Fix the secondary

The Jets opened the 2019 season with Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts as the top two cornerbacks. They ended with 2019 sixth-round pick Bless Austin and undrafted free agent Arthur Maulet. Outside of the offensive line, the secondary is the position group that needs the most attention. 

New York actually ranked 17th in passing yards allowed and tied for 13th in passing touchdowns allowed but was still gashed through the air in several games this season. Safety Jamal Adams and cornerback Brian Poole – both of whom ranked top-10 in coverage at their respective positions, per Pro Football Talk – were among the few bright spots in the secondary along with Austin. Those three aren’t enough to save the unit, especially considering Poole is an impending free agent and Adams’ future with the Jets has been in question since October.

Douglas will have to take a hard look at the entire cornerback landscape before fixing the secondary. Cutting Johnson and Roberts will free up some money, but the free agent pool is suspect. The draft is another avenue, but also a crapshoot. Fortunately for the Jets, Austin performed well at the end of the season and could become a solid starter in 2020.