New York Jets need to make splashes in NFL free agency

The New York Jets need plenty of upgrades. Might as well start on defense.

Last year, then-general manager Mike Maccagnan spent lavishly, landing C.J. Mosley to anchor the linebackers along with the signing of Avery Williamson. Unfortunately, Mosley only played two games amidst an injury-ruined year, making a total of nine tackles. Williamson didn’t even provide those numbers, missing all of 2019 with a torn ACL.

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Now, the New York Jets are coming off a 7-9 campaign and are desperate to improve. General manager Joe Douglas enters his first offseason with plenty of wants, and plenty of cap space to help him. According to Over the Cap, New York is armed with a projected $49.4 million in money to use on free agency.

Looking at the roster and the incoming crop of unrestricted free agents, Douglas has to be thinking about a pass-rusher. New York has struck out for years in the draft and open market on that front, but could make things right this time. Jets safety Jamal Adams talked about the opportunity on Monday, per NFL.com:

“I would definitely go for (Jadeveon) Clowney. Pass rusher, that’s what I’m looking forward to,” Adams said. “That’s a safety’s best friend. Definitely Clowney, Big 9-1 down in Jacksonville (Yannick Ngakoue), he’s a beast. Dante Fowler. I mean, there are so many guys coming out right now in free agency that we could sure use coming off that end.”

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Adams has quite the wish list, but it’s a smart one. Landing Ngakoue might rob the Jets of their first-round pick, but adding a 24-year-old pass-rusher is never a negative. Clowney is a risky considering his injury history — and the fact he only notched three sacks with the Seattle Seahawks this year — but he’s a mega-talent.

If New York is going to seriously challenge for a playoff spot, let alone the AFC East, Douglas has to improve both sides of the ball. However, building a dominant defense with coordinator Gregg Williams at the helm would be a wonderful start for a team that hasn’t been to the postseason in a decade. Adams and Marcus Maye provide a solid back end, and while the corners need upgrading, a great pass-rush can mask plenty of issues there.

Over the next two months, Douglas and head coach Adam Gase have a moment to improve the team drastically as we head towards OTAs. There’s little time to waste.