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The 2020/21 season is now officially over for the New York Jets and for many reasons it was just a horror show. They face another offseason of major moves and potential big trades.
Adam Gase came under severe criticism over his running of the team and Sam Darnold left a lot to be desired with his quarterback play, however according to many, much of that was on Gase rather than Darnold.
The NFL draft is now crucial for the Jets’ offseason and they do have some decisions to make. They currently have the second overall pick. Should they trade Darnold?
Darnold’s season stats do not exactly set the world alight. In his 12 games, Darnold threw for 2,208 yards with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His completion percentage was 59.6% and he had a passer rating of 72.7. So not horrible, but not good either.
Do the Jets trade Same Darnold?
So now Jets general manager Joe Douglas has a decision to make, does he trade Sam Darnold and get some more draft picks or does he trade the second overall pick?
There would no shortage of suitors for Darnold’s services as he has shown his ability, albeit fleetingly at times. The 49ers could potentially trade for Sam Darnold as they do not seem all in on Jimmy Garoppolo, Dak Prescott’s situation with the Cowboys is anything but clear.
Washington Football Team could do with an upgrade at quarterback. So could Detroit. With all the comings and goings in Atlanta, they might want to move on from Matt Ryan so there would be potential to move Darnold on if the right offer came in.
If the Jets were to trade Darnold, then they would most likely take a quarterback with the second pick. Trevor Lawrence is headed to Jacksonville we all know that, so that would leave Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance to choose from.
Will the Jets trade their second overall pick?
What if Joe Douglas decided to trade the second overall pick and keep Darnold?
Should the notion become clear that the Jets would be open to trading the second overall pick, then a host of teams could put together a very enticing package for New York to give up their prized pick.
As mentioned earlier, a host of teams could do with a Justin Fields or a Zach Taylor so there would be significant interest in the second pick in the draft.
Despite their record of 2-14 the Jets roster is not as bad as it looks, and they still have pieces to build around. Although the offensive line desperately needs help, in Mekhi Becton, they have the left tackle position locked down. In the passing game the Jets have Denzel Mims however they need more weapons for Darnold should he stay a Jet.
On the other side of the ball, Quinnen Williams is a stud and they have players who have upped their game in the latter stages of the season. C.J. Mosely will hopefully be returning. Marcus Maye is a solid player, and defensive backs in Bryce Hall, Ashtyn Davis, and Javelin Guidry are all having better years than their rookie season. So all is not completely lost.
Major offseason decisions
This does seem like a huge off-season for the Jets. Is Sam Darnold the quarterback to take this franchise forward? The jury is still out, although seeing him with a different head coach could work wonders. However then there is the second-round pick, do they keep it, and if they do, will they draft a quarterback?
A lot of the NFL mock drafts have the Jets taking Justin Fields – that would mean the end of the road for Darnold in New York.
However, if they were to trade that pick, then they could potentially be in a position to put more pieces around Darnold, and with a new head coach coming in, it could be all that is needed to reinvigorate this franchise.
It is shaping up as a defining off-season for Joe Douglas. The Jets and it is one that they can not afford to mess up.
