Grading Joe Douglas' Performance as General Manager of Jets
Jets’ Joe Douglas has now produced four straight losing seasons in New York, leaving one question to be asked…
Is Douglas a better scout than an NFL General Manager?
Undoubtedly, Douglas has demonstrated an eye for lesser known talent since being at the helm.
Quarterbacks Mike White and Chris Streveler, receiver Braxton Berrios, defensive end John Franklin-Myers and linebacker Quincy Williams were all claimed by Douglas on waivers.
Running back Michael Carter and defensive end Micheal Clemons were fourth-round selections.
Pass rusher Bryce Huff was signed as an undrafted free agent, as was running back Zonovan Knight.
Being able to find lesser known talent is a sure-fire sign of being a great evaluator.
In free agency, Douglas has added key contributors such as tight end Tyler Conklin, offensive tackle George Fant, center Connor McGovern, defensive end Carl Lawson, cornerback D.J. Reed and safety Jordan Whitehead.
Then there’s the big picture stuff clouding over everything, starting with the quarterback situation.
Douglas traded New York’s 2018 first-round draft choice, quarterback Sam Darnold, pre-draft 2021 and then turned around and selected quarterback Zach Wilson to take his place in the first-round.
This hasn’t turned out so hot.
Darnold has played well in Carolina the past five games, while Wilson has been benched after producing nothing but offseason drama and a two-year completion percentage of 55.2%.
Douglas’ hand-picked selection of a head coach hasn’t fared much better.
After parting with former Jets' Head Coach Adam Gase in 2021 (9-23), Douglas replaced him with Robert Saleh (11-22).
The 2020 first-round selection of offensive tackle Mekhi Becton is also a huge red flag, especially considering the public pre-draft intel available stating Becton had previous difficulties controlling his weight in college.
That didn't stop Douglas from punching it at the yellow light and selecting Becton anyways, who has now missed most of the past two seasons with injury and weight control issues.
This leads us right into the biggest concern about Douglas...
His inability to build the offensive line.
Over the past three drafts on the most important unit on the field, Douglas has only chosen to use 4/26 picks on the offensive line.
One of those four have turned out to be a good pick, guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
How has that played out?
Since taking over in 2019, Douglas' Jets have surrendered the third-most sacks in the league (190).
Outside of the draft, Douglas added bigger ticket free agent offensive linemen with mixed results. As mentioned, the additions of Fant and McGovern were solid, while the acquisitions of $40 million dollar guard Laken Tomlinson and $20 million dollar left tackle Duane Brown, have been not so solid.
Everybody in the football world knows decent left tackles aren’t on the street in August.
Other than that, Douglas has filled up the offensive line depth chart with patch work castoffs (9/11 of whom are scheduled to be free agents).
It also didn’t help that he let right tackle Morgan Moses walk last year.
Moses has gone on to be the starter this season on the 10-6 Ravens.
Another head scratcher was the investment Douglas made this past off-season in the tight-end position.
Granted, it had been a need...
Douglas signed free agents Tyler Conklin (3-years, $20 million) and C.J. Uzomah (3-years, $24 million).
Where it gets confusing is Douglas then turned around the following month and took tight-end Jeremy Ruckert in the third-round?
As expected, Ruckert has hardly seen the field (2.55% offensive snap count).
Of course, this also happened to be the draft that probably saved Douglas' job.
The selections of cornerback Ahmad Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall were all grand slams.
The decision to trade back into the first-round and select edge rusher Jermaine Johnson has the look of being another big swing and a miss.
How about the salary cap. How has Douglas managed the cap?
The Jets currently have the No. 15 ranked cap (per spotrac.com) without a whole lot of change to spare, $15,275,349 (per overthecap.com).
Three of the four quarterbacks are free agents (White, Streveler and Joe Flacco), as are Fant, McGovern and guard Nate Herbig on an already paper-thin offensive line.
Kicker Greg Zeuerlein, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, free safety LaMarcus Joyner, defensive ends Solomon Thomas, Nathan Shepherd, Bryce Huff and Vinny Curry, along with linebackers Kwon Alexander and Quincy Williams are all free agents too.
While the extension of superstar defensive tackle Quinnen Williams looms.
Daniel Kelly’s Four-Year Joe Douglas Grade: D
MORE:
- Jets React to Missing Playoffs, 'Disappointing' Performance vs. Seahawks
- Jets Eliminated From Playoff Picture With Ugly Loss to Seahawks
- Who Will Be in Jets' Quarterback Room in 2023?
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