The New York Jets finished the season with a record of 4-13, but there is plenty of optimism surrounding the organization. They look to be on the right track with Joe Douglas as general manager and Robert Saleh as head coach. While the record wasn’t great, the team was competitive throughout the season despite being overmatched talent-wise nearly every time they took the field.
The Jets lost five games by single digits, so an upgrade in talent could very easily turn this into an eight or nine-win team in 2022. To help take that next step, they need to upgrade the weapons around quarterback Zach Wilson.
Wilson had his struggles as a rookie, as he looked overwhelmed by the speed of the game early in the season, transitioning from BYU to the NFL. His inability to consistently hit check-downs and try to make the spectacular play proved costly, but he was able to reel it in a little more toward the end of the season.
While he has a long way to go to realize his potential, that process would be sped up with some additional weapons. New York didn’t have top-end talent at the skill positions in 2021, but they made it work with what they had.
Jet sweeps were a staple of the offense and trick plays almost became normal place. To keep a defense on their toes, you need versatile players that can fill numerous roles. There is a player that fits that description perfectly that is a free agent this year that would be a fit for the Jets; Cordarrelle Patterson.
Patterson was excellent for the Atlanta Falcons this season. While Deebo Samuel garnered a ton of attention for being a dual-threat running back and wide receiver, it was actually Patterson who was doing it first.
With limited options in their backfield, Patterson was regularly deployed as the team’s running back and he made the most of his opportunities, rushing for 618 yards while piling up 548 yards. He scored 11 combined touchdowns and was as dynamic as any player in the league.
Patterson is the 59th ranked free agent on PFF, so there is a chance he could once again fly under the radar and be someone the Jets can land on a reasonable deal. Injuries hit New York hard at running back and wide receiver, but Patterson is as durable as they come, missing only two games in nine seasons. He would provide depth at both of those spots, in addition to a boost on special teams. He is an electric kick and punt returner should the Jets need one.
Patterson is the definition of a football player. If you needed him to line up on defense, he would likely do it as well. He is the perfect kind of player that the Jets are looking for as they build up their foundation and try to get out of their neverending rebuild cycle.
