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The Jets’ 2022 opponents look different following a wild free agency period. Here are Gang Green’s most intriguing matchups next season:
The Jets’ 2022 schedule isn’t set just yet, but the home and away opponents were finalized a few months ago.
But after the big wave of free agency and plethora of high-profile trades, the teams the Jets will face this upcoming season look very, very different. Some have new quarterbacks, while others added key pieces on offense and defense. Then there are teams that lost important players that they haven’t replaced.
Here are the Jets’ six most intriguing opponents following free agency.
Jets GM Joe Douglas has made it clear that he wants an impact receiver, and he’s willing to pay up. Here’s why that’s the right approach:
It seems like the Jets have been in every major wide receiver trade discussion this offseason, and it doesn’t sound like that will stop after Joe Douglas failed to acquire Tyreek Hill.
New York reportedly also expressed interest in Calvin Ridley and Amari Cooper, among others, but nothing ever materialized for various reasons. But Douglas insinuated the Jets will continue to be aggressive in the veteran trade market this past week, even though he believes in the team’s current crop of pass-catchers.
“I feel good about the wide receivers we have,” Douglas said Wednesday. “We had the opportunity to keep adding to it. If the opportunity is right and the price is right, we’re willing to strike.”
While he has nothing to show for it yet, Douglas has been aggressive with his words and actions. He appears willing to do anything and everything to give Zach Wilson a top-flight pass catcher, and that’s the right approach at this juncture. Just look at how much the Bills, Cardinals and Cowboys helped their young quarterbacks after trading for Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins and Cooper, respectively.
Now ESPN’s Rich Cimini says the Jets are keeping an eye on three receivers in the final year of their rookie contracts: A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf and Deebo Samuel. Jets WR Elijah Moore played with Brown and Metcalf in college, while Samuel knows most of Robert Saleh’s staff from their time in San Francisco together.
There is no indication any of those three are available, though. The Titans said they aren’t trading Brown and intend to sign him long-term. The Seahawks said the same thing about Metcalf and the 49ers have “a plan” to keep Samuel around “for a long, long time.”
But talk is cheap, and Douglas proved in the Hill negotiations that he’s willing to part with premium assets and sign good players to long-term extensions. His mantra is to be aggressive without being reckless, so it stands to reason that a package similar to the one the Jets offered the Chiefs for Hill would be on the table for someone like Brown, Metcalf or Samuel as well.
Whether or not any of them pan out remains to be seen. Either way, the sentiment is sound and correct if the Jets want to be competitive in 2022. There are a lot of great receivers in the NFL, and the Jets want to make sure they’re at least attacking the market to find a player who can reshape their offense.
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Where are the Commanders in the latest NFL power rankings after all of the quarterback movement?
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We are almost two full weeks into the new NFL league year. The first wave of free agency is essentially over, and some teams already look dramatically different.
Some of the NFL’s top free agents remain on the market. Tyrann Mathieu, Bobby Wagner and Jarvis Landry are still unsigned, with several value free agents also looking for homes. While the big names make the headlines during the legal tampering period, it’s the players signed between now and training camp that can often make the difference for contending teams.
The Washington Commanders have remained mostly quiet outside of trading for quarterback Carson Wentz. Fans always knew the quarterback acquisition would always be the team’s biggest move this offseason, although the Wentz move came out of left field.
The Commanders have signed only two outside free agents — guard Andrew Norwell and defensive end Efe Obada. Washington signed Norwell to replace the released Ereck Flowers, while Obada will bring experienced depth behind Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
With all of the big quarterback moves seemingly done — although we await Baker Mayfield’s fate — NFL.com recently unveiled its new power rankings.
Did Washington move up after the acquisition of Wentz?
Actually, no, Washington moved down a spot to No. 26.
Carson Wentz just wants to be loved. “Knowing that you’re wanted and feeling that support means a lot,” the veteran said in his first news conference after being acquired by the Commanders. “It allows me to play confidently, freely, which will allow me to play my best ball.” Wentz profiles as an upgrade over the inconsistent Taylor Heinicke, but you wonder if Washington would have ultimately been better off finding a cheaper solution on the open market. Wentz hasn’t been a special player for a long time, and it’s telling that two teams have now cut ties with the former No. 2 overall pick in as many years. Perhaps Wentz can rediscover his 2017 form with a standout supporting cast — that’s just not something the Commanders have at the moment.
Wentz has a lot to prove. But Washington should get a healthy Young and Sweat back, among others. Wentz is an upgrade over the gritty Taylor Heinicke, but how many more wins is that worth? Apparently, not much, according to Dan Hanzus.
Washington lost four significant contributors from last season: guards Brandon Scherff and Flowers and defensive tackles Matt Ioannidis and Tim Settle. Scherff is the biggest loss, but Washington has gotten accustomed to playing without him over the years. Wes Schweitzer isn’t better than Scherff, but he is a more than capable replacement. Norwell and Flowers are essentially equals, with Norwell half the price.
It will be interesting to see where the Commanders find depth at defensive tackle and who starts at inside linebacker in the fall.
Washington should not draft a quarterback in 2022. You traded for Carson Wentz; now it’s time to help him succeed.
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The NFL’s worst-kept entering the offseason was the Washington Commanders were in the quarterback business. Head coach Ron Rivera told anyone who would listen Washington was adding a quarterback, preferably a veteran, but would not hesitate in starting a first-round rookie if he was ready.
Earlier this month, the Commanders ended their quarterback search, trading draft picks to the Indianapolis Colts for Carson Wentz. The Wentz trade has been criticized around the NFL, but for Washington, this was about upgrading the position in 2022. Wentz provides a clear upgrade for Washington from the past three seasons.
With Wentz under contract for three more seasons, should Washington still look at quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL draft?
Yes and no.
The Commanders hold the No. 11 overall pick in the draft. While this quarterback class isn’t described as very strong, multiple players have starting potential. Kenny Pickett is deemed the most NFL-ready, while Malik Willis offers immense upside.
If Willis or Pickett is there at No. 11 with Washington on the clock, should they be the pick?
No. Does anyone remember what happened in Philadelphia when Howie Roseman took Jalen Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft? It didn’t go well for the Eagles or Wentz. And while Wentz could downplay its impact on him that season, it was clearly an issue.
Washington can get out of Wentz’s contract with relative ease after the 2022 season if things don’t go as planned. Sure, the Commanders will lose the draft picks, but that’s the cost of doing business. Wentz is like a lottery ticket for Washington. If things go well, the Commanders have their quarterback for the foreseeable future. If things go as many have speculated, Washington is back in the same position in 2023.
So why not do everything possible to help Wentz succeed?
Let’s pretend the above scenario is in play, and another team, perhaps the New Orleans Saints, wants to move up for one of the quarterbacks. Washington should do everything to move down, accumulate more picks and fill out some of the holes on the roster that haven’t been filled in free agency.
The Commanders head into this draft needing an inside linebacker, wide receiver, tight end, cornerback, safety and a guard. Sure, some of these positions aren’t a major concern, but others are. If Washington moved down to say No. 18, it could still land a quality wideout, corner, or linebacker.
Let’s go back to the quarterback question. We’ve heard the Commanders like Desmond Ridder. What if he is there in the second round? Well, this presents an interesting situation. If you love the player, and he is there, then you have to select him — especially if it’s a quarterback. Right?
Theoretically, the answer would be yes. In Washington’s case, again, this is a negative. You can still land a quality starter in round two, so why would you take someone unlikely to play in 2022? Could bypassing a quarterback you like come back to haunt you later? Of course, but Washington needs to win in 2022, and Wentz is your only hope.
This is a unique situation. In any other year, I would say draft a quarterback every year until you find an answer. It’s the most important position in sports. But the Commanders have made a commitment to Wentz for at least one season. And, by virtually sitting out free agency, Washington needs a strong draft.
Is there still a scenario where picking a quarterback would be the right decision? Sure, but this draft should be about winning in 2022, which means surrounding Wentz with plenty of help. By giving him plenty of support, he has no excuses if things do not work out.
Chase Young quickly reached out to Carson Wentz once he learned he was traded to Washington.
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Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young made his NFL debut against quarterback Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 of the 2020 season. Wentz remembers that game well. Washington sacked him eight times on that day and intercepted him twice. Young sacked Wentz 1.5 times.
After seemingly having a field day every time he played Washington during his first four seasons, the Football Team beat up on Wentz all day. It’s a game the new Washington quarterback remembers well.
Wentz specifically remembers Young chasing him all around FedEx Field on that and is glad the two are now teammates. In his introductory press conference Thursday, Wentz was asked if he’d spoken to any current Washington players and specifically mentioned Young was one of the first Commanders to reach out to him.
“Chase reached out right away,” Wentz said. “I remember being chased around by him his rookie year and telling him how much of a problem he was for me. And now he’s on my side. So guys have been super receptive, and I look forward to getting to know them and building those relationships.”
Kudos to Young. The 2020 NFL defensive rookie of the year is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his second season in November, yet he took time to reach out to his new quarterback personally.
This may not sound like a big deal, but it shows leadership. Washington is Young’s team. The organization has made it clear that Young, Terry McLaurin and Jonathan Allen are the franchise’s cornerstones. Young making his quarterback feel welcome and comfortable is an excellent first step.
Players don’t care what happened at your last stop. Do you think Young or Allen cares what happened in Indianapolis? No. Wentz will be judged on how he performs for the Commanders this fall.
Carson Wentz is back in his old No. 11 jersey for the Commanders.
Carson Wentz is officially the new quarterback of the Washington Commanders. At 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Washington’s trade with Indianapolis for Wentz became official, and the team welcomed its new quarterback on Twitter.
Shortly after the brief Twitter video showing Wentz’s highlights from 2021, with the caption, “Welcome to the DMV, Carson,” the team released a graphic showing Wentz in the team’s brand new black alternates.
From the graphic, it’s evident Wentz will be returning to his old No. 11 — the number he donned during the first five years of his NFL career with the Eagles and in college. Wentz wore No. 2 in 2021 with the Colts.
Back in 1️⃣1️⃣ 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/itETNi4p62
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) March 16, 2022
Wentz appears happy to be back in his old number.
Back in 11 😎
Let’s get to work! #TakeCommand #AO1 https://t.co/XJGpd5Myqy
— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) March 16, 2022
Wide receiver Cam Sims wore No. 11 in 2021, and he is currently a free agent. However, the team was attempting to bring him back. Sims wore No. 89 during the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Commanders.
Washington Commanders are expected to sign back WR Cam Sims, per source. That's in the works.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 16, 2022
Saints save $26M in cap space through contract restructures with Michael Thomas and Ryan Ramczyk, via @KadeKistner:
Source: the Saints’ cap moves are underway, as they’ve converted $14.565M of Michael Thomas’ compensation for 2022 and $18,206,608 of OT Ryan Ramczyk’s compensation for 2022 into signing bonuses, creating $26.217M in cap space.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 26, 2022
The New Orleans Saints have begun to make make cap space through two shrewd moves on Saturday morning. With the Saints over the cap by an estimated $76 million, the franchise needed to make some moves to free up space.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas’ contract was re-structured to convert $14.565 million into a signing bonus while adding two void years to maximize the cap savings, per ESPN’s Field Yates and Mike Triplett. The fact that the team did in fact restructure Thomas’ contract is a strong indication that the All-Pro receiver will return for the 2022 NFL season, and maybe beyond with these costs being deferred to future years.
In a second move, $18,206,608 of offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s 2022 salary was converted into a signing bonus as well. In total, New Orleans freed up $26.217 million in cap space through just two moves leaving them over the cap by a little over $50 million.
As it goes every offseason for the Saints, more contract restructures should continue to be expected as it is a common and effective tool for this team. Look for moves in the days ahead.
This is correct — two extra automatically-voiding years added to Michael Thomas' contract to make the math work that @FieldYates laid out. https://t.co/bajXfeB1KD
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) February 26, 2022
The Jags aren’t on the bottom of the Touchdown Wire power rankings heading into 2022.
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished with the worst record in the league for the second season in a row in 2021, and while there’s hope that things will improve in 2022 under new coach Doug Pederson, many are taking a “believe-it-when-I-see-it” approach with this team. Understandably so.
But there are reasons for optimism, namely quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He was far from great as a rookie, tying for the league lead in interceptions. But he showed flashes of being the player he was drafted to be, and his presence alone puts the team in a better spot than many of the league’s other bottom-feeders.
In the way-too-early 2022 NFL power rankings from Touchdown Wire, Jacksonville isn’t on the bottom, though it is close, ranking at No. 30.
The roller coaster that was the Jaguars and ex-coach Urban Meyer in 2021 has ended with Doug Pederson taking over for him. Next up for Jacksonville: Getting Pederson to prove he can mix well with former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence as well as proving they can hit on their upcoming top-overall selection at the 2022 NFL draft.
Nick Wojton of Touchdown Wire has the Jags above both the AFC South-rival Houston Texans and Detroit Lions, who pick third and second, respectively, in the upcoming 2022 NFL draft.
Neither of those squads has a clear vision for the future at quarterback, and while the Jags need to take a big leap to avoid another top-5 pick, that is certainly possible given the talent Lawrence brings to the table despite a disappointing rookie year.
#Eagles 2022 offseason preview: Where does #Philadelphia stand at quarterback and what will happen with Gardner #Minshew as well?
The NFL’s new league year is quickly approaching and as the Eagles look towards free agency and the draft, the conversation will center around the quarterback position on a daily basis.
Jalen Hurts is entrenched as the starter, but depending on how things shake out this spring and in 2022, that development could quickly change. Philadelphia has three first-round picks, but the laws of team building state that a championship roster must be sculpted around the quarterback, likely forcing Howie Roseman to avoid a huge deal for a veteran passer.
As free agency approaches, we’ll preview every position on the Eagles roster, starting with the most important position in all of the sports.
Washington’s odds aren’t great, but finding the right quarterback can change things.
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The 2021 NFL season is officially in the books after the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI. Can the Rams repeat in 2022?
Tipico Sportsbook recently released their early odds for next season, and the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have the best odds to win Super Bowl LVII at +650. For anyone who watched their battle in the AFC divisional round, it’s understandable why they’d be considered the early favorites.
The Rams come in behind the Chiefs and Bills, with +1000 odds.
What are the odds for the Washington Commanders? It’s no surprise, Washington’s odds aren’t great at +5000, tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, per Sportsbook Wire.
2021 regular-season records:
Record: 7-10
ATS: 7-9-1
O/U: 7-10-0
Implied win %: 1.96
The Commanders have the third-best odds in the NFC East behind the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. The New York Giants are last at +8000.
Super Bowl LVII will be played on Feb. 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
