Top 3 offseason moves the Jets should not make

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Aug 31, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon (8) throws the ball against the Washington Redskins during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets need a lot of work this offseason but these are the top moves they should not make.

There’s no doubt the New York Jets are farther away from the NFL Playoffs than we thought after a 10-6 season. Now it’s time to build the foundation and put the building blocks in place for a postseason run in the future.

At 4 PM Eastern Time on March 9, the free agency period begins. That’s where the Jets begin bringing in young and experienced veterans to fill key roles.

April 27-29 is the 2017 NFL Draft. There, the Jets will begin investing roster spots in the future of this organization.

General Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles have a lot of work to do this offseason. According to Over the Cap, the Jets have $18,484,987 in cap space at the moment.

There are a lot of moves the Jets need to make. They need to fix the offensive line, defensive secondary, and find a pass catching tight end. However, there are some moves they need to avoid that could stunt the growth of this organization.

Let’s take a look.

Next: 3. Bridge to nowhere

3. Signing a bridge starting quarterback

Many fans have their opinions on who they Jets should bring in from free agency at the quarterback position. Trading for Tony Romo has been floated out there, and signing players like Mike Glennon and Tyrod Taylor (if he becomes available) have also.

Fans in New York are ready to move on from Bryce Petty as quickly as most football fans starving for a franchise quarterback are ready to embrace Jimmy Garoppolo. Giving up on Petty already makes no sense. He has thrown 133 passes and doesn’t have the talent around him to justify making such a move.

If they do sign a veteran quarterback, they should do one thing. Let him know he’s the backup. The Jets need to give Petty a full season or two and build a team around him, to prove what he can or can’t do at this level.

They do need a backup who’s ready to play, just in case of a Petty injury. Bringing in a quarterback to be a bridge starter would be a huge mistake.

Next: 2. Drafting a quarterback early

2. Don’t draft a quarterback in the first two days

It seems like the Jets are constantly looking for the franchise quarterback. They always seem to mess up that position. Whether it’s passing on quarterbacks like Dan Marino and Tom Brady or having a decent quarterback in place and completely changing the offensive philosophy, the Jets just can’t seem to get out of their own way.

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Days 1 and 2 of the draft are Rounds 1-3, and it would behoove the Jets to stay out of the quarterback market on those two days. They don’t have a foundation for a quarterback to succeed just yet, and the Jets need to take a page from the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders first.

When it comes to drafting the franchise quarterback, a team should be in one of two situations. The first is that there’s a can’t miss sure fire talent (i.e. Marino or Andrew Luck) at the top of the draft.

The second would be the team is a quarterback away from sustained winning. Neither of those two scenarios fit this year for the Jets.

Next: 1. Staying at No. 6

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Jan 1, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets owner Woody Johnson (left) talks with general manager Mike Maccagnan on the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

1. Not trading down in the 2017 NFL Draft

The Jets have arrived at the perfect storm, so to speak. They’re picking too high for offensive linemen, a team desperately needs a quarterback, and they have the ammunition to move down.

The Jets should focus on rebuilding their offensive line in this draft, and the Cleveland Browns are desperate for a franchise quarterback. This is the first year that compensatory draft picks are allowed to be traded, and that rule change couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jets.

The Jets need to part ways with Sheldon Richardson this offseason, which is one offseason too late. He can be a throw-in to a draft deal since the Jets were recently awarded the number 107th pick in the third round.

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The Jets will have a perfect trade partner in the Browns because they’re desperate for a quarterback. Moving up to No. 6 might just be the move they want to make.

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