With the Jets’ regular season complete, it’s time to look ahead to their first offseason under general manager Joe Douglas.
Douglas was hired by the Jets in June after the team fired Mike Maccagnan in May. However, Douglas couldn’t implement the players he really wanted with free agency and the draft already in the past. He made a few moves, including signing Ryan Kalil — which was a failure — and trading Leonard Williams to the Giants.
Now his work is cut out for him with free agency and the draft looming. Let’s take a look at what Douglas had to say at his season-ending press conference on Tuesday.
No commitment Le’Veon Bell will be back
Adam Gase said on Monday to ask Douglas if he wanted Le’Veon Bell back and we still don’t have a definitive answer.
Douglas said that his personal experience with Bell has been very positive, but hesitated to say whether or not Bell will be back in 2020. Douglas said that if a team calls about Bell’s availability, he will listen as he does on any player. Douglas doesn’t know how those trade conversations would go, though.
It sounds like there is a 50-50 shot that Bell does get dealt in the offseason. If he gets the right value for Bell and that team will take his contract, Douglas will pull the trigger. If not, Douglas seems more than happy to keep Bell for another season.
Will Jamal Adams will receive an extension?
Douglas praised Jamal Adams for his play this season, but wouldn’t get into if the Jets want to offer him a new contract.
Douglas said the Jets are beginning the process of evaluating each player on the roster. He didn’t say no to offering Adams a new contract a year before it expires, which could mean he is generally open to the idea of it.
As for Adams’ trade rumors during the deadline, Douglas said they were never serious about moving him.
Robby Anderson knows how valued he is
Robby Anderson is set to be an unrestricted free agent, but Douglas wouldn’t get into if the team wants him back.
Douglas did say that Anderson “knows how valued he is here.” Anderson had a great final stretch of the season and finished with 779 yards and five touchdowns.
Anderson has already said he is going to test the market before he re-signs with the Jets and the expectation is that he’ll receive between $13-$15 million annually.
Strong finish a reason for hope
Despite the Jets playing a cupcake schedule down the stretch, Douglas didn’t think it was luck.
He praised Gase and his staff for being able to keep the team together despite a 1-7 start to the season. Douglas said that not many teams finish the season 6-2 after starting 1-7.
The team did handle adversity really well toward the second half of the season and they’re going to use this finish as a “launchpad” for 2020.
Strong core of players
Douglas does believe the Jets have a foundation of players that they can build around in the offseason.
Jamal Adams is obviously one of them, as is Sam Darnold. You can add Marcus Maye to that list after his strong bounce-back season. Jordan Jenkins, Quinnen Williams, Jamison Crowder, Steve McLendon are also guys that have proven to be a part of this core of players that the Jets want to keep around.
It’ll be up to Douglas and the front office to build around this core by adding players in free agency and the draft.
