Any objective look at Joe Douglas will tell you that the Jets GM has done some good and bad at the helm for Gang Green. As is the case with any GM in the history (and future) of the NFL, there are plenty of misses, but there are also more high level hits than you would see from most.
For example, the Jets have some of the most talented young players in the NFL at their respective positions in Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Jermaine Johnson, Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Quincy Williams and Joe Tippmann, who was named to the NFL’s all-rookie team this past season.
However, Joe Douglas’ 2023 off-season was his worst to date. There were plenty of missteps that fans should hope he identifies and avoids repeating in the future. Which mistakes should Douglas be looking to avoid?
Don’t use a First Round Pick on a Backup:
When a team is “all in” as the Jets were in 2023 (and still are in 2024), its most valuable resources should be used on day 1 immediate impact players. Douglas didn’t do that last year.
Despite needing upgrades on offense, the Jets used their first round pick on defensive end Will McDonald. From the Joe Douglas made the pick it was obvious that his playing time would be limited. This isn’t’ to say McDonald won’t be a great player because we believe he will. However, selecting him to be a rotational player over a pass catcher was a mistake. Because Aaron Rodgers was injured so early on, it’s a mistake that has been forgotten or overlooked by most fans.
Having gone out in free agency to secure their five starters along the offensive line with Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses as their tackles, using another premium pick to select a potential backup would be foolish.
Douglas isn’t in the midst of building a contender for the future. He is tasked with doing something meaningful in 2024. Be it a playoff appearance or perhaps even a playoff win or two. If he were to come up short of that goal with a first round pick on his roster who may not see more than a handful of reps, it would be malpractice on his part. He has to find a day 1 contributor with this selection.
A tackle outside of round 1 or perhaps even in a trade down scenario should be where the Jets are looking to boost the O-line while looking to add veteran depth in a player such as Cam Fleming. This brings us to our next point.
Have a better plan for depth at tackle:
Joe Douglas took some risks at tackle last year and his backup plan blew up when injuries became unmanageable. Entering the season with Duane Brown and Mekhi Becton was the risk. The backup plan of moving Alijah Vera-Tucker to tackle and backfilling his spot with Wes Schweitzer fell apart when Brown, Vera-Tucker and Schweitzer all got injured.
Bringing in the aforementioned Smith and Moses is big, and Carter Warren having some experience under his belt helps. But Douglas can’t stop now. If he can manage to convince David Bakhtiari to be a backup tackle or add a player such as Cam Fleming, it would be a far better situation all-around on the O-line.
Keep the wheel:
After trading for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Douglas went out of his way to keep the QB happy and acquired everyone Rodgers coveted. That’s how the Jets ended up wasting millions of dollars in cap space and several roster spots on Dalvin Cook, Randall Cobb, Billy Turner, Tim Boyle and possibly Allen Lazard.
In the case of Lazard, it could be argued that the Jets would have pursued him with or without Rodgers as receiver was a need and Lazard was the best of a bad free agent bunch.
The fact that the Jets didn’t sign David Bakhtiari the second free agency started and that they later discussed Lazard in a trade suggests Douglas is putting Rodgers’ feelings on the back burner for now.
Add more talent at wide receiver:
Douglas was too passive at wide receiver last season. Even after adding Lazard, Corey Davis’ injury history was significant enough to suggest another receiver should be added. He passed on free agent DeAndre Hopkins and ignored the position in the draft.
Undrafted free agents Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson flashed as rookies but Joe Douglas should have added another veteran who had more gas left in the tank than Cobb.
The lack of a plan at backup quarterback is often mentioned as a Douglas flub but there have been whispers that the decision to go with a vet minimum type of QB came not from Douglas, but from over his head where the team didn’t want to spend big on a third quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers and Zach Wilson.
Some progress has been made by Douglas this off-season and if he avoids repeating some of his past mistakes, the Jets should be in position to snap their dreadful 13-year playoff drought.
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