Will Saleh Get the Jets to Soar?

Team Overview: The Jets weren’t expected to be phenomenal this season. However, the improvement appeared scarce, which raised concerns about the team and coaching staff. At the close of the regular season, the Jets had allowed the most points, let the most first downs, allowed the highest scoring percentage to opposing teams, created the second-fewest turnovers, all under defensive-minded Head Coach Robert Saleh. This season, Zach Wilson was constantly under pressure after being sacked 44 times (3rd most) and accumulating 370 sack yards (T-1st). In the thirteen games Wilson appeared in, not everything was terrible. From Week 13 to the end of the season, Wilson threw three touchdowns and zero interceptions and added two additional scores on the ground. While Wilson clearly showed development closer to the end of the season, continuing to surround him with a healthy offensive line and weapons will be a priority this offseason. However, Saleh and Douglas’ primary focus will be using their assets to shape the defense into Saleh’s image.

Pre Free Agency: The Jets have assets and money at their disposal going into this offseason, which puts them in a prime position to improve this team immediately. However, there are still a few veterans on big contracts that the Jets should cut, like Sheldon Rankins (saving around $4.9M), Greg Van Roten (saving $3.5M), and Ryan Griffin (saving around $3M). Next, they should look into re-signing free agents Braxton Berrios (3yrs, $13M) with one void year, Dan Feeny (2yrs, $10M), Mike White (3yrs, $7.5M), and tendering Elijah Riley and Javelin Guidry.

Free Agency: After resigning their free agents and making minor cap adjustments, the Jets should have around $53M to spend on free agents to upgrade the team. Since defense will be an area of focus for the Jets to upgrade this offseason, available veterans I expect them to pursue are D.J. Jones (3yrs, $21.75M – IDL San Francisco), J.C. Jackson (4yrs, $72.5M – CB Patriots) with one void year, Quandre Diggs (2yrs $23.5M), and Equanimeous St. Brown (2yrs, $3.75M). Besides that, I expect the Jets to carry over as much cap as possible into next season to sign their draft class, and put towards next free agency.

Draft: Thanks to the Seattle Seahawks and the Jamal Adams trade, the Jets will have an extra first-round draft pick this year. Fortunately for New York, the Seahawks selection was lower than expected, with Seattle underperforming this year, and the pick fell to tenth overall. Although they could use that to select two top ten talents, I have the Jets moving with Philadelphia to acquire more assets. The Jets acquired the 15th and 19th selections for the 10th and 68th in the 2022 Draft. Later in the draft, because of trading the 68th pick, the Jets wouldn’t have a selection from 38 until 108. There are many talented players in the early-middle rounds of the draft, and the Jets need to add as much talent as possible. The Jets acquired the 54th, and 86th picks from the Raiders in exchange for the 38th pick and a future 2023 6th round selection. Besides that, this is the Jets draft haul…

1-4: Kyle Hamilton (S Notre Dame)

1-15: Nakobe Dean (LB Georgia)

1-19: Tyler Linderbaum (IOL Iowa)

2-36: Devonte Wyatt (DL Georgia)

2-54: Trey McBride (TE Colorado State)

3-86: Skyy Moore (WR Western Michigan)

4-108: Marcus Jones (CB Houston)

4-114: Dylan Parham (OL Memphis)

5-145: Jarrett Patterson (IOL Notre Dame)

5-161: Eyioma Uwazirkie (EDGE Iowa State)

Projected Starting Lineup:

Final Review: The Jets will prioritize getting faster and adding playmakers on defense. In this draft scenario, the Jets add the versatile defensive weapon Kyle Hamilton, Nakobe Dean, and Devonte Wyatt early in the draft. The Jets can also add protection around Zach Wilson as an investment in their long-term future in the draft by grabbing Linderbaum, Parham, and Patterson. The Jets shouldn’t be afraid to spend big money this offseason, and adding veterans to secure their secondary will be a reasonable allocation of those resources. J.C. Jackson and Quandre Diggs are playmakers who will improve their secondary. D.J. Jones will compliment Williams and be familiar with Saleh since he came into the league with San Francisco in 2017. Saleh and Douglas will be working on getting the personnel Saleh wants for his ideal defense, and that will be headlined with versatile defenders with high motors. This offseason puts the Jets in a position to be competitive for a wild card spot next season, and I’m excited to see how they construct this team in year two of their rebuild.