NFL Power Rankings: Post-free agency
By John Buhler
New York Jets
AFC, East
2017 will be a year of truth for third-year head coach Todd Bowles. After going 10-6 in 2015, the Jets nose-dived into an awful 5-11 record in 2016. They couldn’t get the quarterback position right and locker room issues never seemed to go away.
New York cut two of its better players in cornerback Darrelle Revis and center Nick Mangold and released a third in wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The Jets are also trying to trade talented, but volatile defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson.
Through the first few days of free agency, the only solid player coming New York’s way has been offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum. Bowles better be hoping for addition by subtraction for his AFC East football team because New York might very well be the worst team in the AFC this season.
New York has to get better at quarterback to have any hope in an underrated AFC East with juggernaut New England, viable Miami, and interesting Buffalo. The defensive line should still be a point of strength for this team, but what else will the Jets be good at this season?
Like with San Francisco, the Jets have to win in the war room during the 2017 NFL Draft to have any hopes of being respectable this year. New York could still make moves in the second, third or fourth waves of free agency. As of now, big market New York underwhelmed in the first wave of free agency and that could prove costly.