NY Jets: Joe Douglas has to fulfill his promise to Sam Darnold’s parents

NY Jets general manager Joe Douglas made a promise to Sam Darnold’s parents. Here’s what he said and why there’s still much work to be done.

On a conference call with the media on Wednesday afternoon, NY Jets general manager Joe Douglas revealed that he made a special promise to his star quarterback’s parents.

Last preseason Douglas spoke with Sam Darnold’s parents and promised them “he’d do everything in his power” to protect their son with “protection and playmakers.”

So far this offseason he has been a man of his word.

The Jets have added and retained five names to the team’s offensive line during free agency:

• George Fant, offensive tackle
• Connor McGovern, center
• Josh Andrews, interior offensive lineman
• Greg Van Roten, interior offensive lineman
• Alex Lewis, interior offensive lineman

The #Jets Zone w/ @BoyGreen25:– Interview w/ former @nyjets WR @robcarpenter81.– Full #FreeAgency recap. – Top 6 replacement options for Robby Anderson. – 7-round #TakeFlight mock draft, @TheDraftNetwork.– Avery Williamson to the trade block?https://t.co/Dz23sZ9BPz

— The Jets Zone (@TheJets_Zone) March 25, 2020

Despite the number of names the team has thrown into the mix, several pundits have questioned the quality of the additions.

Those same pundits have similar questions based on what the NY Jets have done at the wide receiver position. So far there have only been two moves at the receiver position: allowing Robby Anderson to bolt to Carolina and replacing him with a similar type player in Breshad Perriman.

Douglas admitted as much when he said the team has made “strides but there’s a lot of work to be done.”

Fortunately, there is still one major avenue for the NY Jets to improve the quality of the trenches and the receiver position: the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.

With eight overall selections and four picks in the top-79, there’s still plenty of time for Joe Douglas to fulfill his promise to Sam Darnold’s parents with better protection and more impressive playmakers.

Sam Darnold has three affordable years left (including a fifth-year option) on his rookie contract. It’s paramount for the Jets to maximize this window before they have to open up the checkbooks in 2023.