The 2020 season was a long one for the New York Jets. The team had a historically bad season. The Jets had awful coaching and talent on the roster last year. It led to a 2-14 season. Most weeks, the team was non-competitive. However, there were a few players who stood out, some of whom are young with their best football in front of them. This season inevitably led to wholesale changes.
[pickup_prop id=”6121″]
Make sure to check out all of our other 2021 NFL Team Previews.
Offseason Recap
To start the 2021 offseason, Jets general manager Joe Douglas had a huge decision to make. The organization needed to hire its next head coach. Douglas led an extensive search. Ultimately, he got his guy, Robert Saleh. The Jets gained respect throughout the league and media for landing Saleh. The former San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator brought along an exciting, young offensive mind in Mike LaFleur. The two spent time together in the Bay Area with the Niners. Saleh also hired Jeff Ulbrich to be his defensive coordinator. The two were together with the Seattle Seahawks. The first-year head coach will lead the team and Ulbrich will call the defense. Special teams coordinator, Brant Boyer, was retained and will now be with a third different coaching regime with the Jets.
The Jets entered free agency with a ton of salary cap space. Douglas added talent while spending wisely and not being egregious. On day one of free agency, the Jets signed two key players to three-year contracts in Corey Davis and Carl Lawson. Both are 26 years of age and play impact positions. Justin Hardee was a solid addition. He is a core special-teamer and will be pivotal to the locker room, one that needs to be picked up. Offensively, some other veterans acquired on one-year deals were Tevin Coleman, Keelan Cole, Tyler Kroft, Morgan Moses, and Dan Feeney. On defense, Douglas added Vinny Curry, Sheldon Rankins, Jarrad Davis, and Lamarcus Joyner.
Douglas made the move to part ways with Sam Darnold in the offseason. This put the Jets in a position to draft their potential franchise quarterback with the second pick in the draft. The Jets drafted exciting prospect, Zach Wilson. As a result of the Jamal Adams trade, the Jets had a lot of draft capital. With that, they moved up to the middle of the first round to select offensive line prospect, Alijah Vera-Tucker. The Jets’ next two selections were skill position players, Elijah Moore and Michael Carter. On day three, the Jets went on defense with every pick, in the form of Jamien Sherwood, Michael Carter II, Jason Pinnock, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Brandin Echols, and Jonathan Marshall.
Offense
The Jets offense has ranked near the bottom of football in recent years. This season, LaFleur will be implementing a new scheme that works in the NFL. The offense will be predicated around running the football with inside and outside zone schemes and setting up play-action looks off it. This system will help Wilson as a rookie. Expect a running back by committee approach with Coleman, Ty Johnson, Carter, and La’Mical Perine, as they all provide something different. The Jets wide receivers are currently the best they have had in a while. However, the tight end position is a major unknown. Douglas has an offensive line background and has added major resources to this group already. Expect it to take a step forward.
Defense
In the Cover-3 scheme that Saleh and Ulbrich will be incorporating, the front four being able to win is crucial. Quinnen Williams, Lawson, and John Franklin-Myers can be a successful group of pass rushers. Against the run, Folorunso Fatukasi is one of the best. At linebacker, it will be great to finally have C.J. Mosley. Expect him to make a difference. The cornerback position is filled with youth and inexperience. Hopefully, one or two of them can establish themselves as solid starters. At safety, Marcus Maye is back on the franchise tag. Maye is now entering his fifth year with the Jets.
Predicting the 53 Man Roster
QB (2) – Zach Wilson, Mike White
All eyes will be on the rookie, Wilson. Expect him to have some good and bad moments. He has undeniable arm talent and mobility. Wilson should show encouraging promise his first year. White seems to have the backup spot secured over a fourth-round pick from a year ago, James Morgan.
RB (4) – Tevin Coleman, Ty Johnson, Michael Carter, La’Mical Perine
All four of these players should carve out roles. Coleman is the experienced veteran who has played most of his career in this offensive system. Johnson is an intriguing player as his speed fits this scheme perfectly. He could also be the kick returner. Carter will be impactful as a runner and receiver in his first year. Perine is a bigger player who brings a more physical running style.
WR (6) – Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder, Keelan Cole, Denzel Mims, Braxton Berrios
This group can be a very good one for the Jets. Davis provides great size, route-running, hands, and just an overall veteran presence for a rookie quarterback. Moore has special potential who will make an impact right away as a rookie. Crowder is a very solid slot receiver who can help on third down. Cole provides vertical-threat ability with his speed. Mims possesses great size, while Berrios brings depth and will likely be the punt returner.
TE (4) – Ryan Griffin, Tyler Kroft, Chris Herndon, Trevon Wesco
This position is a concern. In the passing game, Griffin or Herndon can provide consistency. Kroft should help as an in-line blocker. Wesco is a bigger player and will probably get most of his reps at fullback where he has the chance to help this offense.
OL (9) – Mekhi Becton, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Connor McGovern, Greg Van Roten, Morgan Moses, George Fant, Dan Feeney, Conor McDermott, Chuma Edoga
Becton and Vera-Tucker are young players with exceptional talent to hold down the left side. Moses was a solid add in the summer to improve the right tackle spot. Hopefully, McGovern can bounce back in a scheme that fits his skill set best. Van Roten is capable of doing a solid job. Fant is a great third tackle to have. McDermott and Edoga provide tackle depth. Feeney can help along any of the interior spots.
DL (5) – Quinnen Williams, Folorunso Fatukasi, Sheldon Rankins, Jonathan Marshall, Nathan Shepherd
Williams is the Jets’ best player and only 23 years old. In a new scheme that suits him much better, expect him to continue to improve. Fatukasi has established himself as one of the best run-stoppers in the game. Rankins provides great interior pass rush depth. Marshall is a rookie with unreal athletic traits. Shepherd will be a depth piece.
EDGE (5) – Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, Vinny Curry, Bryce Huff, Jabari Zuniga
Lawson was a huge free-agent get for the Jets. For the first time in a while, the team will have a dominant edge pass rusher. Franklin-Myers is an underrated player with his talented pass-rush ability. He has edge and interior flexibility as well. Curry is a great veteran for this new culture and can still be an impactful pass rusher. Huff and Zuniga are both second-year players. Huff showed good things last season. Hopefully, Zuniga can be more effective.
LB (5) – C.J. Mosley, Jarrad Davis, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Jamien Sherwood, Blake Cashman
Finally having Mosley will be a huge boost for New York. Davis was a fascinating signing, with potentially his best football ahead of him. Nasirildeen and Sherwood are both rookies making the position change from safety. They should each have roles. Cashman will likely provide depth.
CB (7) – Bryce Hall, Blessuan Austin, Javelin Guidry, Brandin Echols, Justin Hardee, Michael Carter II, Jason Pinnock
Hall and Austin will be the two outside starters. Guidry will start in the slot. Hardee was an exciting free-agent acquisition who will help the culture and on special teams. Echols, Carter, and Pinnock are all rookies. They could eventually see significant reps. Hopefully, this young group can establish themselves.
SAF (3) – Marcus Maye, Lamarcus Joyner, Ashtyn Davis
Maye is one of the Jets’ best players. In 2021, expect him to remain a great player and core contributor to the Jets. Joyner was a solid addition this offseason. He will be back playing where he is best. In year two, hopefully, Davis gets healthy and can have his play match his special athletic talent.
ST (3) – Matt Ammendola, Braden Mann, Thomas Hennessy
Ammendola has to be reliable in the final two preseason games. This position could very easily be upgraded soon, as the kicking has been a problem for the Jets the last few seasons. Mann had a promising rookie season and should improve. Hennessy is now in his fifth season with the Jets.
One Player to Add
The Jets once again have a major concern at kicker. This offseason, they have added two and also let two go. Come cutdown day in a few weeks, anticipate the Jets being active in the kicker market. If the Buccaneers release Jose Borregales, the Jets should make a strong play to add him through waivers.
2021 Outlook & Odds
The expectation for the 2021 Jets will be to make improvements as the season progresses to have promise moving forward. They have a new coaching staff and a ton of new players, a lot of whom are young. Saleh and Wilson proving they are capable of leading the Jets moving forward are what is most important. Vera-Tucker, Moore, and Carter are three young players to watch for on the Jets. The Jets over/under win total is at six. This team will likely finish right around that.
Season Prediction: 6-11 and Miss the Playoffs
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Ryan Moran on Twitter @_Ryan_Moran_
Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
