Did the Jets do enough this off-season to change their future?

The Jets came into the 2021 off-season with needs across the board including a coaching staff.

They were loaded with cap space and solid draft capital holding the second overall pick and two first-rounders. This was one of the least talented teams we have ever seen, at no point should you ever have to start Braxton Berrios as your first wide receiver. Did they do enough to adjust the fate of the franchise?

The Jets were the second-worst team in the league last year, but it’s worth a debate about them being the worst. There were multiple questions after the season ended, mainly with the coaching staff and the quarterback position. Clearly, Adam Gase was the wrong answer and had been. Well, he was finally ousted and Robert Saleh was hired on to lead the team after some amazing seasons with the 49ers.

However, there was still a debate around 3rd overall pick Sam Darnold from a couple of years ago. The Jets came in aggressively in free agency, though they did miss out on the top-end offensive lineman they were able to get solid starters at other slots. They came out of free agency with four instant starters Carl Lawson, EDGE, Tevin Coleman, Runningback, Corey Davis, Wide receiver, and Jarrod Davis, Linebacker. Then out of the draft, they got other several starters in Elijah Moore, Wide receiver, Zach Wilson, Quarterback, Micheal Carter, Runningback, and Alijah Vera-Tucker, at Offensive guard.

They shipped off Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, so this team is now firmly in the hands of Zach Wilson.

Right now the team will have a much different look than it did last year at the following positions; quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive end, right guard, linebacker slot corner, and free safety. It’s rare to see teams come into the off-season with needs and come away with new starters on almost half the positions. They could still look for upgrades at kicker and tight end as well, so I would not expect these to be the last starting changes we see for the Jets.

Who are the new starters versus last year?

QB went from Sam Darnold to Zach Wilson.

RB went from Frank Gore to Tevin Coleman and Micheal Carter.

MLB has CJ Mosley back who sat out for Covid.

RG went from a mix to Alijah Vera-Tucker.

The slot WR went from a rotation to Elijah Moore.

Starting WR went from Jamison Crowder to Corey Davis. (It seems after Moore Crowder might be a cap casualty soon as he won’t take Denzel Mims or Corey Davis spot, and Moore is a better version.)

DE went from a 3-4 set to 4-3 which landed Carl Lawson as the starter, and fellow free agent Vinny Curry might take over the other DE slot.

DT is now Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins with Sheldon coming in from Free Agency.

Secondary there were a lot of questions and it was not attacked much in free agency so any of the new defensive backs could take over a role from the draft as three safeties and two corners taken. The only starter from last year who might keep his job is Marcus Maye, safety.

Is it enough to change the direction of the franchise?

Yes, this seems like a lot of work for a team that had a lot of holes. There was a strong lack of depth and starting level talent, and getting this many starters will definitely have an impact. This might be the most talented offense the Jets have had over the last ten years, not only at the starter level but also at overall depth. The defense got a facelift, and Saleh wasted no time fixing the front-seven since it’s a totally different system, their downfall could be in the secondary. But, from the looks of it, they might be running a lot more nickel than we saw last year.

While the rest of the AFC East got better, the Jets still took them stride for stride.

This off-season as a whole may have been the best off-season the Jets ever had. We could see an extra six wins this year from the Jets. I would not expect playoffs, but being around the hunt doesn’t seem out of reach. The Jets still have cap room for next year, and two first-round picks again.