Jets Are In a ‘Much Better Place’ Than a Year Ago.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN Says GM Joe Douglas Made the Offense a Priority.
After making a splash in free agency by adding grit and experience on the offensive line and a second potential game-breaker at wide receiver, the Jets could have easily spent their seven draft picks on a relative balance between the offense and the defense.
Instead, as Bill Barnwell writes for ESPN, GM Joe Douglas used his first five picks, and a heady amount of wheeling and dealing to give veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers even more tools in his bulging toolbox.
“After signing wideout Mike Williams and acquiring offensive linemen Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson in the offseason [via free agency and a trade], New York appears to be surrounding Rodgers with legitimate NFL talent,” Barnwell wrote.
He added: “GM Joe Douglas oversaw a team that broke down because of injuries and lack of depth last season, and while the roster might have looked done on offense on paper, he wisely continued to go after more talent on offense [in the draft].”
After swapping spots with Minnesota, the Jets nabbed Penn State OL Olu Fashanu with the No. 11 overall selection. Fashanu has the ability to step in as a starter or he can learn at the feet of Smith, one of his football idols. Without a pick in the second round, which a year ago was sent to Green Bay in the trade for Rodgers, Douglas moved to the top of the third round and brought into the fold the “YAC King” in Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley. With Corley, Williams and Garrett Wilson, Rodgers potentially has a trio of ball-catching threats on the inside, the outside, shallow and deep.
Day 3 brought Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen, still only 20 years old, another RB in South Dakota State’s bruising Isaiah Davis and promising Florida State QB Jordan Travis. Defense was addressed toward the tail end of the draft with DB Qwan’tez Stiggers (fifth round) S Jaylen Key (No. 257 and last).
“They also landed a 2025 third-round pick from the Lions, a pick that could come in handy at the trade deadline if New York looks like a contender,” Barnwell wrote. “This team is in a much better place than it was a year ago.”
