4 New Year’s resolutions for the Jets in 2021
2020 has been a year most people at One Jets Drive would like to forget.
After an offseason filled with drama surrounding Jamal Adams’ future with the organization, navigating COVID-19 and an 0-13 start to the season, it has been a disastrous 12 months for the Jets. A new year brings about hope for the future, though, and New York will have a chance to reverse its fortunes in a major way in 2021.
How are the Jets going to go about accomplishing that? Here are four New Year’s resolutions that might help the cause.
The Johnson's shouldn't meddle
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The next couple of months will be crucial in determining the future of the Jets. Will New York fire Adam Gase? The answer is almost certainly yes, so who will replace him? Who will the Jets target in free agency and with the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL draft? All of these decisions should be made by Joe Douglas, not Christopher and Woody Johnson, who have a history of meddling with their front office executives. It's understandable that the Johnson's want to have a say in the direction the Jets go -- it is their team, after all. However, they fired Mike Maccagnan and hired Douglas for a reason. If the Johnson's truly have confidence in their general manager, they will allow him to take the lead on all of the key moves that need to be made this offseason. It remains to be seen what type of role Christopher will play when Woody ends his term as outgoing President Donald Trump's Ambassador to the United Kingdom. But regardless of who is in charge, they should simply step aside and trust Douglas' judgment.
The Jets land a competent head coach
Seth Wenig-AP
It likely won't be too much longer until Douglas officially begins his search for the Jets' next head coach. Douglas needs to run a thorough search that lands New York the best leader it can possibly get. One Jets Drive might not be the most attractive destination for a coach now that the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft belongs to Jacksonville, but the impending Jets opening is still an intriguing one. Armed with the second pick in the upcoming draft and an abundance of salary cap space, Douglas has plenty to sell prospective candidates. In order for his rebuilding project to remain on track, Douglas cannot afford to miss on his first head coaching hire as a general manager.
The Jets find their QB of the future
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Whether it be Sam Darnold or a player currently in the college ranks, 2021 needs to be the year the Jets find their quarterback of the future. If New York opts to stick with Darnold and address another position of need with the second pick in the upcoming draft, 2021 will be Darnold's last year to prove he has what it takes to be Gang Green's quarterback. There will be no more grace period after Darnold's fourth year. It's make or break for the USC product. If Douglas takes a signal-caller like Zach Wilson or Justin Fields at No. 2, the Jets need to go all-in on surrounding him with the support system necessary to succeed -- something they failed to do with Darnold. It will take more than 2021 to determine if a rookie quarterback has the goods, but the foundation for his future needs to be built throughout the year.
New York's young talent stays the course
AP Photo/Ashley Landis
As bad as the Jets have been throughout 2020, their young talent has been a silver lining in an otherwise lost year. Mekhi Becton, Foley Fatukasi, Braden Mann, Denzel Mims and numerous others have proved that they belong at One Jets Drive in 2021 and beyond. With that being said, what those players do from this point on determines how good New York can become within the next couple of years. Gang Green's talent needs to stay the course and continue to develop. Fortunately for Douglas and company, New York's youth is a hungry group that is eager to do what it takes to propel the Jets from the bottom of the AFC East into the playoff picture in 2021.
