On the Clock: 2023 New York Jets

This is usually the time of year that Hashtag Sports says their customary ‘The Jets are the Jets’ with their articles or breakdowns, but having both the offensive and defensive rookie of the year players makes that a tough sell.  The Jets are headed in the right direction under the guidance of Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas and could be in the market for a big-name Quarterback, so it's looking like the AFC East is stepping up its game as of late. ​

2022 Record: 7-10
GM: Joe Douglas
HC: Robert Saleh
OC: Nathaniel Hackett
DC: Jeff Ulbrich

Statistical Leaders:

Offense: 29th Scoring
Zach Wilson 54.5%, 1688, 6-7
Michael Carter 114-402-3
Breece Hall 80-463-4
Garrett Wilson 83-1103-4

Defense: 4th Scoring
C.J. Mosley 158 Tak, 7 PD
Quinnen WIlliams 12 Sacks, 12 TFL
Sauce Gardner 20 PD

Notable Free Agents:

Pos, Name, Age, Contract Status, 2022 Snap Count
C - Connor McGovern (30), UFA, 100%
RB - Ty Johnson (26), UFA, 15.5%
LT - George Fant (31), UFA, 46.5%

Draft Picks:

(6) Projected Cost of Rookie Picks in 2023: $8.5m
Round 1 #13
Round 2 #43
Round 3 #74
Round 4 #112
Round 6 #185
Round 6 #207

Salary Cap:

The Jets are just over the salary cap at 264K with 54 players currently on their roster, but they have some room.  Only having 6 selections in this upcoming draft makes it hard to decide where they are going to go, so with not a lot of cap space and draft picks makes adding to the team tough to do.  Corey Davis is set to make 11.6m in 2023 but hasn’t panned out as the Jets had hoped.  The Jets could save 10.5m by letting him walk.  CJ Mosley will be 31 for the 2023 season and has a 17m base salary that already has 2 voided years built into his deal.  The Jets could convert some of his base salary to bonus and prorate it over his voided years of 2025 and 2026 if they choose to.  Laken Tomlinson’s contract is up in 2024 and depending on how the Jets feel about his production, they could extend him to gain some cap relief.  ​

Restructure/Re-sign:

Quinnen Williams heads the list heading into the 2023 season for the Jets.  He will be playing on his 5th-year option and will account for 9.5m against the cap, and the Jets would be wise to extend him to get his cap number down.  He has been solid for New York amassing 12 sacks in 2022.  As much of a freak of nature as Mekhi Becton is at the tackle position at 6’7” 370, the Jets knew he was a project when they took him 11th overall in 2020, and depending on how the 24-year-old performs, or even stays on the field, in 2023 will determine if the Jets extend him or move on.  ​

Free Agency/Draft:

With a little cap room to work with and their rookie draft class set to cost 8.5m, the Jets wouldn’t seem to be suitors for a big splash play in free agency but with names like Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr in talks to come to New York, you never know.  If Carr or Rodgers comes to the Jets, they will have to make some tough decisions moving forward for some of the draft picks that are due to be signed in the upcoming years.  If they are able to land either of these quarterbacks, the idea of drafting O’Cyrus Torrence out of Florida to secure the interior of the offensive line is a brilliant start.  Heck, it's a solid pick either way.  With the Dolphins, Patriots, and Bills to contend with in the East, having someone to keep your quarterback upright is always a good move.  ​