How did Adam Gase compare to other first-year head coaches in 2019?

Jets Wire compares Adam Gase to other first-year head coaches around the league with a comprehensive breakdown.

Adam Gase’s first season with the Jets featured a little bit of good and a lot of bad.

New York was supposed to be on its way back to contender status with Gase at the helm. Instead, due to injuries and incompetence across the board, the Jets sputtered to a 1-7 start, putting themselves out of playoff contention earlier than anyone at One Jets Drive could have imagined entering the year. Gase did well to rally the troops and finish 7-9, but New York didn’t exactly go through a gauntlet to get to seven wins.

Gase isn’t the only first-year head coach who experienced disappointment in 2019, though. Alternatively, there are plenty of other first-year coaches that achieved great success throughout the year.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how Gase stacked up against other first-year head coaches last season.

Zac Taylor

Taylor posted a 2-14 record in his first season with the Bengals, but it’s hard to blame him for Cincinnati’s shortcomings in 2019.

Taylor inherited a roster seriously deprived of talent. His quarterbacks were over the hill Andy Dalton and rookie Ryan Finley, who was clearly not up to the task of being an NFL quarterback despite putting together a solid career at NC State. He didn’t have A.J. Green all year and Joe Mixon wasn’t able to do much on the ground because of the atrocious offensive line he runs behind.

The good news for Taylor and the Bengals is there is hope for the future. Cincinnati has the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL draft and will likely go with LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, giving Taylor a young signal caller to mold and build around moving forward.

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How likely is it the Jets’ top 10 cap hits remain on the roster?

Jets GM Joe Douglas will have some big decisions to make regarding players who will greatly affect the Jets’ 2020 salary cap.

Joe Douglas enters his first offseason as Jets general manager with a lot of questions surrounding the team.

He didn’t acquire most of the players on the roster and probably isn’t as invested in them as the previous regime. Douglas inherited a flawed team, both in the contracts of some of its players as well as the production from those players. This will be his time to take a long look at the books and determine who is worth the money they’re being paid and who isn’t.

The Jets have until March 18 to decide which players they’ll keep prior to the beginning of free agency and the 2020 league year. The Jets currently have the 10th-most cap space in the league at $56 million, per Spotrac, and that number will grow when Douglas decides to cut some big-money contracts early.

With that in mind, here are the top-10 cap hits for the Jets in 2020 and the likelihood they remain on the roster.

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Le’Veon Bell insists he’s good with Adam Gase

Le’Veon Bell has assured everyone that he and Adam Gase are on good terms.

Le’Veon Bell has shut down all the rumors about him and Adam Gase not getting along.

Bell’s future with the Jets has been questioned thanks to multiple reports of friction between him the and the head coach. Such reports surfaced before the running back could even take a snap with the Jets — Gase apparently wasn’t a fan of paying a hefty price tag for the position — and Bell was used sparingly in 2019 compared to his career standards in Pittsburgh. However, Bell has assured everyone that him and Gase are just fine and that there’s nothing to worry about moving forward.

“Me and Coach Gase had our exit meeting,” Bell told TMZ. “It was fine, so we straight. Yeah, we good.”

Last offseason, it was reported that Gase didn’t want to sign Bell to a massive contract. Gase wasn’t comfortable giving a 27-year-old running back a big contract. Former general manager Mike Maccagnan was still around when Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal.

Bell had a down year in his first season with the Jets. In 15 games, he rushed for 789 yards and three touchdowns. As a receiver, Bell had 66 receptions for 461 yards and a touchdown. His role in the offense was suspiciously nonexistent at times, leading many to wonder if Gase was trying to push him aside.

It’s been speculated that the Jets could try to trade Bell this offseason, but that won’t be easy given the money he’s due. Joe Douglas did take calls on Bell at the trade deadline, but nothing came to fruition.

For what it’s worth, Bell fully expects to be back with the Jets in 2020.

“Everybody blowing everything out of proportion,” Bell said. “Water under the bridge — we’re fine. We good … Jets for four more years unless something drastic changes.”

Jets pick Louisville OL Mekhi Becton in Todd McShay’s post-Super Bowl mock

With four offensive linemen already off the board, the Jets opt for Louisville’s Mekhi Becton is Todd McShay’s second mock draft of 2020.

In Todd McShay’s latest mock draft, the Jets take a plug-and-play tackle and break tradition in the process.

In his second prediction of the first-round, New York breaks its 13-year drought of not taking an offensive lineman in the first round. McShay has the Jets taking Louisville OT Mekhi Becton with the 11th pick. In this mock, Alabama’s Jedrick Willis Jr., Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Houston’s Josh Jones are already off the board, leaving Joe Douglas to pick between Becton and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas.

Here’s McShay’s explanation for the pick:

This is another clear mix of need and value. First, the Jets allowed 52 sacks in 2019, the fourth-most in the NFL. Second, left tackle Kelvin Beachum is a free agent. Becton and that massive 6-foot-7 frame would not only help protect Sam Darnold’s blindside but also spark a Le’Veon Bell-led run game that never took off, finishing 31st in the league (78.6 yards per game), ahead of only the Dolphins. It makes a ton of sense, but don’t be surprised to see the Jets kick the offensive line problem down the road in favor of finding an impact pass-rusher or shutdown cornerback. The problem is finding one outside the top 10.

McShay, who knows Douglas from when the two were teammates at the University of Richmond, hinted that there’s a possibility that the Jets could pick a pass-rusher or cornerback. Obviously, that’s a possibility for Gang Green that cannot be overlooked, with there being 10 teams picking in front of them.

Becton has been a fast-rising player, especially because of his size, standing at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds. He’s an athletic blocker with the size, length and skill to become a top offensive lineman.

The Lousiville product’s footwork and lateral movement for his size is pretty impressive, as well as the power he shows off. He is a power-mover in the run-game. He has the feet to stay at left tackle but needs to keep his weight in check.

Jets make puzzling pick in CBS Sports’ post-Super Bowl mock draft

New York opts for the best player available in CBS Sports’ new mock. In this case, that’s Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons.

With the NFL season coming to a close on Sunday night, the window for mock draft season opened up.

Although the draft is still months away, that hasn’t stopped pundits from trying to predict the first round and beyond. Following the Super Bowl, CBS Sports whipped up its latest mock draft, pairing the Jets with an interesting selection.

With three consecutive offensive linemen taken in front of the Jets, New York opts for the best player available rather than taking or potentially reaching for a need. That’s how Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons lands in green and white in this post-Super Bowl mock.

Here is CBS Sports’ explanation for the surprising selection:

The Jets have glaring needs along the offensive line and at wide receiver but four tackles are already off the board and this class is deep at WR. Instead, New York takes Simmons, who can line up just about anywhere on the field. He reminds us of a bigger version of Derwin James.

Simmons is the prototypical player for today’s NFL. He can go from rushing off the edge to off-ball to slot coverage with ease. While Simmons is probably one of the best defensive prospects in this draft and certainly one of the closest prospects to being a sure thing, it doesn’t excuse the Jets from passing on wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb.

The Clemson product is certainly a polarizing prospect who the Jets would be able to line up all over the defense. The thing is, the Jets already have that type of player in Jamal Adams, who compares similarly to Derwin James.

In any event, if the Jets find themselves in this situation, they should put the 11th pick up for sale and open up for business. Adding more draft capital and trading back to take an offensive lineman, say Houston’s Josh Jones, is the safe route. The safe route isn’t sexy, but the Jets don’t have the roster flexibility to ignore glaring holes in the first round if the team has any intentions of competing in 2020.

Jets should go after EDGE Vic Beasley if the price is right

The Falcons gave up on 2015 first-round pick Vic Beasley, but the Jets should give him a look at a cheap price.

It’s not often a pass rusher with 37.5 sacks in five seasons hits the open market, but that’s exactly where Vic Beasley finds himself after the Falcons announced they wouldn’t pursue contract negotiations with their 2015 first-round pick. With Beasley becoming a free agent, the Jets should take a hard look at the 27-year-old Beasley, who is fresh off an eight-sack season and has the tools to be a solid contributor in the pass rush.

Beasley opened his career with an uninspiring rookie season after the Falcons took him eighth in the 2015 draft, but broke out in a big way in 2015. He led the NFL with 15.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2016 and looked poised to become the Falcons’ next great pass rusher.

However, his production dropped off considerably. Beasley tallied only five sacks in each of the next two seasons. He looked poised for another disappointing season in the final year of his rookie contract in 2019, but registered four sacks in the final four games of the season amid a late-season resurgence for the Falcons defense.

In a way, Beasley’s final season in Atlanta encapsulated his entire career so far. Though he doesn’t lack the ability to perform at a high level, Beasley has always battled consistency. He’s had two big seasons in between three mediocre ones and he’s disappeared during stretches through each season as well, stacking great performances back-to-back before failing to make an impact for multiple games.

While the Falcons may be over Beasley’s inability to perform week and week out, the Jets should swoop in to grab Beasley to help fortify their pass rush.

The Jets had one of the worst pass-rushing units in the league in 2019 and only saw real production from Jamal Adams and Jordan Jenkins, who combined for 12.5 of the Jets’ 35 sacks. Though the Jets blitzed the fourth-most in the NFL, they finished with the 27th-most hurries and the 23rd-most sacks.

The price will need to be right for the Jets to give Beasley a shot, though. He won’t get a big-money contract like the one Za’Darius Smith or Anthony Barr earned last offseason, but there’s a chance Beasley could command somewhere between Tahir Whitehead’s three-year, $19 million contract with the Raiders and Alex Okafor’s three-year, $17.9 million contract with the Chiefs. Both are around the same age and body type as Beasley, though Beasley has been more productive than both during his career.

The Jets can afford to pay Beasley and see if they can capture some that potential the league saw in 2016. New York is projected to have the 11th-most cap space this offseason, per Spotrac, and Beasley could be a nice, cheaper option for a Jets with a considerable amount of holes across the roster.

If the Jets do go after Beasley, it shouldn’t be contingent on what they decide to with Jenkins and/or Brandon Copeland. If anything, Beasley and Jenkins would make a great pass-rushing duo on each edge. At 6-foot-3, 246 pounds, Beasley is built similarly to Jenkins and Copeland and could seamlessly slide into Gregg Williams’ defense.

Beasley also fits the mold of a Williams defender in that he can play multiple positions in the front-seven. He’s lined up both as a 4-3 defensive end and as a strong-side linebacker in Dan Quinn’s defense. Williams could have a lot of fun with a pass rush revolving around Beasley, Jenkins, Anderson and Quinnen Williams.

The Jets need help across the board, and Beasley offers the perfect opportunity to fill a need without breaking the bank.

Jets among Top 10 in projected Top 51 cap space

The Jets are in good shape from a financial perspective entering free agency.

In what seems to be a recurring theme at One Jets Drive, New York will have plenty of money at its disposal once free agency kicks off in March.

The Jets rank 10th in projected Top 51 salary cap space with $55 million, according to Spotrac. That’s not nearly as much cap space as New York had entering free agency last year ($89.9 million), but it is still a hefty number for first-year general manager Joe Douglas to work with.

Last season, Mike Maccagnan spent most of Gang Green’s cap room on running back Le’Veon Bell ($52.5 million) and C.J. Mosley ($85 million). Douglas won’t be able to hand out massive deals like that this offseason, but he still has plenty of money to remain competitive for New York’s top free agent targets.

Patriots offensive lineman Joe Thuney figures to be at the top of Douglas’ wish list considering New York’s need for help on the line. Early reports indicate the Jets will push hard to secure Thuney’s signature, but it’s going to take a decent amount of cash to get the 27-year-old to leave New England for a division rival.

Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper also stands as a potential target for the Jets. Dallas is likely using its franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott, making Cooper all but certain to hit the open market. However, Cooper comes with a hefty price tag. According to Spotrac, the Alabama product is set to earn a contract near an average annual value of $20 million. If Douglas wants to add Cooper to the mix, he’ll have to pony up and make an offer that will take up a large chunk of Gang Green’s payroll.

Before Douglas and company can worry about setting up New York’s free agency big board, they will have some in-house decisions to make. Thirty-two Jets are set to hit free agency, with wide receiver Robby Anderson being the most expensive of the group. How Douglas elects to spend when re-signing players will directly impact how much money the Jets have to spend once free agency begins. Of course, there will also be some cap causalities as well.

Will New York enter free agency with $55 million to spend? Probably not. Either way, that number is certainly a good place to start.

How did former Jets fare in 2019 after leaving New York?

Here’s how some notable players performed a year after playing for the Jets in 2018.

The Jets had a lot of roster turnover between 2018 and 2019 — thanks in part to a lot of organizational turnover — which left a handful of players in new locations this past season.

There were an abundance of notable players from New York’s 2018 roster that were on different teams in 2019. That list includes Darron Lee, Mike Pennel, Morris Claiborne, Buster Skrine, Jason Myers, Leonard Williams, Andre Roberts, Josh McCown, Isaiah Crowell and Jermaine Kearse.

Let’s take a look at how those 10 players performed after leaving the Jets.

Super Bowl Champs

Three former Jets were were part of the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs: Darron Lee, Mike Pennel and Morris Claiborne.

Lee found himself in a backup role this season with the Chiefs after being a three-year starter for the Jets. After having three straight seasons of 40+ tackles, Lee only recorded 22 tackles in his first season in Kansas City.

Despite not playing a full season, Pennel had one of the better years of his career. In the Super Bowl, he was one of the players who caused Jimmy Garoppolo to throw his first interception. Pennel had 13 total tackles and one sack during the regular season.

Like Lee, Claiborne was also a backup player. He only played in eight games and had nine tackles to go along with no pass defenses. It was the first time in his eight-career that he didn’t record a breakup.

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It’s about time Steve Atwater made the Hall of Fame

Steve Atwater wasn’t known for this time with the Jets but still had a long and fruitful career in the defensive backfield.

It took 16 years, but “The Smiling Assassin” will finally grin forever in Canton.

Steve Atwater, the former Broncos and Jets safety, joined the class of 2020 as a Pro Football Hall of Famer 21 years after he retired from the league. Atwater made his hay as one of the hardest hitting safeties of the 1990s, terrifying offenses at the line of scrimmage and stopping even the mightiest of running backs.

Though he only played one nondescript season with the Jets, Atwater rightfully deserved the Hall of Fame induction after 16 years of eligibility and three as a finalist. Atwater retired the year after he signed with the Jets as a free agent in 1999, a season in which he only played 12 games and tallied just 63 total tackles and one forced fumble.

Atwater didn’t bring pain and terror to the Jets defense, but he racked up stats and accolades during his 10-year career with the Broncos. He earned eight Pro Bowl nods, two All-Pro selections, won two Super Bowls and registered 1,000 tackles, 24 interceptions, five sacks, five forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries.

The Broncos used Atwater the way a lot of big-bodied safeties play now – at the line of scrimmage. There, he crushed running backs and played a pivotal role in the Broncos’ run defense. Two moments encapsulate Atwater’s career: His devastating hit on Chiefs running back Christian Okoye and his dominating performance in Super Bowl XXXII.

Atwater somehow derailed Okoye in Week 2 of the 1990 season, a feat now many could accomplish given Okoye’s 6-foot-1, 260-pound frame. At 6-foot-3, 218 pounds, Atwater proved himself up to the task. Atwater played a pivotal role in the Broncos’ first of two consecutive Super Bowl wins. He terrorized the Green Bay Packers offense in Super Bowl XXXII with six solo tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Once his career concluded in Denver, Atwater joined the Bill Parcells-led Jets in 1999. Atwater played alongside Victor Green in the deep secondary with cornerbacks Marcus Coleman and Aaron Glen on the outside. The Jets went 8-8 in Parcells’ first year in New York and Atwater finished sixth on the team in total tackles with 63.

Atwater paved the way for safeties like Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins and Landon Collins to become staples of the defenses as imposing defensive backs. He won’t be remembered for his time with the Jets, but Atwater’s career as a whole certainly deserved Hall of Fame recognition.

2020 NFL Draft order finalized following Super Bowl

The New York Jets will pick 11th in the 2020 NFL Draft as the league’s first-round order is finalized following the Chiefs Super Bowl win.

With the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl on Sunday night, they officially locked up the 32nd pick and finalized the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

While there is a hiatus of football until spring OTAs, now is the time to closely follow mock drafts. The scouting combine will start at the end of this month and it will create a clearer picture as to what teams are planning to do with their picks.

After finishing 7-9, the Jets will pick just outside the top-10 at No. 11. While it’s known league-wide that the Jets want to fix the offensive line in the first round, it all depends on whether or not any of the top-heavy prospects in the renches will be there by the time New York makes its selection.

Players like Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr. will be intriguing options for the Jets at No. 11.

Other options for the Jets include wide receivers Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb from Alabama and Oklahoma, respectively, or LSU pass-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. New York could move back, as it needs all the draft capital it can possibly get.

Here is a look at the finalized draft order as the NFL heads into the offseason:

1. Bengals

2. Redskins

3. Lions

4. Giants

5. Dolphins

6. Chargers

7. Panthers

8. Cardinals

9. Jaguars

10. Browns

11. Jets

12. Raiders

13. Colts

14. Buccaneers

15. Broncos

16. Falcons

17. Cowboys

18. Dolphins (via Steelers)

19. Raiders (via Bears)

20. Jaguars (via Rams)

21. Eagles

22. Bills

23. Patriots

24. Saints

25. Vikings

26. Dolphins (via Texans)

27. Seahawks

28. Ravens

29. Titans

30. Packers

31. 49ers

32. Chiefs