2020 New York Jets Offseason Plan

Team Needs:

  EDGE, CB, WR, OT, C, TE, G, RB

Available Draft Picks:

1.11, 2.48, 3.68, 3.79, 4.117, 5.158, 6.191, 6.211

Starting Cap Space:

$51,882,397

Trades:

NYJ trades picks 1.11, 3.68, and 2021 2nd to CAR for pick 1.7

With the Jets trading up to #7 overall, they get a chance to grab a top tackle in the class while only giving up one more pick in this year’s class. Carolina accumulates another pick this year and next to help them speed up their current rebuild/retool.

Restructures:

None

Cuts:

LB Avery Williamson to save $6,500,000

CB Trumaine Johnson to save $3,000,000

CB Darryl Roberts to save $5,812,500

WR Josh Bellamy to save $1,340,000

With the flashes that we’ve seen from Blake Cashman and the expected improvement with a full NFL offseason, I think Williamson becomes expendable. Cashman offers better coverage skills and more athleticism while also being younger and cheaper. Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts are both defensive backs who haven’t performed anywhere close to the value of their contracts and these are just too big of numbers to keep on the bench. Josh Bellamy isn’t terrible but he leaves a lot to be desired and you could get better for cheaper so there is no real reason to keep him around.

Re-signings:

LB Jordan Jenkins for 3 years, $21,600,000 ($16M GTD)

CB Brian Poole for 3 years, $10,500,000 ($8M GTD)

WR Demaryius Thomas for 1 year, $2,500,000 ($0 GTD)

K Sam Ficken for 1 year, $735,000 (ERFA)

DB Bennett Jackson for 1 year, $660,000 (ERFA)

Bringing back Jordan Jenkins and Brian Poole should be the top priorities when it comes to re-signings this offseason. Poole has been an under-the-radar top nickel corner since he got into the NFL while Jordan Jenkins has improved year-to-year and looks to be in-line for a breakout 2020 campaign. Damaryius Thomas would be brought back more for veteran presence than anything else, but the hope is that he can help a young receiver added in the draft while also being able to contribute to the offense.

Bringing back Sam Ficken would cost the league minimum he can make for a potential starting kicker for another season with no cap to cut if he loses to Brett Maher. Bennett Jackson is a solid depth piece at that price who is capable of moving all over the secondary.

Free Agent Signings:

CB Trae Waynes for 4 years, $34,400,000 ($25M GTD)

OT Jack Conklin for 5 years, $90,000,000 ($78M GTD)

G Ronald Leary for 1 year, $5,000,000 ($2.75M GTD)

C Stefen Wisniewski for 1 year, $2,400,000 ($1.5M GTD)

While there weren’t many depth signings made by the Jets in this scenario, starter holes were filled and the offensive line was addressed about as good as it could be. Bringing in Trae Waynes gives the Jets both an immediate replacement and upgrade over Trumaine Johnson. Waynes came into his own recently in Minnesota and is capable of playing press-man, off-man, and zone coverage.

Trading up to add a tackle in the first round means that with four new starters along the offensive line, once they find some chemistry, the Jets will actually have a solid offensive line in front of Darnold and Bell. Ronald Leary and Stefen Wisniewski are being brought in as veteran leaders who could step in as immediate starters on the offensive line on fairly reasonable contracts.

Draft Results:

Pick 1.7 – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Following his dominant Combine performance, Tristan Wirfs has significantly improved his already high draft stock. There’s no guarantee he’ll be available at 7 but this is his wheelhouse if you ask me. Drafting your franchise left tackle to bookend the line with Conklin is going to help this offense for the next decade.

Pick 2.48 – Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

Igbinoghene has one of the highest ceilings in the 2020 NFL Draft. As a converted receiver, he’s still got plenty of things to learn technique wise but with his athleticism and what we’ve seen flashes of already, I wouldn’t be surprised if he developed into a stud within a year or two.

Pick 3.79 – Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Florida

While he isn’t one of the bigger names in this class, Jonathan Greenard is someone who just knows how to get the job done off the edge. A relentless pass-rusher who prefers to fight his way around blockers rather than beat them technically, Greenard will need some fine-tuning but he’s plenty capable to step in immediately as a contributor.

Pick 4.117 – Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State

Hodgins is one of the more under-the-radar names in the draft, but he’s a versatile receiving option great ball skills. His release and route-running need some work and his speed will limit him, but he can get open and win contested catches more often than not. Hodgins has the catch-in-traffic ability to start immediately at the next level before becoming a higher tier starter.

Pick 5.158 – Zach Shackelford, C, Texas

While signing Stefen Wisniewski was a decent stop-gap option, he won’t be the long-term answer at center. Shackelford is an intelligent center that excels as a pass protector but lacks the mobility to be relied on as a puller often, which will keep him exclusively at center and not at guard.

Pick 6.191 – Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State

Evans is a talented back who excels as a one-cut runner who had zero fumbles on 482 college carries. He shouldn’t (and won’t) be expected to shoulder the load offensively but with his versatility as a runner, receiver, and blocker he could step in on any down to spell Le’Veon Bell. Evans also offers some kick return ability should the Jets need it.

Pick 6.211 – Sterling Hofrichter, P, Syracuse

With the team not re-signing Lachlan Edwards and only having Ian Berryman on roster, it makes sense to bring in a punter who can flip the field with ease. Drafting Hofrichter gives the Jets control over a cheap punter for the next four years and he can step in as kicker in case of emergency.

Cap Space Spent on Re-signings:

$14,595,000

Cap Space Spent on Free Agents:

$34,000,000

Cap Space Spent on Draft Picks:

$9,322,329

Total Cap Remaining:

$10,617,568

Backfield

QB: Sam Darnold

RB: Le’Veon Bell

Pass Catchers

WR: Quincy Enunwa

WR: Isaiah Hodgins

Slot: Jamison Crowder

TE1: Christopher Herndon IV

TE2: Ryan Griffin

Offensive Line

LT: Tristan Wirfs

LG: Ronald Leary

C: Stefen Wisniewski

RG: Brian Winters

RT: Jack Conklin

Defensive Line

DE: Quinnen Williams

NT: Steve McLendon

DE: Henry Anderson

Linebacker Starters

OLB: Jordan Jenkins

ILB: CJ Mosley

ILB: Blake Cashman

OLB: Jonathan Greenard

Secondary Starters

CB: Trae Waynes

CB: Bless Austin/Noah Igbinoghene

Nickel: Brian Poole

S: Jamal Adams

S: Marcus Maye

Special Teamers

K: Sam Ficken/Brett Maher

P: Sterling Hofrichter/Ian Berryman

KOS: Sam Ficken

LS: Thomas Hennessy

KR: Darrynton Evans

PR: Braxton Berrios