NY Jets: Joe Douglas must be more aggressive in free agency this year

The NY Jets weren’t necessarily good in 2020, as one could imagine. Finishing with a 2-14 record, they were among the worst teams present in the AFC, similarly across the entire NFL.

It wasn’t easy to watch a team that was so inept of talent week-in and week-out compete against opposing teams that had their hopes set on the postseason.

The Jets regularly have their eyes set on the offseason by Halloween, in most years. Joe Douglas wants to change that narrative. One way to do so — spend more money.

Before the Jets hired Douglas to be their general manager, Gang Green was notorious for handing out big-money contracts to highly-touted free-agents that were towards the back-end of their careers.

One player that comes to mind immediately is current-Chiefs running back Le’Veon Bell. In March of 2019, former-GM Mike Maccagnan and the Jets made it a priority to sign the respected former Pittsburgh Steelers running back to a deal he couldn’t refuse.

It worked.

Not only were the Jets excited, but their fans were ecstatic. Finally, the Jets had a premier, elite talent on offense that would drive opposing defenses mad.

Fast-forward a year-and-a-half, Bell is currently riding high with the Kansas City Chiefs as they’re set to play in the Super Bowl. Bell appeared in just 17 total games for the green and white.

NY Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas must add more talent in free agency this offseason

Truth be told, the Jets will likely have to overpay in free agency to sign their most desired players — it’s how free agency usually operates. Although, there’s a difference between completely overpaying, and staying consistently aggressive throughout the process.

The Jets don’t have to fork a player like JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is currently set to hit free agency come March, $70 million over four years.

It would be wise to take an aggressive approach towards Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson, who is also set to hit free agency in the spring. Robinson has a much more accomplished resumé than Smith-Schuster, and will likely be the apple of the Jets’ eye.

It isn’t a secret that Douglas will be taking a much more aggressive approach to free agency than last year. The Jets are slated to be in the top-three leaguewide when talking cap space.

Douglas also realizes that his decision to buy-low in free agency took a toll on the team’s win total.

Joe Douglas isn’t easily fooled, he knows a good deal when he sees one. And he’ll have to hand out a few of those deals to improve dramatically in 2021.