Jets GM Joe Douglas has stressed the importance of maintaining financial flexibility despite his club’s significant amount of cap space, and Brian Costello of the New York Post hears from several agents that Gang Green is unlikely to be a major player for this year’s top FAs. However, Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (subscription required) are hearing something a bit different.
The ESPN scribes expect Douglas — who needs to demonstrate tangible progress in his fourth year at the top of the Jets’ front office — to make a few high-profile signings. Graziano confirms earlier reports that New York is interested in center Ryan Jensen, and he adds that the Jets are in on 49ers DT D.J. Jones. Tight end and safety are also priorities.
Fowler, meanwhile, reports that the Jets are prepared to “spend big” on a premier cornerback. J.C. Jackson is generally viewed as the best CB available, though Costello says New York is not expected to be involved in the bidding for Jackson. Carlton Davis, whom Spotrac believes is in line for a five-year pact worth roughly $100MM, could be an option after the Bucs opted against putting the franchise tag on him.
The Jets believe that their young collection of corners, which includes recent Day 3 draftees like Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols, and Michael Carter II, have plenty of promise, but they clearly need a true CB1 to anchor the group. Jackson and Davis certainly fit the bill, though signing either player will put a damper on the flexibility that Douglas covets. Plus, as Costello observes, the Jets’ two top-10 draft choices will receive significant upfront signing bonuses, which will further limit the cash that Douglas has to throw around.
The Jets appear to be at least a year away from true contention, but again, Douglas may need to show some improvement to keep his job. That does not mean that he will spend wildly, but it’s probably fair to expect a little more activity than his recent comments on the matter would suggest.
Trade for James Bradbury. Giants give you him for a 4th round pick. He’s a good player and solid veg for the young guys and not ridiculously expensive
A flyer on Bradberry is fine, but they should be aiming higher for a CB1 than Giants leftovers.
Bradbury is really good. Not Giants leftovers. He’d already be CB1 on the Jets.
Bradberry’s solid. He’s not as good as Carlton Davis or JC Jackson, he’s older than both, and there are also strong CB prospects in the draft. Being better than their current guys isn’t a huge accomplishment.
The team with the second most cap space might spend big on one of the weakest position groups on any team in the league. One would hope.
Enough of this click bait article writing…his job is not in jeopardy
“Clickbait” would mean something misleading in the headline to generate views (in other words, not what we have here). The Jets are 13-36 in Douglas’ three years at the helm (although he was hired after the draft in 2019). It makes sense that his job wouldn’t have been in jeopardy to this point because of the nature of the rebuild, but if the Jets are bad again in 2022? Especially if Wilson doesn’t improve? I’d think he’d be squarely on the hot seat, but it’s not just my opinion.
Douglas inherited a hot mess wrapped inside of a dumpster fire. When he took the job the Jets were 3 years away from being 3 years away. He appears to be getting the ship righted, but probably won’t see significant improvements til 2023.