WHAD'YA KNOW JOE?
Critical offseason for HM gets started at combine
INDIANAPOLIS — The pressure is on general manager Joe Douglas to fix the Jets roster this offseason. That process takes another big step here this week at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Douglas and the Jets personnel department will be here evaluating draft prospects all week, but Douglas will also be getting to other business as the NFL community descends on Indianapolis. Douglas has plenty of conversations lined up with agents and fellow GMs as he prepares for free agency, which hits in two weeks.
Robert Saleh is not here, and has not attended the combine since becoming the Jets’ coach. It is a growing trend for coaches not to be here. The theory is they can get more work done at the office and there is virtual access to player interviews.
This week is all about Douglas, who has yet to have a winning season as Jets general manager. Owner Woody Johnson made it clear at the Super Bowl that he expects things to be different this season. Douglas’ seat is hotter than Taylor Swift tickets and he can’t afford mistakes this year.
Here is a look at some of the things Douglas will be working on while here:
In a Huff
The Jets’ top free agent is edge rusher Bryce Huff, who had 10 sacks last year. Douglas will sit down with Huff ’s agent this week and get a better idea of what the price tag is going to be for a player the Jets signed as an undrafted free agent and then developed into a quality pass rusher. The Jets don’t want to lose Huff, but the question is how much money he will command. That picture should come into focus this week as Huff ’s agent meets with teams and begins to get an idea of what he could get on the open market. Some around the league believe he can land $17 million a year. If he gets that, it is unlikely the Jets would match.
Tackling the draft
It is no secret that the Jets need to rebuild their offensive line and the expectation is the team will draft a tackle with their firstround pick. Douglas will get an up close look at the top tackles in the draft this week and get a chance to interview all of them. This is still an early step in the draft process, but an important one. Pro Days and visits to Florham Park by players are still to come. The free-agent tackle market is weak so the Jets almost certainly will need to land one in the draft. Joe Alt, Taliese Fuaga and Olu Fashanu are projected to be the top tackles in the draft. Douglas will be taking a look at all of them
and more.
Vegas gamble
Trade talks accelerate this week with all of the NFL GMs in one small area. The Jets tried to trade for Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams at the trade deadline, hoping to reunite him with Aaron Rodgers. The Raiders were not interested at the time. They now have a new GM and Douglas surely will check in with Tom Telesco to see if there is any chance the Raiders will deal him. Despite Telesco publicly saying, “He’s a Raider,” when asked Tuesday about Adams, Douglas still has to explore a trade privately.
There’s a catch
The Jets desperately need to add at least one impact wide receiver this offseason to play alongside Garrett Wilson. The widereceiver market should be clearer after this week. Will the Buccaneers get a long-term deal done with Mike Evans? Are the Colts going to sign Michael Pittman? There is also the possibility that a receiver becomes available by trade.
Any takers?
The Jets are trying to trade quarterback Zach Wilson but it is going to be difficult to get anything of value for him. Wilson’s representatives have permission to speak to teams but nothing has materialized yet. Douglas will get a chance to gauge the market with GMs and also check in with Wilson’s agent if there is any team willing to give up something for the 2021 No. 2 pick.
brian. costello@ nypost.com