4 mistakes the NY Jets can’t afford to make again in 2024

The 2023 offseason was a bit of a disaster for Joe Douglas and the NY Jets. Sure, the Jets acquired four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, but the team has yet to see the results of that trade on the field. And the less said about the rest of the offseason, the better.

The Jets neglected the wide receiver position, made questionable draft choices, failed to sign a competent backup quarterback, hired an inept offensive coaching staff, and failed to put together a reliable offensive line plan.

Douglas has made some inspiring moves in the past, but this past offseason was undoubtedly his worst as a member of the organization. Things need to be much better in 2024 if he's to save his job.

The Jets can't afford to make the same mistakes they did last offseason, or else Douglas and his coworkers will be looking for a new home in 2025. Here are four mistakes the Jets can't afford to make again this offseason.

4. The NY Jets must sign a better RB2

The Dalvin Cook signing was a predictable flop from the start. Despite Cook's gaudy box-score numbers in 2022, both his tape and the numbers pointed to a running back who was a shell of his once dynamic self.

That's why it should come as no surprise that Cook, who was given the highest AAV of any running back signed last offseason, was a disaster in New York. He averaged a measly 3.2 yards per carry before he was released in early January.

Breece Hall established himself as one of the best running backs in football this past season, but the Jets still need a competent RB2 to complement their star running back.

Israel Abanikanda didn't show enough to prove that he can be trusted in that role just yet. The Jets would be wise to sign a trusted veteran who isn't washed up like Cook was. The likes of Derrick Henry, A.J. Dillon, Zack Moss, Devin Singletary, etc. all make sense.

3. The NY Jets need to add a competent backup QB

The Jets made the grave mistake of trusting Zach Wilson with their primary backup quarterback job in 2023. Of course, the plan was for Wilson to sit behind Aaron Rodgers and learn throughout the year — he wasn't expected to play.

Plans changed. Wilson was thrust into action almost immediately following Rodgers' torn Achilles in Week 1, and what followed was another year of the Jets having the worst quarterback play in the NFL.

The Jets cannot afford to have another situation where players like Wilson, Trevor Siemian, or Tim Boyle are starting meaningful games in 2024. They need a reliable backup quarterback.

Rodgers will turn 41 years old before the end of the season and is coming off a torn Achilles. Trusting him to stay healthy for all 17 games is a risky wager — one the Jets can't really gamble on.

The Jets need to make the playoffs in 2024, or else the future of every member of the current regime is in serious danger. There are no more mulligans. No more excuses. If Rodgers goes down, the Jets need an acceptable contingency plan.

More importantly, they need someone who can step in and start a handful of games if Rodgers were to miss time. Those handful of games could be the difference between making the playoffs or falling short for a 14th consecutive season.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas has strongly hinted that his team will be in the market for a veteran backup QB this offseason. Ryan Tannehill, Jacoby Brissett, and Gardner Minshew represent some of the top options expected to be available.

2. The NY Jets must have a better offensive line plan

The Jets got unlucky in 2023. It's impossible for any team to survive the number of injuries the Jets had across their offensive line last season. That part shouldn't be blamed on them.

The Jets were forced to start 13 different offensive line combinations in 17 games. What makes it even more frustrating is that this was the second year in a row the team's offensive line was decimated by injuries.

But while you can't blame the Jets for poor injury luck, you can blame them for what was already a questionable offensive line plan going into the season.

The Jets' offensive line struggles were the talk of training camp and even one of the primary storylines on "Hard Knocks." It was no secret that, even when mostly healthy, the Jets' offensive line was an issue.

Laken Tomlinson has been a complete bust of a free-agent signing. Mekhi Becton, while healthy in 2023, was one of the worst starting tackles in football. That's two players the Jets fully expected to be a part of their starting offensive line.

The team also went into the year with Duane Brown as their expected starting left tackle. Brown was coming off offseason shoulder surgery and missed essentially the entire summer. Relying on him to stay healthy for an entire season was always a losing wager.

The Jets need to enact a better offensive line game plan for the 2024 season. The team can't afford to rely on injury-riddled veterans or low-end starters — not with Rodgers coming off his Achilles injury.

All eyes are on the offensive line this offseason.

1. The NY Jets can't neglect the wide receiver position

While the offensive line is arguably a bigger need for the Jets this offseason, there was some bad luck at play regarding the unit's struggles in 2023. The same can't really be said about the Jets' wide receiver room.

Joe Douglas managed to single-handedly destroy a wide receiver room that wasn't especially terrible going into the offseason. Every move he made at the position proved to be the wrong one.

He gave Allen Lazard a four-year, $44 million contract — more guaranteed money than any wide receiver signed in free agency last offseason. He traded away Elijah Moore and let Braxton Berrios walk, with the hope that Mecole Hardman could help replace them.

Instead of pursuing DeAndre Hopkins, Douglas prioritized Odell Beckham Jr. due in part to Aaron Rodgers' influence. He opted not to address the position at all in the 2023 NFL Draft and didn't even have a first-round grade on any receiver in the class. Yes, that includes rookie standouts like Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, and Jason Smith-Njigba.

Douglas bungled the wide receiver position in every possible way this past offseason, and it simply can't happen again. The Jets can't find themselves in a situation where they're trotting out Randall Cobb and a host of undrafted free agents for meaningful snaps in 2024.

The Jets realistically need to add two instant-impact contributors to their wide receiver room this offseason. Basically, they should just do the exact opposite of everything they did last year.