Predicting New York Jets' Biggest Roster Moves This Offseason
Teams are either preparing for the playoffs, competing for a playoff berth or mulling over offseason decisions. At 3-12, it’s clear the New York Jets have a lot of thinking to do when this season concludes.
The franchise is on the cusp of having the lowest win total since 1996, when the Jets were 1-15 under head coach Rich Kotite. Fast-forward to 2014 and the Jets have hit another low point. The head coach and front office are under siege with changes looming.
On the field, general manager John Idzik failed to equip Gang Green with sufficient talent in critical positions. Whether Idzik remains general manager or not, there are dire needs to fill on both sides of the ball.
What happens to Geno Smith and Percy Harvin? How can the Jets strengthen a mixture of an inexperienced and aging offensive line? Should the Jets sign free agents to anchor the pass defense? And finally, who does the front office select with a potential top-five draft pick?
Looking at the free-agent market, courtesy of Spotrac, potential draft prospects, via CBSSports.com and the Jets roster, here are the top five roster moves with multiple alternatives for Gang Green.
Strengthening the Offensive Line
1 of 5
The Jets’ offensive line wasn’t atrocious, but it needs reinforcement, specifically at guard. Willie Colon will be a free agent this offseason. Former third-round pick Brian Winters from Kent State struggled before he was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Offensive tackle Oday Aboushi filled in sufficiently out of position. Expect the Jets brass to use another mid-round draft pick on a guard who can play multiple positions on the offensive line. More importantly, the Jets will need another impact player at the position in case Winters continues to struggle in his third season.
Five-time Pro Bowler Nick Mangold and three-time Pro Bowler D’Brickashaw Ferguson are considered the anchors at the line of scrimmage. Breno Giacomini will continue to get acclimated in his second year in New York. At 31, Colon is expendable in favor of a cheaper, younger, more versatile guard out of the draft.
Signing Veteran Cornerbacks
2 of 5
Yes, this approach failed with veteran cornerback Dimitri Patterson, but it's a need that must be fulfilled. The Jets have inexperienced cornerbacks who will play significant roles next season. Dee Milliner has yet to prove he’s worth a ninth overall pick in two seasons riddled with injuries.
Former third-round pick Dexter McDougle was placed on injured reserve (IR) before the 2014 season began; he will see the field as a rookie, barring injury in 2015.
At age 22, Marcus Williams, an undrafted rookie had the best season of all the cornerbacks in New York. Opposing quarterbacks have a combined 86.1 NFL rating when targeting Williams in coverage, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He has allowed one touchdown within 238 snaps in coverage.
This young trio needs a productive veteran cornerback to lead by example. Tramon Williams will be a free agent this offseason and is a solid candidate to sign as the top cornerback in New York. He’s a Super Bowl champion, who has exemplified excellent play in the secondary in his eight-year career with the Green Bay Packers.
Some honorable mentions for impact defensive backs include: Perrish Cox (SF), Chris Culliver (SF) and Brandon Flowers (SD).
If the San Francisco 49ers' front office decides to blow up the roster, Culliver and Cox are two productive cornerbacks ripe for the picking. The two defensive backs were the backbone of the league's fifth-ranked pass defense, allowing 215.5 yards per game.
More Percy Harvin?
3 of 5
If the Jets decide to retain Harvin, he’ll be the highest-paid player on the roster on a yearly average. Harvin is a versatile wide receiver with the ability to impact the offense and special teams, but is he worth the remaining four years on his $64.245 million contract?
It’s a steep price for a wide receiver, who has yet to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season, is injury-prone (played 20 games in 3 seasons) and has a history of becoming a toxic in the locker room, per NFL sources via Kevin Patra of NFL.com.
Unless Harvin is willing to restructure his contract terms, the Jets should opt to draft high on a wide receiver. Barring a trade, New York will miss out on the last two Heisman winners, Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston.
Why not draft a standout wide receiver from Alabama? The last wide receiver from Alabama drafted in the top 10 was Julio Jones. The Atlanta Falcons haven’t won a Super Bowl with him, but it’s hard to see that franchise even coming close without him.
Amari Cooper is a solid pick for the Jets to place opposite Eric Decker on the field. Here are Cooper’s strengths based on Dane Brugler and Rob Rang's CBSSports.com report:
"Excellent quickness and balance to get a clean release against press coverage and to make defenders miss in space. Accelerates in a flash, generating the burst to gain separation from top cornerbacks.
Makes the spectacular reception look easy with terrific hand-eye coordination and awareness to high-point passes. Competitive blocker.
"
The receiver’s quickness would be coveted in the Jets offense. It’s an attribute Decker lacks on the field. The idea is to provide balance and favorable matchups for the quarterback.
Cooper can make an immediate contribution in the passing attack, and the Jets can avoid paying off Harvin’s lucrative contract. The excess cash has a purpose for a high-profile free-agent signing Gang Green should pursue, which will be discussed shortly.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Who’s the Quarterback? What About Geno Smith?
4 of 5
Smith will remain in New York. However, for the first time he should earn his starting position in Week 1.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but Smith’s teammates felt perhaps the team could have won more games with Michael Vick under center. According to CBSSports NFL writer Josh Katzowitz, running back Chris Johnson was one of those teammates; Johnson told the NY Daily News:
"Yeah, I think so. I think if he was starting from day one it would be totally different. He came in and his role was to help Geno develop and try to help him the best he can, but at the end of the day it turned out how it turned out and (we've) just got to live with it.
"
Johnson clearly states Vick’s role was to help Smith develop as a quarterback. This offseason should be different. The Jets need true competition in their quarterback camp. Smith is entering his third year with Gang Green and needs legitimate competition for the starting spot.
Current Washington Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy will be a free agent this offseason. McCoy showed flashes of talent reminiscent of his days at the University of Texas. He has played for three different teams with very limited opportunities.
Bringing in the fifth-year quarterback gives the Jets another option for the future. McCoy doesn’t have a strong arm, but he’s accurate with his throws. As a 60.3 percent career passer, Decker will have less of an excuse to drop passes. Furthermore, working with an accurate passer is an easier transition for a rookie receiver catching passes from an unfamiliar quarterback.
Gang Green should also look to draft Brett Hundley (UCLA) in the second round or Bryce Petty (Baylor) in the third round. Either college prospect can sit a year or two behind the starting signal-caller to learn the game and sharpen his skills in practice. There wouldn’t be a rush to start either quarterback unless he was impressive throughout training camp and the preseason.
Second- and third-round picks can be pleasant surprises and in some cases ready for the professional level. This season, Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders is a perfect example.
A three-way competition for the starting job would only help the Jets find the best QB on the roster. If Rex Ryan is fired, Smith could potentially show improvement under a new staff with new coaches assisting with his development.
The best-case scenario is Woody Johnson cleaning house. The position would be evaluated on a clean slate. Three quarterbacks, one position and the best player comes out on top of the depth chart.
Going After Ndamukong Suh
5 of 5
Picture the Jets’ solid defensive line adding Ndamukong Suh. He’s rushing quarterbacks and stuffing the run alongside Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson. Albeit, he comes from a 4-3 defensive front in Detroit; he’ll have to adjust a bit. The Jets can also opt to switch into a 4-3 attack, leaving Damon Harrison on the field and removing an inside linebacker.
The defending Super Bowl champions are proving to NFL gurus and fans that defense still matters in an offensively driven league. The Seattle Seahawks are most known for their stifling pass defense, but the team Suh currently plays for has propelled the franchise into the playoffs behind a strong defensive line.
Star wide receiver Calvin Johnson missed four games, but the Detroit Lions managed to go 4-0 in that stretch.
Signing Suh could form the best defensive line the NFL has witnessed in decades. A dominant front four with a power-rushing attack would take a load of pressure off the Jets quarterback. This negates the need to outscore the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck in the AFC.
According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter (via Ebenezer Samuel and Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News), the high-profile signing isn’t just a pipe dream. Suh has publicly expressed interest in playing for a New York franchise:
"Suh has told people in the past that he would love to play in New York, and the idea of it has huge appeal to him, league sources said.
If he were to take his talents to New York, either to the Jets or Giants, Suh knows how much it would mean for his brand and his profile, and it is something that if he hits the free-agent market this winter, when his contract is up, he will explore.
"
Assuming Suh’s interest was genuine and the Lions don’t win the Super Bowl, the Jets and New York Giants are the front-runners for his next destination. Suh will be an expensive signing, but the excess cash Idzik held onto this season could be useful in luring the dominant defensive tackle to Gang Green instead of Big Blue.
Player salaries and contract information provided by Spotrac.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
