New York Jets: Free agency provides the opportunity to revamp the roster
For a team that was thought to compete for the No. 1 pick this year, the New York Jets exceeded expectations. A 5-11 season isn’t exactly successful in most eyes but it’s a step in the right direction for Todd Bowles and his coaching staff. They have young talent continuing to grow and gain experience but it’s free agency where Mike Maccagnan can earn his paycheck this season.
The Jets are expected to have around $72 million in projected cap space in free agency. That’s before cutting dead weight which will increase that number even more. Like a kid entering a candy shop, the Jets can go on a shopping spree this offseason and can entirely change the makeup of their roster.
It starts at the quarterback position and Kirk Cousins will be the primary target. He won’t come cheap but securing a veteran talent is a much safer move than taking a risk on one of the younger quarterback prospects in the draft. Cousins is just one of the many options the Jets will have. Even top talents like Le’Veon Bell, Demarcus Lawrence, Malcolm Butler and Jarvis Landry come into play because of cap flexibility. The Jets have the opportunity to win now and that’s how they should approach free agency.
Gear up for 2018 with a Jamal Adams name and number t-shirt.
They’ll be counted out with the odds stacked against them but we’ve seen plenty of underdog stories throughout the year. If the Jets can have a strong offseason, they can be dark house candidates coming out of the AFC this year.