Coming into the 2021-22 season the New York Jets have a lot of question marks. They answered one of those by firing Adam Gase and bringing in Robert Saleh. He was the defensive coordinator of the 49ers over the last four seasons and will get his first head coaching gig in NY. The Jets have the second overall pick and also the second most cap space in what is a very talented free agency class. There continue to be Deshaun Watson rumors floating around as the Jets have the assets to pay the high price tag, but Houston and New York have yet to have any sort of formal contact. Jets fans can dream and odds would certainly shoot up if they landed him.
New York Jets DraftKings Odds For Super Bowl +8000
What To Do At Quarterback?
What To Do At Quarterback?The Jets are likely to move on from Sam Darnold, whether that be a trade or pushing him to a backup role. Plenty of offseason articles have the Jets taking a quarterback at number two or entertaining the thought of Deshaun Watson playing in green. The Jets have the third-worst odds to win the Super Bowl. They are in a mix of other teams that have question marks at quarterback and are looking to also address those needs this offseason. Now Trevor Lawrence is likely going to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which leaves Justin Fields and Zach Wilson to be the quarterbacks available for the Jets to take at two. There are going to be some reports that the Jets could go a different route but if that is the case, it means they are trading for Deshaun Watson. He is the only player that could turn the Jets into a legitimate threat, where a rookie is going to have to still deal with an up and down offensive line.
Strengths & Weaknesses
There are not a ton of strengths within this team just yet but letting Adam Gase go was a big step in the right direction. The receiving core isn’t made of household names but this isn’t the worst receiving core to step into if you are a new quarterback. Denzel Mims dealt with injury struggles in the first half of his rookie season but he finished the year strong in what was an awful situation for a rookie wideout. Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder have also evolved into viable pass-catchers. The offensive line is still in need of a major repair but Mekhi Becton looks to have a bright future and the Jets can continue to address these needs in the offseason. The defense was good against the run last year, as they have a decent front seven but could benefit from a more stout pass rush.
New York is going to want to find some sort of run game this offseason, as Perine, Gore, and Ty Johnson are the backs currently on the roster. This is another draft with a deep running back class and the Jets will have some options even in the mid-rounds. There are also plenty of wide receivers in this class and in free agency if they really want to get assertive and put a true alpha on this team. The secondary is in need of some help, as they ranked 28th against the pass last season and were shredded through the air.
Prediction
Of course, this prediction will change if my offseason predictions for the Jets acquisitions are incorrect. Despite the Patriots falling off a cliff, the AFC East is very tough. Miami and Buffalo are both putting distance between themselves and the rest of the division. If the Saleh hire can draw some free agents in year one and the Jets splash some cash, they can be a competitive team. Barring a Watson trade, this group will not be a playoff team. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them find a core for the future and find a way to 5-6 wins behind a changing identity in New York and an improved roster.
