Joe Douglas has done a magnificent job upgrading the New York Jets roster since he took over as the general manager. He is coming off of an excellent 2022 NFL Draft that saw the Jets make seven selections and hit on all of them. They landed the No. 1 prospect at multiple positions and took another step forward in their rebuild.
While New York still has some work to do, this is going to be a competitive team in 2022. They have improved in every facet of the game and it wouldn’t be a shock to see them hanging around for a playoff spot deeper into the season.
A lot of this team’s success will hinge on the performance of quarterback, Zach Wilson. Wilson was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and New York’s front office has done everything to ensure that he will continue developing.
The offensive line will be improved again this season and the weapons have been further upgraded. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, running back Breece Hall and tight end Jeremy Ruckert were all selected in the first three rounds of the draft to bolster the weapons around Wilson.
They are joining holdovers Corey Davis, Elijah Moore and Braxton Berrios at wide receiver and Michael Carter at running back. Tight ends C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin were signed to upgrade the position.
Wilson has all he needs to succeed, but it may not hurt to add another veteran receiver to the mix. They were linked to Deebo Samuel during the draft, but no deal was made. They could turn to free agency, where Odell Beckham Jr. would make for an intriguing fit.
Beckham is recovering from an ACL injury, which has slowed his market. The Jets can afford to wait and take their time so that he is 100 percent healthy given the additions they have made at the position.
New York knows they aren’t going to be contending for a Super Bowl this season, which could make landing Beckham a shrewd move. If he is seeking a long-term deal, the Jets can afford to give him one since they have done a great job with their salary cap.
A multi-year deal for Beckham would also provide insurance for the Jets should they move on from Davis following the season. There is an out in his contract ahead of the 2023 offseason that the Jets could take advantage of to save $10.5 million off of the salary cap.
Providing Wilson with as much help as possible is the fastest and easiest way to ensure he develops so the Jets can find out if they have a keeper or not under center. Beckham showed with the Los Angeles Rams he is still more than capable of producing when called upon and would be a solid addition for Gang Green.
