Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

The Jets have 32 players set to hit the open market this offseason. Some don’t figure to factor into New York’s plans for 2020, while it’s safe to assume the Jets would like to keep others around for a while. Either way, Douglas has a lot of work to do in his first offseason on the job.

Bilal Powell is far from New York’s most important free agent. However, he’s the longest-tenured of the group and did have a role in Adam Gase’s offense last season. Will the Jets stick with Powell as a backup running back for another year? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

Powell didn’t post eye-popping numbers (59 carries, 229 yards, 3.9 yards per carry) in 2019, but he served his purpose. When Le’Veon Bell was banged up and Gase opted to turn to a running back by committee approached, Powell delivered as a secondary option in New York’s rushing attack.

He’s not the dynamic runner nor pass catcher he once was, but Powell gets the job done more often than not. Considering he would be returning to the Jets as a backup, that should be enough for Douglas to consider re-signing him to a short-term deal.

Cons of bringing him back

Powell turned 31 in October and has endured plenty of wear and tear throughout his career. He has served as a backup for most of his career with the Jets, but the hits have certainly piled up over the years.

Powell is only a year and a half removed from a serious neck injury that threatened his career. He’s not getting any younger and New York could easily find someone younger to do his job.

The verdict

Considering his age and his relatively minimal role, odds are Powell is out the door.

There’s a reason for the Jets to consider bringing him back. Gase seems to like him enough and he’s a well-respected veteran presence in the locker room. However, New York needs to get younger, especially with its depth. Powell doesn’t fit the mold of a player who is heading in the same direction as the organization. That will likely lead to his exit.