4 offseason moves NY Jets GM Joe Douglas has foreshadowed

NY Jets general manager Joe Douglas faces a make-or-break offseason in 2024. While team owner Woody Johnson hasn't come out and outright said it, next season will, for all intents and purposes, be playoffs or bust for the current regime.

Douglas needs to put his team in a position to thrive in 2024 — a tall task given his numerous missteps last offseason. Most of the goodwill that Douglas built up as a result of his impressive 2022 NFL Draft class has dissipated at this point.

The Jets' general manager has to do better this offseason. The usually tight-lipped Douglas has already alluded to a number of different moves that he plans to make this offseason, either via his words or his actions.

Here is a look at four likely Jets offseason moves their general manager has already foreshadowed.

4. NY Jets will be in the market for a big-name WR

While Douglas refused to acknowledge a "playoffs-or-bust" narrative for next season, he did make it clear that the team needs to see results. One of the more notable takeaways from his post-season press conference was his admittence of a "sense of urgency."

Douglas acknowledged his players' frustrations and strongly hinted that his team would do everything they could to compete for a Super Bowl next season. That certainly suggests the Jets might have a big move up their sleeve.

It doesn't take much to connect the dots and assume the Jets will target a top-level wide receiver addition this offseason. Davante Adams remains the pipedream for many Jets fans, but others, such as Mike Evans, Tee Higgins, and Michael Pittman Jr., could also be available.

If all else fails, the Jets seem likely to make the position a priority early in the 2024 NFL Draft. Either way, the Jets will be big-game hunting this offseason.

3. NY Jets will sign a veteran backup QB

This one is probably the most straightforward on this list. There is no reading between the lines here. There's no unpacking a comment and trying to decipher the hidden meaning.

Douglas straight-up told reporters during his end-of-the-season press conference that there is a "high probability" the Jets will sign a veteran backup quarterback this offseason.

This came in response to a question about the team's backup QB plan entering the 2023 season. Douglas insisted that "hindsight is always 20/20" when questioned about the decision to have Zach Wilson be the primary backup last season.

Of course, Wilson would go on to start much of the season following Aaron Rodgers' injury, although he was briefly benched for Tim Boyle. The results on the field were less than stellar.

The Jets seem intent on correcting their mistake from a year ago and bringing in a viable backup QB to sit behind Rodgers. Some potential options include Jacoby Brissett, Ryan Tannehill, Gardner Minshew, Jimmy Garoppolo (if he's released), and even former Jet Sam Darnold.

Regardless, the Jets do not plan to go into next season with an unproven commodity as their primary backup. It won't be Wilson. It won't be a rookie QB. It will be a veteran backup, likely with prior starting experience.

Douglas didn't just foreshadow that move — he practically promised it.

2. NY Jets will trade Zach Wilson

With Douglas outright admitting to the Jets' plan to sign a veteran backup quarterback, that strongly hints at the end of the Zach Wilson era in New York. We've said that in the past, but this time truly feels like the end.

Wilson has now been benched in consecutive seasons for CFL-caliber quarterback Chris Streveler and barely FCS-caliber quarterback Tim Boyle. His frustrations with the organization became an open secret last year.

Wilson and the Jets reportedly agreed to mutually part ways after the season following his initial benching in Week 12. That was until Boyle was released, and Wilson was once again called upon to start.

Although there was some initial trepidation (rightfully so, since Wilson had already been told he was to be traded), Wilson did assume the starting role again in Week 14, only for a concussion to end his season and very likely his Jets career.

Both sides are desperately in need of a fresh start. Wilson will be hoping to find a new home with a team that will try to develop him. The Jets will, as Douglas suggested, sign a more experienced and competent veteran QB to serve as their backup.

Douglas was notably noncommittal on Wilson's future with the organization, only insisting that he will "be a good player in the league for a long time." There was no mention of if his future would be with the Jets.

That was intentional. The Jets will trade Zach Wilson to the highest bidder this offseason — that much has essentially been confirmed.

1. NY Jets won't re-sign Bryce Huff

The Jets are going to try to re-sign Bryce Huff. They're not foolish enough to just let him walk in free agency without at least making an effort to extend him. Unfortunately, both Douglas' words and actions strongly suggest he won't be back with the team in 2024.

Douglas was asked about Huff and his expiring contract during his press conference this week, and he did his best to dodge the question, saying, "Bryce isn’t the only free agent we want back."

He went on to add that the Jets were "not there yet" when asked if the team would consider placing the franchise tag on their star pass rusher. That certainly doesn't sound like someone who expects to reach a deal before free agency begins.

Douglas' actions, however, mean more than anything he's said publicly regarding the situation. The Jets used first-round picks in each of the last two seasons on edge rushers with the sole intention of developing younger talent to replace the soon-to-be free agents on their roster.

Jermaine Johnson isn't going anywhere. John Franklin-Myers will likely be back in 2024 as well. If the Jets were to re-sign Huff, they would essentially be residing to the fact that Will McDonald, their 2023 first-round pick, will be a backup for the entire duration of his rookie contract.

The Jets didn't draft Johnson and McDonald because they believed Huff would be a part of their future. In fact, the McDonald pick was meant as a direct replacement for Huff — a player they've been actively planning to replace.

Sure, Huff's 2023 season was better than anything they would've hoped for. They never expected him to be this good, and plans could change.

The safe bet, however, is to assume that the Jets simply let Huff walk in free agency and recoup what would likely be a third-round compensatory draft pick in 2025.

Is that what they should do? Probably not. But it's an unfortunate move that Joe Douglas and the entire Jets organization have been foreshadowing for the last two years now.