27. New York Jets
Current cap space: $49,693,190
Primary free agents: WR Robby Anderson, CB Brian Poole, WR Demaryius Thomas
Jets quarterback Sam Darnold missed three games early in the 2019 season with mononucleosis. In those games, started by backup Luke Falk, head coach Adam Gase’s offense scored a grand total of three field goals and no touchdowns. The offense gained 105 yards against the Patriots in Week 3 and 128 yards after the bye against the Eagles in Week 5. Falk was in no way ready for prime time, but Gase’s response to the anemic output was disconcerting at best.
Adam Gase on if he would have done anything differently or tried something else to get out of this season-long rut:
"There’s nothing I look back on and say, 'I wish I would have done this over that.'"
Jets have scored on only 3 of 50 offensive drives. 17 points in 16 quarters
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) October 7, 2019
Things got a bit better when Darnold returned in Week 6, but Gase’s attitude continued. In December, he was quoted as saying that he didn’t care about fan criticism because he was “rich as [expletive].”
It’s not that Gase has to be Mr. Congeniality, but given his career results as an NFL head coach — a 30-34 record over three seasons with the Dolphins and 2019 with the Jets — he hasn’t exactly earned the right to shoot his mouth off. The Jets did go 6-2 in the second half of the season, and if Gase can keep that momentum rolling, perhaps all will be forgiven.