Douglas’ overall draft success should have fans hopeful, but he needs to get vet QB

The Jets and general manager Joe Douglas had a big night on Thursday.

New York’s first two picks of the 2022 NFL Draft, cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson, were named NFL Defensive and Offensive Rookies of the Year at the NFL Honors award ceremony in Phoenix. It marks only the third time in NFL history a team had players sweep the rookie categories.

But before he was the general manager of the Jets, Douglas helped shape the Eagles roster as their vice president of player personnel from 2016-19.

During his time with the Eagles, Douglas — along with general manager Howie Roseman — put together a roster that made back-toback playoff appearances, including winning Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots following the 2017 season.

Now, five years later, Philadelphia is back in the Super Bowl, this time against Kansas City.

Although Douglas hasn’t been with the Eagles organization since 2019, he helped scout key players during the 2018 draft. The Eagles drafted both tight end Dallas Goedert and defensive end Josh Sweat in the second and fourth round, respectively. And each is still having a significant impact on the roster for the NFC champions.

This season, Goedert caught 55 passes for 702 yards and three touchdowns as he helped the Eagles finish third in total offense. Sweat was one of the key cogs for a Philadelphia defensive line that ended the year with 70 sacks. He recorded a careerhigh 11 sacks while also having 48 tackles.

Also, before leaving for the Jets during the summer of 2019, Douglas and Roseman drafted running back Miles Sanders, who rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named to his first Pro Bowl this season.

This should give Jets fans optimism for the future as the team did an incredible job in last year’s draft. Douglas drafted Gardner and Wilson, but also took Jermaine Johnson late in the first round, who could potentially play a more significant role in 2023.

Also, running back Breece Hall, who was drafted in the second round, was arguably the favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year until an ACL injury knocked him out for the rest of the season. In seven games, Hall rushed for 463 yards and four touchdowns.

Naysayers will say Douglas did miss on the most critical position in all of sports, and there’s no denying that. The Jets had their choice of taking Justin Fields, Trey Lance or Mac Jones, but they chose Zach Wilson in the 2021 NFL Draft at second overall and he has been a massive disappointment during his first two seasons.