Roster overhaul still leaves Jets with plenty of questions

The NFL draft is over. The active part of free agency is long over. Rosters are not set, but the heavy lifting is done. Now, it is tinker season. Teams will add and remove pieces for the next few months until they have to settle on their 53-man rosters to start the season.

With their roster pretty much set, the Jets have undergone some major changes. They spent more than $120 million in free agency — highlighted by the additions of Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley. They made a big trade for guard Kelechi Osemele. Then, last week they drafted Quinnen Williams in the first round and added others who they hope can contribute this season.

“I think we’ve done some good things in terms of improving the talent at certain positions,” general manager Mike Maccagnan said. “I think you’re never truly done. I don’t think people realize it’s not as if you finish the draft and that’s the last time you spend looking at the roster.”

As Maccagnan assesses his roster post-draft, here are the four biggest questions about it:

1. Do they still need a center?

The Jets currently have Jonotthan Harrison penciled in as their starting center. The 27-year-old is no stranger to that role. He started 19 games at center for the Colts in 2014-15, plus another four at guard in 2016. With the Jets, he ended up starting eight games last year after Spencer Long was injured and ineffective.

The Jets were happy with how Harrison played down the stretch. Still, he projects more as a competent backup than a Week 1 starter. The Jets showed some interest in centers in free agency, but seemed scared off by their hefty price tags and decided to spend that money elsewhere. Then, they went into the draft thinking about drafting one, but things did not fall that way.

It is still possible that Maccagnan could sign a veteran or make a trade for a center, but the market is thin.

2. What about a cornerback?

This is a similar situation to center. Darryl Roberts is currently the starting cornerback opposite Trumaine Johnson. Roberts is another player the Jets were happy with when he had to step in for an injured Johnson last season. He then moved to safety at the end of the year after Marcus Maye was injured.

Maccagnan said they are happy with Roberts, but they will continue to search for ways to improve the roster. Morris Claiborne, who has started the past two years for the Jets, remains a free agent. Maccagnan said Claiborne is not currently healthy, but when he is they would consider bringing him back.

3. Does this mean Darron Lee will be on the team?

There has been plenty of speculation about Lee’s future since the Jets signed Mosley in March. They would love to trade Lee, but the rest of the league knows the Jets want to move him and are unlikely to make a trade when they expect the Jets could eventually release him.

As of right now, the Jets plan on holding onto Lee and seeing how things go. If he mopes about his role, he is probably finished. If he embraces the challenge, the Jets think Gregg Williams could find a role for him on his defense. Lee is fast and athletic and cheap. There could be a role for him.

“Darron’s played and done some good things for us,” Maccagnan said. “We’ll see how this unfolds going forward. I think we have some good competition at a lot of positions. We’ll see how it unfolds going forward.”

Two years ago, Maccagnan held onto Calvin Pryor for a few weeks after drafting Jamal Adams. Then, he found a taker in the Browns and traded him there for Demario Davis, who had a really good season for the Jets. Maybe Maccagnan can do it again.

4. Does Sam Darnold have enough weapons?

Sure, you’d like the Jets to have an All-Pro wide receiver. But overall, they have upgraded the offense around Darnold enough to help him in Year 2. Bell is a huge addition that will help the passing game as well as the running game. Jamison Crowder is a weapon for Adam Gase in the slot. Chris Herndon showed a lot of promise as a rookie and now can be paired with rookie Trevon Wesco to form a nice duo at tight end. The key here will be Gase. Can he get the most out of Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa?

Source: Read Full Article