Joe Douglas has not had a splashy week to start out free company however he has crammed some holes and completed it with out handing out any loopy contracts, in contrast to a few of his fellow common managers.
The strikes have left the Jets with two large holes remaining on the roster — a No. 2 wide receiver and a starting offensive lineman, most likely at left deal with.
Douglas must fill a type of two holes with a stable participant who could be a main contributor to the 2024 Jets after which he can plug the opposite gap with a depth signing now and discover a starter within the first spherical of the NFL draft.
If Douglas can pull that off, the 2024 Jets offense needs to be a lot improved from the 2023 model. That can also be relying on Aaron Rodgers being wholesome and never campaigning in Kalamazoo when the Jets are taking part in in Buffalo.
The free-agent market at deal with has been very quiet and the one at extensive receiver has been expensive on the prime, with Calvin Ridley touchdown $23 million per 12 months from the Titans, however the second tier ought to have some bargains.
Douglas additionally may go the commerce route like he did to land Morgan Moses because the workforce’s new proper deal with. Trades are onerous to foretell and I don’t see the Jets making a significant transfer like buying and selling for Tee Higgins, however Douglas may have the ability to discover somebody to solidify his line or be the complement to Garrett Wilson within the receivers room.
At receiver, Mike Williams is the highest free agent after the Chargers lower him unfastened on Wednesday. Williams goes to show 30 in October and is coming off an ACL tear. These components may make him inexpensive. At 6-foot-4 and with the flexibility to make contested catches, he appears like a great match if his contract calls for are usually not loopy.
The opposite prime free-agent receivers are Marquise Brown, Odell Beckham Jr. and Tyler Boyd. The Jets tried to signal Beckham final April earlier than he signed with the Ravens they usually may revisit that. Boyd appears to be in style with Jets followers however he could be extra of a No. 3 than a No. 2 receiver.
The Jets may go for a No. 3 receiver in free company after which draft somebody to be the No. 2. There was additionally information Thursday that Corey Davis has utilized for reinstatement after surprisingly retiring final 12 months. The Jets will launch him, however they might re-sign him on a less expensive deal.
If the Jets do go together with Davis or Boyd, I believe these are extra depth signings than splash signings, after which they higher agency up the offensive line to allow them to draft a prime receiver with the No. 10 choose.
At deal with, Tyron Smith, who was thought of the highest deal with accessible firstly of free company, stays in the marketplace. He’s 33 years previous, which can scare off the Jets after they lived with the Duane Brown damage problems with the final two years. However Smith performed 13 video games for the Cowboys final 12 months and his costs have to be dropping with every passing day.
If the Jets make the splash at receiver, then they need to signal a depth participant at deal with earlier than drafting a starter subsequent month.
If the Jets have discovered something from the previous few years, it’s you may’t have sufficient offensive linemen. So, the Jets can add a deal with now and nonetheless draft one subsequent month.
The mission for Douglas this offseason was to repair the offense. We received’t know if he has completed that mission till video games are performed, however his strikes this week have been low danger and do have potential upside.
Now, he has to complete it off by fixing a type of two obtrusive holes on the roster.
