling that Moore is a "#1" guy, they want to explore a trade for a "WR1-caliber" player, with Calvin Ridley among the most sought after names. Jeremy Fowler recently suggested Chase Claypool and rumors have connected Amari Cooper, but Ridley is the only one I’ve actually heard that will be a target. If they can't land one, they may hold off and look to acquire one in the draft, more likely on Day 2 than 1. I’ve read all the rumors connecting the Jets to the top WRs in the draft; I’ve heard some Drake London and Garrett Wilson chatter. Still, I’m not sure they would view either as an option to select at #10. More likely, I wouldn’t be surprised if they targeted someone in rounds 2-3 instead. Christian Watson has a lot of fans…

Where can I sign up for Moore , Davis , Ridley , Berrios and Njoku 

[TuscanyTile2]

49 minutes ago, football guy said:

Calvin Ridley among the most sought after names. Jeremy Fowler recently suggested Chase Claypool and rumors have connected Amari Cooper, but Ridley is the only one I’ve actually heard that will be a target

Awesome post!  Quick question though.  Didn't Calvin Ridley leave the team for "mental well-being" reasons last year?  And future HOF HC Mike Tomlin had a major issue with Chase Claypool's attitude, no?

I feel like both these guys have major red flags.  I'm glad to hear "they don't want to sign a guy just to sign a guy" but I feel like both of these guys carry major risk.

[T0mShane]

You get the sense that both Douglas and Saleh are going to go hard after gritty self-starters even if it means passing on a more talented prospect, which will ultimately burn them in the end. 

[SomebodytoAnybody47]

So basically nothings changed. Douglas will be stingy and go for bargain bin FAs. Yet we’re admiring Buffalo from afar. 

Cool. 

[Adoni Beast]

55 minutes ago, football guy said:

Calvin Ridley among the most sought after names. 

Any idea the amount Joe Douglas is willing to part with? 

I can't see him giving up the haul that the Bills gave up for Diggs.

[Dcat]

16 minutes ago, Cbucco19 said:

Where can I sign up for Moore , Davis , Ridley , Berrios and Njoku 

acquiring Ridley and Njoku and signing Berrios would make me a VERY happy Jets fan.

[Larz]

6 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

You get the sense that both Douglas and Saleh are going to go hard after gritty self-starters even if it means passing on a more talented prospect, which will ultimately burn them in the end. 

Like becton and Mims?

go back under your rock lol

[Dcat]

7 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

You I, @T0mShane, get the sense that both Douglas and Saleh are going to go hard after gritty self-starters even if it means passing on a more talented prospect, which will ultimately burn them in the end. 

Fxed

[Warfish]

Quote

conversations with people in the league, my own scouting/pulse on a situation, and media sources

 

Are you CBTNY under a new name?

[Peace Frog]

My f*cking eyes are bleeding. 

[GreenFish]

This all mostly makes sense to me. Njoku is perfect for our system. He’s been underutilized in Cleveland. Hopefully we can sway him with a solid contract and the reality that he will be our #1 TE.

WR. I like the idea of targeting a veteran. I like the draft prospects but if we can get a #1 via trade or FA, it’s a much safer approach. Give me Ridley or Cooper or Godwin.

Edge in the first…sign me up.

The only part that doesn't make sense to me is the OL. Agree with resigning Fant and McGovern. We got AVT. You’re saying they do not want to bench Becton and will likely play him at RT. Makes sense. That leaves one spot open…RG. If they sign a RG in FA, why would they go OL in the 1st? Giving up on Becton seems very premature. And using a 1st as insurance seems like an expensive hedge.

[Peace Frog]

26 minutes ago, Zachtomims47 said:

So basically nothings changed. Douglas will be stingy and go for bargain bin FAs. Yet we’re admiring Buffalo from afar. 

Cool. 

370 miles is not that far. 

[Peace Frog]

Just now, GreenFish said:

This all mostly makes sense to me. Njoku is perfect for our system. He’s been underutilized in Cleveland. Hopefully we can sway him with a solid contract and the reality that he will be our #1 TE.

WR. I like the idea of targeting a veteran. I like the draft prospects but if we can get a #1 via trade or FA, it’s a much safer approach. Give me Ridley or Cooper or Godwin.

Edge in the first…sign me up.

The only part that doesn't make sense to me is the OL. Agree with resigning Fant and McGovern. We got AVT. You’re saying they do not want to bench Becton and will likely play him at RT. Makes sense. That leaves one spot open…RG. If they sign a RG in FA, why would they go OL in the 1st? Giving up on Becton seems very premature. And using a 1st as insurance seems like an expensive hedge.

He needs an “a” between the “N” and the “j”. Or an apostrophe. 

[Aussie Jet]

35 minutes ago, TuscanyTile2 said:

Awesome post!  Quick question though.  Didn't Calvin Ridley leave the team for "mental well-being" reasons last year?  And future HOF HC Mike Tomlin had a major issue with Chase Claypool's attitude, no?

I feel like both these guys have major red flags.  I'm glad to hear "they don't want to sign a guy just to sign a guy" but I feel like both of these guys carry major risk.

Even with Tomlin's reservations about Claypool's attitude, Pittsburgh would ask for the moon in a Claypool trade. He's a talented receiver under contract, they'll probably lose Smith-Schuster and need three wide receivers plus Freirmuth to help whoever is quarterbacking them next season. Ridley or Cooper are probably more gettable in a trade than Claypool, IMO.

Not to mention the last wide receiver that the Jets acquired from the Steelers was a total head case.

[TuscanyTile2]

2 minutes ago, Aussie Jet said:

Even with Tomlin's reservations about Claypool's attitude, Pittsburgh would ask for the moon in a Claypool trade. He's a talented receiver under contract, they'll probably lose Smith-Schuster and need three wide receivers plus Freirmuth to help whoever is quarterbacking them next season. Ridley or Cooper are probably more gettable in a trade than Claypool, IMO.

Not to mention the last wide receiver that the Jets acquired from the Steelers was a total head case.

Fully agreed.  That was part of my thinking on both players actually (that we'd have to give up a lot to acquire them).  And that's a big part of my reservation about both. 

[OilfieldJet]

11 minutes ago, GreenFish said:

 

The only part that doesn't make sense to me is the OL. Agree with resigning Fant and McGovern. We got AVT. You’re saying they do not want to bench Becton and will likely play him at RT. Makes sense. That leaves one spot open…RG. If they sign a RG in FA, why would they go OL in the 1st? Giving up on Becton seems very premature. And using a 1st as insurance seems like an expensive hedge.

Drafting OL in Round 1 made the most sense to me.

[genot]

I think the name to keep an eye on  as I've said before. and mentioned by football guy is Travon Walker. Might have as much upside as any d lineman in the draft. Also very versatile.  Needs to be coached up a bit as an edge rusher. He has all the tools to be a real good one. Strong enough to play inside too.

[greenwichjetfan]

Really would love for Braxton to be back for depth and ST. Njoku needs to be prioritized not just for his freakish athleticism in the passing attack but also what he brings as a blocker. If Cooper shakes free, JD needs to open up the purse strings and go get him to give the entire offense a lift (makes Davis automatically better by allowing him to go against opposing CB2s, opens up the box on running plays, takes safety help away from other parts of the field which makes reads easier for Zach). 

These three moves alone will allow JD to focus the first 4 picks on the OL and defensive front 7 - which is exactly where the first 4 picks should go.

[Columbia Jet Fan]

Well I love Christian Watson so that was a great surprise at the end - would love to have him be our pick at 69 - and if we get him later - great! 

I would hate Jordan Davis - like HATE - really hope that doesn't happen. Mostly b/c of this: 

 

 

As far as the EDGE discussion is concerned. I am somewhat confused about JFM. I thought of JFM as more of an inside player who played edge this year due to injuries. I always thought he was maybe an edge on early/rushing downs and an inside rusher on passing downs. If the Jets view him as LE - OK - but between the contracts for Lawson and JFM's extension - it seems really sh*tty that we'd have to use presumably pick #10 (maybe a trade down but still a first rounder) on someone like Jermaine Johnson or George K. Like I get the rotation and all but to have two premium contracts w/ 2+ years remaining plus a first rounder on one position where only two guys will be on the field at once seems like a poor use of resources. Stack the line all you want - but premium contracts + premium draft picks just to be a part of a rotation seems kinda iffy. 

 

 

[k-met57]

i like Njoku, but we better not go into next year relying on him as THE guy. they need a room of capable TE's....right now they have 0.

[Peace Frog]

48 minutes ago, Aussie Jet said:

Even with Tomlin's reservations about Claypool's attitude, Pittsburgh would ask for the moon in a Claypool trade. He's a talented receiver under contract, they'll probably lose Smith-Schuster and need three wide receivers plus Freirmuth to help whoever is quarterbacking them next season. Ridley or Cooper are probably more gettable in a trade than Claypool, IMO.

Not to mention the last wide receiver that the Jets acquired from the Steelers was a total head case.

I’ve heard Claypool is a total headcase. Loved him pre-draft. 

Do not want. 

[Drums]

Ive warmed on Njoku so hopefully that works out, otherwise I don’t see that unit improving much over last year. 

[Jimmy 2 Times]

1 hour ago, Dcat said:

acquiring Ridley and Njoku and signing Berrios would make me a VERY happy Jets fan.

Especially if they can add Ruckert in the draft. 

[rangerous]

it's all hard to say.  we've just seen a superbowl where both teams had pretty average olines.  the bungles couldn't keep burrow upright and the rams couldn't run the ball.  and the rams were starting a 40 year old left tackle.  so maybe the jets oline isn't looking quite so bad and doesn't really need to use a high draft pick on either a guard or tackle.  imo they need to get impact players, either edge or wr.  probably edge at 4 and wr at 10.  they can use the later rounds to fill out the oline depth and maybe get a future starter.

[Green Ghost]

Njoku is one of those players who look the part, but rarely perform like it.

He’s had ample opportunities to become TE #1 in Cleveland, and never did. In fact, the Browns were forced to look for upgrades.

I can see the Jets kicking the tires with him, but I’d much prefer they look to fill this spot in the draft, and pass on signing Njoku. We have too many issues to gamble big $$$ that the light finally comes on for him.

[32EBoozer]

11 hours ago, Larz said:

I don’t usually read long posts lol

but

 

So you have never read @Sperm Edwards posts?

[NIGHT STALKER]

Lot's of work, time and thought went into this OP's guide to FA and draft...very much appreciated by most on here...thank you!  Let's hope that JD hits the Jets "lottery" this off season...so many holes to fill before we can even be mentioned in the same breath in our own division, never mind the entire league.

[Greenseed4]

I’m starting to see DeMarvin Leal drop into the second round. Between him and Perrion Winfrey… 

I could see going Edge in round 1 (I really think it will be Jermaine Johnson at #4 when it is all said and done, post-combine), and then DT at the top of the 2nd, and that’s a wrap on D-Line.  Maybe grab Mafe with a later 2nd if we can trade back from #10 and get an extra pick. 
 

 

[doitny]

so let me get this straight.  JD admires Buffalo and Balt 2 teams that drafted one (Buff) and 2 (Balt) OL in the 1st rd since 2009. but can draft OL every year and is going to draft a 3rd OL for the 3rd year in a row in rd 1? 

then he doesnt admire them. he admires the Detroit Lions who drafted 6 OL in rd 1 since 2008. and we all know how bad that organization is.

if he does it again he needs to go. the best teams, the SB teams and not just this year but for the last 22 years dont draft OL in rd 1. 

 

[Beerfish]

A rather large issue I have re the dline actions is this.

"Oh we value a 7,8,9 man rotation"....so lets draft a dline high so he can sit his ass on the bench for 40% of the snaps or lets draft a great run stuffing dline that we can take out after two down every series.   Quinnen williams was at 51%, JF myers 61% of snaps.

If you draft a guy high he needs to be out there most every snap.

Glad to hear that TE is a priority but I'll believe it when i see it.  I am sure we will sign a guy but we need to draft two more.

[doitny]

5 minutes ago, 32EBoozer said:

So you have never read aSo you have never read @Sperm Edwards posts?

he dont write long posts, he writes novels