It sucks to be a Jets fan after the team engaged in a season-long mission in 2016 to embarrass themselves. From going 10-6 in 2015, the Jets went 5-11 the following campaign, which could be best defined by a Ryan Fitzpatrick interceptions video montage. The Jets were plain bad on the offensive side of the ball, ranking 30th in scoring offense and 26th in total yards. The defense offered did nothing to salvage some pride for the team, as the Jets were 28th in scoring defense.
Top Free Agency Needs
The Jets played three quarterbacks last season. All of them were bad. Fitzpatrick couldn’t stop himself from throwing interceptions. Bryce Petty wasn’t effective at times when the Jets got tired of Fitzpatrick. Geno Smith, who is about to be a free agent like Fitzpatrick, did barely anything on the field. The Jets are begging for a new quarterback and they could find one in free agency or via a trade.
Kirk Cousins is set to be a free agent this March and the likes of Tony Romo and Jay Cutler appear to be on the trading block. Signing a new quarterback or any free agents/draftees, however, isn’t going to be easy at least financially for the Jets, who are over the cap by over $7 million.
Some moves will have to made by the Jets this offseason to make some cap space room. They could start by doing away with Darrelle Revis, who clearly is no longer the shutdown corner he once was. Or the Jets could also release Sheldon Richardson, who’s a lightning rod of off-the-field issues.
Top Draft Needs
Quarterback. To see Fitzpatrick throw 17 picks on the season and Petty add seven more were enough reasons for the Jets to salivate for a new quarterback. The Jets could spend their no. 6 overall pick in the draft by getting any of the highly touted quarterbacks in Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer, and Mitch Trubisky.
Center. Nick Mangold can’t be good forever so the Jets will have to find a center for the future.
Offensive Tackle. The Jets could use some help in the trenches. As implied earlier, Mangold isn’t getting any younger plus the Jets are still feeling the retirement of D’Brickashaw Ferguson back in 2015.
