Top offseason priority of Jets should be defensive secondary

The New York Jets need to have one singular focus during the offseason and that is to fix the defensive backfield.

In terms of the 2017 NFL Draft, and according to NFL.com, in no particular order, the top pressing needs for the New York Jets are at quarterback, outside linebacker, and cornerback.  In addition, in an article written by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, he says this:

The Jets are talented up front, but they’re still in need of an edge-bending rusher. Cornerback should be a high priority.

It’s understandable why people would think the Jets “need” an edge rusher.  They only had 27 sacks last season, which was the third-lowest total since sacks became an official stat in 1983.  This was also only the tenth time in 35 seasons that the Jets recorded fewer than 30 sacks.

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Football is the ultimate team game.  That means when one part of the team fails it causes a trickle-down effect on other parts of the team.  In this case, if the defensive backfield isn’t doing a good job covering, the pass rush won’t have enough time to get to the quarterback.

In 2015, the Jets allowed 25 touchdowns on 57.1% passing, and they had 18 interceptions.  In 2016, the Jets allowed 30 touchdowns on 63.7% passing, and they had only eight interceptions.

The Jets priority should be to fix their defensive backfield in 2017.  The free agent class of corners is good, and so is the draft class.  The best part is that the Jets don’t have to do one or the other.  They could sign a free agent and draft a player.

For instance, they could sign Morris Claiborne and draft Marshon Lattimore.  Then they could funnel the passing game inside and hold offenses to shorter gains.  They could attack by blitzing more also.

MUST READ: Jets need to move on from Brandon Marshall

For what head coach Todd Bowles wants to do on defense they need to have a good defensive secondary.  That’s the key to success and bouncing back in 2017.