The Jets were able to upgrade on both sides of the ball this offseason despite mostly handing out one-year and low-risk deals.
Joe Douglas added a bunch of players with something to prove, though some moves have gone under the radar more than others. After all, not everyone has the resumes that Joe Flacco or Frank Gore do. Nor have some players received the spotlight that top draft picks Mekhi Becton and Denzel Mims have received.
With that said, let’s take a look at four of the Jets’ most overlooked offseason moves.
WR Josh Doctson
A former first-round pick out of TCU, Doctson flamed out in Washington and played just seven snaps in Minnesota before he was released. The potential with Doctson has always been there. However, he’s never been able to put it together, mostly due to suffering multiple injuries since he entered the league in 2016.
In February, Joe Douglas gave the 27-year-old wideout a one-year deal. Doctson is the type of low-risk, high-reward player that has an opportunity to make an impact, especially when considering the lack of talent and depth at wide receiver.
CB Quincy Wilson
In desperate need of a change of scenery, Quincy Wilson was granted a fresh start with the Jets.
Wilson saw consistent playing time in Indianapolis’ press-man coverage system in 2017 and 2018. He recorded a 68.3 and 67.8 Pro Football Focus grade, respectively, over his first two seasons in the league. The Colts switched to a zone-scheme after that, however, thus making Wilson a less than ideal fit. He fell out of favor in Indianapolis after his production took a noticeable dip.
Now, back in a better system under Gregg Williams, Wilson has an opportunity to receive significant snaps as New York’s No. 2 corner in 2020.
LB Patrick Onwuasor
The Jets added Patrick Onwuasor as insurance to an already crowded linebacker room.
On the surface, Onwuasor is a depth piece, but his arrival certainly puts Avery Williamson on notice. Williamson will be given an opportunity to make the team in training camp, but he’s also a likely cap casualty.
As for Onwuasor, he’s attempting to bounce back after a disappointing 2019 season. Onwuasor was supposed to mitigate the loss of C.J. Mosley in Baltimore, but he flopped when asked to replace his former teammate. During training camp, Onwuasor will be given a chance to play next to Mosley again in a scheme he once thrived in.
OL Alex Lewis
Alex Lewis returned to New York on a three-year, $18.6 million deal that includes $6 million guaranteed.
Lewis was viewed as the Jets’ short-term fix at left guard last season after he replaced Kelechi Osemele after just three games. Now there’s a chance for him to retain a starting job on either side. He’ll have competition from Greg Van Roten on the left and Brian Winters, another potential cap casualty, on the right.
While Lewis’ career has been plagued by injuries and penalties — he incurred six flags during the 2019 campaign — he’s still a valuable depth piece even if he doesn’t end up starting.
