The primary question for the Jets this offseason has been do thy trade Sam Darnold or the #2 overall pick. I say trade them both.

To free up some more cap space, the Jets cut George Fant (7.85 million savings), Alex Lewis (5.2), and Ryan Griffin (1.85). This puts the Jets cap space at $80.473 Million.

Free Agency:

My top free agent priority is to build up the interior offensive line with OG Joe Thuney @ 4yr $60M (14M Cap Hit in 21) and C Corey Linsley @ 3 yr $28M (7.33M Cap Hit in 21). Linsley gets a deal slightly higher than Paradis and McGovern received in recent years (3/27 each).

Saleh brings over former 49ers in CB Jason Verrett @ 3 yr $17M (5.66 Cap Hit in 21), S Jaquiski Tartt @ 3 yr $16M (4.66 Cap Hit in 21), and DE Solomon Thomas @ 2 yr $10M (4.00 Cap Hit in 21) on the defensive side as well as WR Kendrick Bourne @ 3 yr $17.5M (5.166 Cap Hit in 21) on the offensive side. In addition, the Jets ink OT Matt Feiler @ 1 yr $4M.

Re-signings:

Brian Poole 3 yrs $16M (4M Cap Hit in 21)

Neville Hewitt 2 yrs $8M (4M Cap Hit in 21)

Tarell Basham, Pat Elflein and Josh Adams 1 yr - $1.2 million

Jeff Smith 1 yr 780K ERFA

Jets are at $33.4 M after these moves.

Trades:

On Draft Day, The Jets trade Sam Darnold to the WFT (and gain $3.9M in Cap Space) for their 2nd rounder #51 overall.

The Jets also trade the #2 overall pick and the #86 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers for the #8, #39, #73, the Panthers 1st rounder in 22, and Teddy Bridgewater (-$17M in Cap Space)

The Jets now have $20.3M for draft picks and for other in season moves.

2021 NFL Draft:

1st Round #8 (Panthers Pick): WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU - Rationale - All 4 QBs go in the top 6 picks, Sewell\Pitts\Parsons also come off the board, leaving the Jets with their pick of the top WRs in the draft and they immediately pick Chase.

1st Round #23 (Seahawks pick): EDGE Gregory Rousseau, MIA – Rationale – Best Edge Rusher in the Draft, slips due to his opt out and lack of tape in college. Saleh is seen opening champagne bottles in the back of the draft room.

2nd Round #34: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa – Rationale – Collins will play all over the field and in all situations for the Jets Defense ILB\OLB\Edge.

2nd Round #39 (Panthers pick): TE Pat Freiermuth, PSU – Rationale – Baby Gronk combines with Herndon to give the Jets a good pair of TEs.

2nd Round #51 (WFT pick): CB Asante Samuel Jr – Rationale – Will not start immediately, but could take over 1 of the starting CB spots by midseason.

3rd Round #66: OT Dillon Radunz, NDSU - Rationale - Will be a backup year 1, but will work to become our starting RT for years to come.

3rd Round #73 (Panthers Pick): RB Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis - Rationale - Versatile back both running the ball and catching out of the backfield.

4th Round #107: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa – Rationale – Will return kicks as he learns the offense.

5th Round #146: S Caden Sterns, Texas – Rationale – Good size (6’0" 210), with excellent athleticism and coverage skills.

5th Round #154 (Giants pick): DT Marvin Wilson, FSU – Rationale – A once highly regarded 4-3 DT, will need to work harder to achieve his potential ** Draft Steal

6th Round #185: K Jose Borregales, Miami - Rationale – Graduate transfer from FIU to Miami. Extremely accurate with a very strong leg. Lou Groza award winner in 2020 after going 20/22 with a long of 57 yards.

2021 Depth Chart:

QB: Teddy Bridgewater, James Morgan

RB: Kenneth Gainwell, LaMical Perrine, Ty Johnson, Josh Adams

WR1: Ja'Marr Chase, Kendrick Bourne

WR2: Denzel Mims, Jeff Smith

WR3: Jamison Crowder, Ihmir Smith-Marsette (KR\PR)

TE: Pat Freiermuth, Chris Herndon

LT: Mekhi Becton, Chuma Edoga

LG: Joe Thuney, Pat Elflein

C: Corey Linsley, Josh Andrews

RG: Connor McGovern, Greg Van Roten

RT: Matt Feiler, Dillon Radunz

SDE: Gregory Rousseau, John Franklin-Meyers

DT: Quinnen Williams, Nathan Shepherd

DT: Folorunso Fatukasi, Marvin Wilson

WDE: Solomon Thomas, Kyle Phillips, Jabari Zuniga

SAM: Tarell Basham, Bryce Huff

MIKE: CJ Mosely, Neville Hewitt

WILL: Zaven Collins, Blake Cashman

CB1: Jason Verrett, Bless Austin

CB2: Bryce Hall, Asante Samuel Jr., Lamar Jackson

Slot: Brian Poole, Javelin Guidry

SS: Jaquiski Tartt, Caden Stearns

FS: Marcus Maye, Ashtyn Davis

PK: Jose Borregales

P: Braden Mann

LS: Thomas Hennessey

Summary:

Rome wasn't built in a day. The Jets are going to be a few years away from competing for the playoffs. The key to this off-season is to start building talent, especially through the draft. This is why I chose to trade both the #2 overall pick and Sam Darnold. By doing so, I was able to get 2 additional second rounders this year, an earlier pick in the 3rd round, and an additional high 1st in 22. The 21 draft capital acquired in these two trades was turned into a #1 WR, a #1 TE, a #1 RB (in a year or so), and a #1 CB (in a year or so).

Before throwing shade at me for grabbing Teddy Bridgewater as my starter, know that this move is just a place holder with eyes trained on the 22 Draft for my franchise QB (3 1st rounders as ammo). Also, Teddy Bridgewater is cuttable after the season with only a $5M dead cap hit.