Joe Douglas is in the building.
The Jets hired the former Eagles VP of player personnel Friday after firing GM Mike Maccagnan earlier this offseason. Douglas will be tasked with reshaping the Jets team with head coach Adam Gase, who had served as interim GM since May 15.
There are many issues Douglas will need to solve as soon as he walks into One Jets Drive. Here are the top four things on his to-do list.
Cornerback depth
One of the hallmarks of the Eagles’ championship run, when Douglas was there in 2017, was their secondary depth. Philadelphia had five fantastic cornerbacks who helped shut down offenses when it won the Super Bowl.
The Jets have one competent starter in Trumaine Johnson, and even he left much to be desired in 2018. Behind Johnson, Darryl Roberts, Brian Poole and Parry Nickerson do not inspire confidence. Douglas would be wise to try and acquire cornerback talent before the start of the 2019 season.
Offensive line depth
The center position is an obvious hole. Jonotthan Harrison very well may prove to be a solid starter, but he could also be another disappointment in the middle of the Jets offensive line.
It may be too late to find a better center, but Douglas could surely find usable offensive line depth around the league. The Jets’ starters are usable, but if one goes down with injuries, Sam Darnold’s protection will be at risk. Without a stable offensive line, Darnold and Le’Veon Bell won’t be able to operate at their highest potential.
Douglas is a former offensive lineman, so he clearly understands the importance of a good line.
Figure out the pass rush
The Jets still don’t know what they’re doing at pass rusher and Douglas will need to identify the long-term answer to one of the most important positions in football.
A combination of Jordan Jenkins, Brandon Copeland, and third-round rookie Jachai Polite probably isn’t the answer. With Jenkins and Copeland on the final years of their deals, Douglas will have all of the 2019 season to determine if he needs to find new talent or keep the existing lineup.
Deal with impending free agents
The 2020 offseason is far away, but there are a few big names on the Jets roster who are in line for bigger contracts at the end of the year.
Leonard Williams is on the final year of his rookie deal and needs a career season to prove he’s worth a sizable contract. The more pertinent issue, though, is wide receiver Robby Anderson, who signed his $3 million tender this offseason. Anderson has been the Jets’ best wide receiver the past three seasons and could be in line for a breakout year in 2019.
