4 ways a canceled 2020 NFL season could impact the Jets

Jets Wire breaks down four ways the Jets will be impacted by a canceled 2020 season.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, there is a chance the Jets do not take the field in 2020.

Although the NFL is moving toward re-opening team facilities in preparation for the upcoming season, there are still major questions about the league’s ability to play this Fall. According to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci, the NFL would have to emulate a “bubble” format similar to what the MLS and NBA have discussed in order to play in 2020.

“Unless players are essentially in a bubble — insulated from the community and they are tested nearly every day — it would be very hard to see how football is able to be played this fall,” Fauci told CNN. “If there is a second wave, which is certainly a possibility and which would be complicated by the predictable flu season, football may not happen this year.”

NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills acknowledged Fauci’s comments and said the league is working toward addressing issues to mitigate health risks, but that is far from a guarantee that football will be a go come September. The same goes for playing a full season.

So, what would a canceled 2020 season mean for the Jets? Here are some ways New York *could* be impacted if Fauci’s concerns come to fruition.

Christopher Johnson’s final days running the show?

Even if football is played this Fall, Christopher Johnson’s days running the Jets could be numbered.

Woody Johnson’s term as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom is set to end at the end of 2020. Assuming he decides not to take on another term or if Donald Trump loses November’s presidential election, Johnson will return to the States full time and will likely reassume control of the team he bought in 2000.

This means that Christopher will likely return to a secondary role in the organization. It will be interesting to see how the transition goes, as Christopher endeared himself to the players throughout his tenure as CEO — especially in light of recent social and racial injustices in America. Either way, there is a chance Christopher’s time in the spotlight could be over once football returns.

Pages: 1234

Jets have decisions to make when it comes to secondary experience vs. potential

Joe Douglas overloaded his secondary this offseason which means the Jets will have to make a lot of choices for the future of their defense.

Determined to fix one of the weakest positions in 2019, Joe Douglas went out and built an arsenal of defensive backs to leave no stone unturned.

The Jets currently have nine cornerbacks and seven safeties on the roster after free agency, the draft and undrafted free agent signings. They won’t keep all 16 players, but they’ll have a wealth of talent to evaluate and options to build the perfect secondary. Some of those players will start, others will be cut or added to the practice squad, and one might even be traded away to give way for younger players.

Safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye are virtual locks to make the team as starters alongside cornerbacks Pierre Desir, Brian Poole and Bless Austin. They all have experience and all performed well recently. Third-round pick Ashytn Davis will also have a role to play as a versatile safety for Gregg Williams, and fifth-round rookie Bryce Hall will make the team if he’s healthy. He could, however, be a PUP candidate, much like Austin was in 2019.

Adam Gase kept six cornerbacks and three safeties on the roster last season, so by the earlier estimation that leaves about one safety and two cornerback spots left on the team. This is where critical decisions come into play.

The Jets were ravaged by injury and poor play at cornerback in 2019, so it would be smart for New York to keep a deep bench in case. But they’ll need to choose between a couple of experienced starters – Arthur Maulet, Nate Hairston and Quincy Wilson – and two undrafted free agents – Lamar Jackson and Javelin Guidry – to fill out the rest of the position group.

Maulet has the inside track after starting and performing well in six games for the Jets in 2019 alongside Austin and Poole. The Jets traded a sixth-rounder for Wilson, who flashed early in his career as a rookie with the Colts but floundered in a scheme change. Hairston, who came over from the Colts last season, sometimes looked good, but he was also benched a few times and couldn’t win the job over Austin or Maulet.

The two UDFAs could be solid contributors for different reasons. Jackson is a big-bodied shutdown corner-type, while Guidry is smaller but much faster in coverage. Williams will have an intriguing decision depending on if they want experienced players or young potential at the position.

As for safety, it will all depend on what the Jets do with Maye. Rumors swirled earlier this month that the Jets were shopping Maye, but other reports refuted that claim. If the Jets move Maye before the October trade deadline, that could open up the possibility for at least another safety to make the team or another cornerback with multi-positional ability. UDFA Shyheim Carter, as well as 2019 returnee Bennett Jackson, have the ability to play both cornerback and safety.

The two biggest questions the Jets must answer as they shape their secondary are if they desire experience or potential and if Maye will be a part of the team after this season. Regardless of those answers, the Jets seem to have a lot more options in the backfield of their defense than they did in 2019. That alone is a step in the right direction for the Jets’ defense.

Jets free agent target Logan Ryan seeking $10 million per year

The Jets would have to get creative with the cap in order to sign free-agent defensive back Logan Ryan.

Logan Ryan has a price in mind as the fight for his services moves forward.

The veteran free agent defensive back is looking for at least $10 million annually, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s the same annual salary he earned over the past three seasons with the Titans. The Jets and Dolphins both have interest in him, but Logan said he’s still “open for business.”

The Jets need another cornerback, but would Douglas be willing to hand out at least a one-year, $10 million deal for the 29-year-old? Douglas has been frugal with the Jets’ money in his first season as the general manager and signed only one player to a contract that exceeded $9.1 million annually (tackle George Fant). He’s also only given out two contracts with more than $10 million in guaranteed money (Fant and center Connor McGovern).

If it’s a matter of cap space, the Jets won’t have enough to sign Ryan and their draft picks until either June 1 – when they’ll earn $11 million in cap relief from cutting Trumaine Johnson – or by cutting one or two players. The Jets have around $13 million in cap space after signing Frank Gore and need around $9.8 million to sign their nine rookies, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. They can save an additional $7.28 million by cutting guard Brian Winters and/or $6.5 million if they cut linebacker Avery Williamson.

There are also cheaper options or perhaps more pressing needs that could take the Jets out of the running for than Ryan. If Douglas is hard-set on getting another veteran cornerback, he could look at Dre Kirkpatrick, Eli Apple or Brandon Carr to round out his secondary. The offensive line could still use some cleaning up and veteran tackle Jason Peters and three-time Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford are still on the open market. Each would individually cost less than Ryan.

This doesn’t bode well for Ryan’s potential future in New York, especially given his age and position. But the price isn’t terribly high for a player of Ryan’s caliber considering other cornerbacks in Ryan’s age range signed for more lucrative deals this offseason. Ryan also had a career year in 2019 for the Titans with 113 combined tackles, 18 pass breakups, 4.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and four interceptions. He’s a great fit for the Jets’ defense and would be a phenomenal addition to a secondary featuring Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Pierre Desir, Brian Poole, Bless Austin and rookies Bryce Hall and Ashytn Davis.

Ryan is obviously the best defensive back left in free agency, but he’ll cost the Jets a good amount of their remaining 2020 salary cap if Douglas pulls the trigger. He’ll also need to compete with the Dolphins, who have more money and the appeal of no state income tax in Florida. Ryan would absolutely strengthen the Jets’ overall defense and fit well with Gregg Williams, but he might be too expensive right now.

This will be a matter of Douglas’ desire to pay top dollar for a position of need or let another team swoop in and give Ryan what he wants. It wouldn’t be shocking for either scenario to unfold but would show how far Douglas is willing to go for certain players.

4 landing spots that make sense for Jets S Marcus Maye

The Jets are reportedly fielding offers for safety Marcus Maye. These are the teams who could trade for Maye.

With rumors swirling around Marcus Maye’s availability, there’s a chance the safety starts the 2020 season in a uniform other than Gang Green’s.

The safety is said to be on the trade block, per the Daily News, as Joe Douglas looks to find as much value from his current roster as possible. Maye, despite coming off a bounce-back season after missing most of 2018 with injuries, appears to be potentially too expensive as well as expendable with the impending mega-extension of Jamal Adams and the selection of safety Ashtyn Davis in the third round of the 2020 draft.

It’s unclear which teams have or will ask about Maye, but there are clubs out there with needs at safety. Douglas said he’ll always pick up the phone when a team calls about a player, and it appears he’s listening intently when it comes to Maye.

With that in mind, here are four potential landing spots for Maye.

Dallas Cowboys

Everyone and their mother knows the Cowboys covet Jamal Adams, but Maye could be another intriguing option for Dallas. Their current starting safeties, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Xavier Woods, are good, but both could be out the door after the 2020 season. Clinton-Dix signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys this offseason and Woods, similarly to Maye, is in the final year of his rookie contract and could command a big payday in 2020 after his best season as a pro.

The trio of Clinton-Dix, Woods and Maye would allow new coach Mike McCarthy to properly evaluate and decide the best tandem for his deep secondary without breaking the bank for someone like Adams.

Pages: 1234

Report: Jets fielding trade offers for safety Marcus Maye

Marcus Maye could be the odd-man-out in the Jets secondary after New York drafted Ashtyn Davis in the third round.

The Jets have already done a lot to re-shape their secondary this offseason. Now, the next tweak could include moving 2017 second-round pick Marcus Maye.

Joe Douglas fielded trade offers for Maye this offseason and over the past year, according to the Daily News’ Manish Mehta. Mehta added that Adam Gase wanted to trade Maye as soon as the Jets hired him in early 2019.

Maye formed a tenacious tandem with fellow safety Jamal Adams when the two were drafted in consecutive rounds in 2017, but his injury history and the selection of Ashtyn Davis in the third round of the 2020 draft could signal the end of Maye’s time in New York. Davis is a dynamic — albeit raw — prospect who could initially be a gadget player in Gregg Williams’ defense but has the potential to be a starter at deep safety – his preferred position.

That could leave Maye the odd man out as early as next season when his rookie contract expires, especially with the team and Adams talking an extension. The Jets could be looking to trade Maye earlier, though, to recoup assets in case he gets injured in 2020 or so they won’t have to wait for a compensatory pick. Maye has one year left on his rookie contract that will pay him only $1,358,733 in 2020 with a $2,085,378 cap hit.

Maye rebounded in 2019 after an injury-filled 2018 season and played in all 16 games. He finished with 65 combined tackles, one interception and a career-high seven pass breakups.

The Jets have an intriguing choice on their hands. The trio of Adams, Maye and Davis could prove to be fun for Williams’ defense given Adams’ and Davis’ ability to play all over the field. But if a team offers the Jets a solid package for Maye, Douglas likely won’t shy away from making a deal and adding more pieces to his new roster.

The Florida Jets? Gang Green is swamped with ex-Gators

The Jets have six players on the roster that went to the University of Florida.

The New York Jets sure do love their Florida Gators.

New York will have six former Gators on its roster following the 2020 NFL Draft, including safety Marcus Maye, cornerbacks Brian Poole and Quincy Wilson, defensive end Jabari Zuniga, running back La’Mical Perine and offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison.

The Jets have taken four Gators in the last four drafts. Prior to that, they had not picked a Gainesville product since 1992 when they used a fifth-round selection on center Cal Dixon.

Zuniga and Perine became the latest Gators to join the Jets after Joe Douglas used consecutive picks on the two in the third and fourth rounds, respectively. In doing so, they became the first players from the same school taken by the Jets with back to back picks since 2012. Back then, New York used pick Nos. 202 and 203 to select two Baylor prospects — running back Terrance Ganaway and guard Robert Griffin — in the sixth round.

One veteran Jet and Florida alumnus was certainly happy with the latest picks:

The More Gators The Better 🐊🛩

— Brian Poole (@poolioo) April 25, 2020

Many of the Jets’ Florida products were college teammates. Harrison was teammates with Poole in 2012. Then Maye joined Poole in Florida’s secondary in 2013.

By 2014, Maye, Poole and Wilson were all teammates. Zuniga joined that group as a redshirt freshman in 2015. By 2016, Poole went on to the NFL, but Perine joined the group. Maye, Perine, Wilson and Zuniga were all teammates in 2016. After the 2016 season, Maye and Wilson were both drafted in the second round, leaving Perine and Zuniga through the 2019 season.

“I’m [going to] feel at home when I get up there,” Perine said after the draft, referring to all the familiar faces in New York. “So I’ll be alright.”

Now, the band is back together again. Based on Poole’s tweet and Perine’s comments, chemistry between these ex-Gators shouldn’t be an issue in New York.

4 things to know about new Jets CB Quincy Wilson

Here are four things to know about new Jets cornerback Quincy Wilson, who New York traded the No. 211 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft for.

Instead of making a selection with the 211th pick, the Jets dealt the choice back to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for CB Quincy Wilson.

New York originally traded the 211th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft in exchange for CB Nate Hairston. That pick was returned to Gang Green after the compensation conditions were not met. Wilson now joins his former Colts teammates, Hairston and Pierre Desir, as well as his former Florida teammates, Marcus Maye and Brian Poole, in New York’s secondary.

Not only did the Jets acquire an established veteran in Wilson — he has three-years playing experience under his belt — but he’s also just 23 years old. He has a lot of raw talent and the potential to play a pivotal role in Gregg Williams’ defensive scheme, which better fits his playing style.

With that said, let’s get to know the Jets’ newest addition to their secondary.

Scheme Change

Quincy Wilson played exceptionally well in the Colts’ press-man system in 2017 and 2018 when he received a Pro Football Focus grades of 71.1 and 69.9, respectively. In those two seasons, Wilson served primarily as the Colts’ No. 3 cornerback, recording two interceptions and 50 tackles.

Once the Colts switched to a zone-scheme to accommodate their personnel, Temple cornerback Rock Ya-Sin leaped Wilson on the depth chart. Wilson’s play immediately hit a wall. In 2019, Wilson received a PFF overall grade of 30.2.

The Jets are now hoping that a change in scenery and a return to a press-man coverage system under Gregg Williams will revitalize Wilson’s career.

Pages: 1234

2020 NFL Draft: Sam Darnold, Bless Austin among Jets’ winners and losers

Sam Darnold and Bless Austin are among the Jets winners and losers following the completion of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Jets went into the 2020 NFL Draft with the main objective of making sure Sam Darnold has the tools around him to become a better quarterback in 2020.

New York certainly did that, adding two offensive linemen and two skill players. The Jets put Darnold in a better position to succeed than they ever have before. At the same time, they were able to find value on the defensive side of the ball, adding more contributors for Gregg Williams to utilize. The draft has unintended consequences and while some may reap its benefits, there are other players who have been put on notice by the organization.

Now that it’s over, let’s take a look at the Jets’ winners and losers from the 2020 NFL Draft.

Winner: Sam Darnold

Joe Douglas promised Sam Darnold’s parents he would do everything in his power to protect their son. Douglas did that with the selections of Mekhi Becton and Cameron Clark, two physical bullies on the line who will be menacing in the run game and ensure the protection of their quarterback.

In addition, Douglas was able to add a wide receiver, Denzel Mims, who has the potential to be a No. 1 at the next level. His wide catch radius should certainly improve the Jets’ struggles in the red zone in years past. Also coming aboard is Florida running back La’Mical Perine, who is an ideal dual-threat back to complement Le’Veon Bell.

While the Jets may have wanted to add another pass catcher, they’ve certainly put Darnold in a better position to succeed from a protection standpoint. There is still the undrafted free agency period and veterans will shake loose once training camp is underway. For now, Darnold is in a better position after this weekend than he ever has been in a Jets uniform.

Pages: 123456

Jets shore up their CB depth with trade for Quincy Wilson

Former 2017 second-round pick Quincy Wilson adds another level of depth to the Jets’ secondary after falling out of favor with the Colts.

The Jets added another cornerback with their 211th pick, but not through the draft.

New York traded the pick to the Colts for Quincy Wilson, who now joins former Indy teammates Pierre Desir and Nate Hairston and former Florida teammates Brian Poole and Marcus Maye in the Jets secondary.

Wilson was the Colts’ second-round pick in 2017 but failed to earn a consistent role in Indianapolis. He only started 10 games in three seasons, all of which were between 2017-2018. He saw action in only nine games this past season and failed to record any interceptions or pass breakups. He also only played in 11 percent of the Colts’ snaps in 2019 – the third-fewest snaps of any defensive back.

Joe Douglas took a flier on Wilson because of his potential and fit in Gregg Williams’ defense. Wilson played well in the Colts’ press-man coverage system in 2017 and 2018, where he recorded a 68.3 and 67.8 Pro Football Focus grade, respectively, during those two seasons and combined for two interceptions and 50 combined tackles. But once the Colts switched to a zone scheme, Wilson saw his production dip considerably.

The Jets now have considerable depth in the secondary, something they lacked in 2019. Wilson can play both cornerback and safety but likely won’t compete for a starting role on the outside despite his 6-foot-2, 194-pound frame. He may not even make the 53-man roster, but his NFL experience already makes him more valuable than any player the Jets would have picked in the sixth round.

Jamal Adams skipping Jets’ virtual program doesn’t mean much — yet

Jamal Adams wants a new deal, and the report he’ll miss a voluntary program doesn’t mean a trade is imminent.

The rift between Jamal Adams and the Jets opened again Friday. Or did it?

Adams, who is seeking a contract extension, will skip the Jets’ virtual offseason program. On its surface, this looks bad. Especially considering the drama at the October trade deadline that left Adams feeling disrespected by the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2016.

But this development doesn’t necessarily signal an imminent trade, nor does it mean the Jets and Adams can’t work out a contract. The virtual program, a result of the ongoing pandemic, is voluntary for all players and teams, according to a memo obtained by ESPN, and lasts from April 20-May 15. Adams could just as easily have other offseason workouts planned on his own and doesn’t need to call into daily Zoom meetings with Gregg Williams and the rest of the defense. In reality, it’s likely just a play by Adams’ camp to incentivize Joe Douglas and the Jets to move forward the preliminary extension discussions the two sides had at the NFL combine in March.

That isn’t to say this news means nothing, though. Adams and the Jets already have a fragile relationship stemming from the 2019 trade deadline, and Adams made it clear he wants a new contract this offseason. He still has one year left on his rookie deal and a fifth-year team option in 2021 but is already a two-time Pro Bowler as a ball-hawking safety.

Adam’s relationship with the Jets first fractured in October when he heard reports that Douglas fielded trade offers for him at the deadline. He felt disrespected by Douglas because of his status as the face of the franchise, refused to talk to Douglas and Adam Gase for weeks, and spoke vaguely about his future with the team. Tensions softened early this offseason, though, when Adams mentioned he and the team had preliminary discussions about an extension and Douglas said he wanted Adams to be a “Jet for life.” Adams appreciated that comment, but also acknowledged the uncertainty ahead.

Douglas said in his media teleconference on April 1 that “nothing has really changed” on the Adams extension front and ESPN’s Rich Cimini added Friday that the Jets general manager plans to wait until after the draft on April 25 before having further discussions with Adams.

News of Adams skipping the virtual program likely surfaced to re-ignite those talks, but it doesn’t mean the Jets won’t once again entertain offers for the 24-year-old Adams.

The Cowboys will probably be in hot pursuit once again, and there are other teams who’d love to add Adams to their defense. Douglas said he’ll always pick up the phone if a team calls, and he’s proven to be a shrewd manipulator of the salary cap and touts flexibility in the draft. Adams would fetch a pretty penny, one Douglas could use to overhaul a Jets roster littered with holes.

Trading Adams would mean losing the identity of the Jets defense, though. Adams led the team or tied the team-high in solo tackles, tackles for a loss, forced fumbles and quarterback hits in 2019. He also finished with 6.5 sacks. He is invaluable for Williams’ defense and would be hard to replace both from a production and a leadership standpoint.

Adams is the Jets’ best player and any whiff of a holdout is bad. However, missing a voluntary virtual offseason program is only a big deal if the Jets truly have no plans to pay Adams what he wants. Then, things could get ugly again. For now, this looks like a move by Adams to push along extension discussions that were likely halted by the coronavirus pandemic and Douglas’ first draft as the Jets’ general manager.