INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: General manager Joe Douglas of the New York Jets speaks to the media ... [+]
Joe Douglas gave an update on free agency to reporters a few days ago. But for the New York Jets’ general manager, the 2020 free-agency period, in essence, began on November 23, 2019.
That was when New York re-signed tight end Ryan Griffin.
That move occurred the day before New York’s 11th game of the 2019 season, and it set the tone for much of what has happened since then, not only because of the contract Griffin received, but because of the circumstances.
And that transaction, plus some of Douglas’ comments Wednesday, give a window into his strategy for constructing New York’s roster. It's a risk-reward philosophy, and certainly a very fiscally-responsible one. But it also means the Jets are counting on numerous players who either haven’t been consistent performers, haven’t been able to stay reasonably healthy, or both.
“You kind of take what the defense gives you,” Douglas said about the fact that 13 of the Jets’ 18 free-agent signings, or re-signings, have been for one-year deals.
He then was asked if the reasoning behind the lack of big-money. long-term contracts stems from alleged cash-flow problems for the organization.
Douglas said, “We’re trying to be as financially responsible as we can be. We feel comfortable about where we are with our cash flow right now while also maintaining a certain level of flexibility so that if the right opportunity presents itself, we can be proactive, and go after a certain player.
“The market dictated a lot of those one-year deals,” he added. “It does give us great flexibility. Obviously, the market wasn't ideal for a lot of players and agents early, so we were able to come to an agreement on a lot of one-year deals. We have the flexibility to try to extend those guys (during) the season.”
That's exactly what Douglas did with Griffin, re-upping him for three years at $9.55 million, including $4.328 million of guaranteed money, per overthecap.com. Griffin first was signed by the Jets on July 22, 2019, two-plus months after being released by Houston.
After a slow start in which he wasn’t often targeted, Griffin and quarterback Sam Darnold established a chemistry, which helped Griffin produce 28 receptions and five touchdown catches in an eight-game span, during which he was rewarded with the contract extension.
It's safe to say Douglas is hoping for similar returns from the low-cost free agents he has signed during the first two waves of 2020 free agency. Granted, Douglas and his front-office lieutenants have watched the tape and done the research on these players, some of whom they already had dealt with at some of their previous NFL teams.
But it simply is not realistic to expect all of these moves, or perhaps even a majority of them, to work out. That’s why it is imperative that Douglas and his staff hit some home runs in the NFL Draft this year and in future years, and not only in the first round. To build a playoff team the way Douglas apparently intends to, by eschewing big-ticket free agents, the drafts must bear fruit.
That wasn’t the case for either of Douglas’ most recent predecessors, Mike Maccagnan and John Idzik. Maccagnan's free-agent spending sprees, in particular, didn’t make the Jets a winner, and poor drafting by him and Idzik did not help. Only five players from the 2013-17 drafts remain on the roster, and one of them, wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, might never play again because of recurring neck injuries. Enunwa and Vikings offensive lineman Dakota Dozier are the only players from Idzik’s infamous 12-man 2014 draft class who still are on NFL rosters.
Thus, even though Douglas’ roster-building approach is anything but sexy, he should get the benefit of the doubt, at least for now.
