By releasing Brian Winters on Sunday, the Jets committed to their starting lineup having a 100 percent turnover in 2020.
In 2019, New York’s Week 1 starting offensive line consisted of Kelvin Beachum and Kelechi Osemele on the left side, Ryan Kalil in the middle, and Winters and Brandon Shell filling out the right side.
Behind an offensive line that had little chemistry, the Jets offense sputtered. In Adam Gase’s first season as head coach, New York’s offensive unit ranked 31st in points per game, 32nd in yards per game and 32nd in yards per play.
The Jets averaged just 0.7 rushing yards before contact per attempt, which was dead last in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Also, New York allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 27.5 percent of its dropbacks, which was the second-highest in the league.
This was a large part of why Sam Darnold had little to no time to make plays happen. Jets quarterbacks were sacked 52 times in 2019, which was the fourth-highest mark in the league.
Joe Douglas made it his pet project this offseason to rebuild the Jets offensive line. He spent all offseason plugging holes in the trenches to ensure that Darnold and the offense can experience heightened success in 2020 and beyond.
The Jets showed no interest in bringing back members of last year’s starting lineup. Beachum and Shell signed one-year pacts with the Cardinals and Seahawks, respectively. Osemele, who played just three games with Gang Green before he was released due to an injury dispute, signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs. Kalil is likely to choose retirement again after the Jets talked him out of it last year and got poor results.
Douglas’ first order of business was signing swing tackle George Fant to a three-year, $30 million contract. Right now, Fant is penciled in as the opening day starter at right tackle. Staying on the right side, Greg Van Roten signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal and will slide in at right guard in Winters’ absence.
Shaping things up in the middle, Douglas signed Connor McGovern to a three-year, $27 million deal. He will be New York’s starter at center. Alex Lewis, who did an admirable job filling in for Osemele, is now assured a starting spot at left guard with Winters gone. As for left tackle, it’s now stationed by Mekhi Becton, New York’s first-round pick out of Lousiville.
While the Jets offensive line will yet again need to work on its chemistry, a roster turnover was necessary considering how the offense plateaued behind such a lackluster unit in 2019.