Jets unlikely to spend big bucks on big names

You ask, we answer. The Post is fielding questions from readers about New York’s biggest pro sports teams and getting our beat writers to answer them in a series of regularly published mailbags. In today’s installment: the Jets. Why haven’t the Jets signed Logan Ryan yet? They have a need and cap space. — Davey Cooks Is there a realistic scenario where the Jets can sign both Logan Ryan and Larry Warford? Does it entail cutting [Brian] Winters? — Michael Let’s take these two together. The Jets have talked to Ryan’s representatives. That does not mean they are on the brink of signing him, though. I think some people got carried away last week believing a signing was imminent. From my understanding, Ryan’s asking price is still very high, around $10 million. The Jets are not doing that. Warford is a similar situation. He reportedly is asking for $7 million. Those are prices the Jets are not paying at this point in the offseason. Right now, GM Joe Douglas is shopping for value. Fans often equate big names with good signings, but those signings don’t usually work out. There are reasons these two players are still free agents right now — a mix of declining skills and asking for too much money. To answer the second question, yes the Jets could sign both (and yes, Winters would be the likely cap casualty) but don’t count on it happening. How are these Jet players reacting to coach [Adam] Gase? Remember, they said he lost the Dolphin team. — Doug from Mahopac

Let’s take a few parts of this question apart. Right now, the players are only interacting with Gase virtually. I don’t imagine that is leading to many problems.

But the second part of your question is something I hear sometimes, and I’m not sure where this perception comes from. I have not heard that he lost the team in Miami. He had a few disagreements with players. Most coaches do. But there are a lot of players from the Dolphins who liked playing for Gase. The sense I got last year in the Jets’ locker room was that most players appreciated Gase’s intensity and dedication. Does he rub some people the wrong way? Surely. But think about the best coaches in the league. How many of them are universally loved by their players? This is not a popularity contest. If players feel Gase is putting them in the best position to win, they will respect him.

Do you think this will be Marcus Maye’s last season with the Jets since they drafted Ashtyn Davis? — Jake Spriggs

Yes, I think this is probably it for Maye. I believe the Jets are going to get a contract done with Jamal Adams eventually. It will be hard to make a major financial commitment to two safeties, even though Maye’s deal would be much less than Adams’. If Davis impresses the coaches this year, he can slide into Maye’s spot in 2021. All signs point to Maye being gone by 2021.

With no real training camp on the horizon, how long will it take for the offensive line to jell considering it looks like there will be new starters in every position on the line? — Dan

This is going to be the biggest challenge the Jets face, in my opinion. We saw last year what a line with bad chemistry looks like, after the starting line did not play together at all in the preseason. I’m not sure how long it will take or if there are things they can do to speed things up. It will be critical, though, that they get on the same page.

We know the Jets could use another quality wideout. Do you know if they have inquired about Keke Coutee or Dante Pettis, two players that would seem to fit better than the remaining crop of unappealing free agent receivers? — Jetstream

I have not heard those names, but that does not mean they have not explored them. Douglas has shown he does his due diligence in every situation. It would not surprise me if Demaryius Thomas is re-signed at some point. He remains a free agent. He is a favorite of Gase and could be a positive influence on the young receivers.

Do you think Hines Ward proved valuable in his 1st year [as an offensive assistant], and how do you think he may help Shawn Jefferson influence a raw WR room? — Dave

The receivers last year praised the work Ward did, and I know he drew some interest from other teams this offseason. He worked closely with Robby Anderson last year, and I thought Anderson improved late in the season. I think Ward has instant credibility with players because of his playing career. That always helps.