For months the talk around the Jets offseason has centered around coach Rex Ryan and quarterback Geno Smith. Will Ryan be back? Will Smith be the starter in 2014?
It is understandable. Everything in the NFL revolves around coaches and quarterbacks. But the Jets have more issues this offseason than just those two headline-grabbing items. Enough ink has been dedicated to what the Jets would/should/could do with Ryan. Let’s talk about what else needs to be done.
General manager John Idzik is entering his first full offseason on the job. He has his people in place inside the organization now, led by his right-hand man Rod Graves. Idzik has had a year to evaluate the roster, and when this offseason begins he needs to have a clear plan to execute if he is going to turn the organization into a consistent winner.
Here is a look at Idzik’s to-do list aside from the coach and quarterback decisions:
1. LOCK UP MO
Muhammad Wilkerson has become everything the Jets hoped he would when they took him in the first round of the 2011 draft. He has 10 sacks this season, 14 tackles for loss, an interception and has become the do-everything defensive lineman for the team.
Wilkerson has one year left on his rookie contract. There is no way he will play for the $1.2 million he’s scheduled to make next near, nor should he. Wilkerson has outperformed his deal and earned an extension. The 24-year-old has not even hit his prime and is already the best player on the Jets.
Per the new collective bargaining agreement rules, the Jets cannot negotiate an extension for Wilkerson until their season ends. The minute it does, Idzik should be on the phone with Wilkerson’s representatives working on a new deal. It needs to be priority No. 1 for this team.
How much it will cost the Jets is an interesting question. J.J. Watt also will be looking for a new deal from the Texans and Wilkerson may want to see what Watt, who may be the only better 3-4 defensive end in football, gets before he commits. Wilkerson likely will wind up getting $10 million-$12 million per year.
Wilkerson has replaced Darrelle Revis as the best player on the Jets. The Jets can’t afford to let their relationship fizzle with Wilkerson over money as it did with Revis.
2. DRAFT A RECEIVER
The Jets are going to have money to spend for the first time in a while. The salary-cap problems of a year ago are gone. The Jets have Revis’ money coming off the books along with a bunch of free agents. They will clear even more space by releasing quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes.
In all the Jets should be around $40 million under the cap. Paying Wilkerson will take some of that money, but there is still a ton to work with. The Jets haven’t gone on a free-agent spending spree since 2008, but they probably shouldn’t this year either. The market is not that attractive. Idzik would be wise to plug some holes (and there are plenty to plug) with mid-level free agents, but not throw crazy money at anyone.
Idzik indicated when he was hired he believes in building a team through the draft and he should stick with that this year.
Wide receiver is the biggest area of need for the Jets. The free-agent class is underwhelming with Jeremy Maclin looking like the best of the bunch, but the draft is loaded with receiver prospects.
The Jets likely will be drafting somewhere between 10-15. They have an extra pick in the third round because of the Revis deal they could use in a trade to move up if they need to. Clemson’s Sammy Watkins and USC’s Marqise Lee look like the top receivers in the draft right now. Either would be an upgrade over what the Jets currently have.
3. FIX THE SECONDARY
Outside of wide receiver (and quarterback, but we’re leaving that alone, remember?), the secondary has been the Jets’ biggest problem this year. You can bet if Ryan is still the coach, he’ll be begging Idzik for another cornerback.
Antonio Cromartie has a salary cap number of $14.9 million for 2014. There is no way the Jets should keep him at that price. He has a $5 million roster bonus coming to him, so the Jets should cut him and then see what he commands on the open market, telling him they would bring him back if the price is right. It is unlikely Cromartie will get more than $5 million, a much more manageable number.
Aqib Talib will be a free agent and the Patriots probably won’t pay him. He’d be a nice pickup for $8 million-$9 million. That would give you Talib as your top corner and Cromartie as the No. 2. Then the Jets could cut Kyle Wilson, move Dee Milliner to the slot cornerback where you’d expect him to be an upgrade and can give him another year to learn. The Jets could grab another divisional foe at safety if the Bills let Jairus Byrd hit free agency.
This offseason will be one of the most important for the Jets in years. If Idzik is going to build the Jets to be a perennial contender, he can’t whiff.
Limiting Reed a good call
Give Rex Ryan credit for not remaining stubborn on Ed Reed’s playing time. Two weeks ago, I wrote Ryan’s loyalty to his players sometimes worked to his detriment and it looked like that was the way it was going with Reed, whose skills have clearly diminished.
While publicly never budging about Reed, Ryan cut his playing time this week. Reed played a season-low 67 percent of the snaps on Sunday against the Raiders. He had been playing more than 90 percent of the snaps.
The Jets moved Reed into a role where he won’t be exposed as much. He played a lot on third downs and in obvious passing situations. That is when Reed is at his best, playing center field. He has struggled in run support, as he looks timid trying to tackle runners. Reed has had neck and hip injuries in recent years and he may be trying to avoid hurting himself again.
The limited playing time should help Reed stay fresher and it gets Antonio Allen back on the field. Allen was developing nicely before Reed’s arrival.
Ryan sticks by his players, particularly the ones he considers his “guys” like Reed. But, in this case, he did the right thing for the team even if it hurts Reed’s pride.