LISTEN | Jets Free Agency Update - Ep. 4 (3/20)

signed three offensive lineman. But Eric Allen and myself gonna digest and take a look at the entire roster where things stand, who they've added they meaning the Jets, of course, and where the Jets could potentially and who they could

potentially add as free agency continues on here. But first things first, he a welcome back to the podcast, and yeah you too, uh, like I said yesterday, and like you said, this is kind of like the nirvana, you know, cooped up in the house all day and now we finally get a chance to talk some football and actually

some NFL news non related to the players. Sean Payton is the first coach or first real uh NFL executive to test positive for the coronavirus, and that just goes to show that everyone has to do their part to stay in their home, to keep washing your hands and doing everything they can to make sure that this virus gets curbed. Listen, this is an impact in everybody in the world right now, and it's hit the United States

and full force. Uh, we're seeing more people. Um, the numbers get bigger by the day because there are more test kits and we all got to take care of each other out there. And that's what Sean Payton said that this deal is serious. Fortunately for the Saints head coach Greens, it seems like his symptoms are minor and he's gonna return and he's gonna be okay. But with all that being said, there are they're people who are

dying right now, and I just want to say. The other thing is, um, we gotta applaud all the people are working in the medical field right now, whether it be nurses or doctors and everything they do each day, especially with the pressure right now, because um, there's a lot of people going to the hospital. There's a lot of people on fear right now, and I just want to say that, uh, um, you know, we are fortunate that we have so many people in this country looking

out for each other. Um. So unfortunate news for Peyton, but on the positive side of the ledger, he's gonna be okay, and hopefully everybody out there who is a Jets fan and an NFL fan is doing okay. We're gonna get through this. Very well said, and let's take this. Let's focus on some Jets football, hopefully providing some light to Jets fans here and some sort of levity as

we're all quarantined in our respective homes. So the Jets have reportedly made three offensive line was and we see it reportedly because the NFL teams can't technically officially do anything. So reportedly, the Jets have signed George Fan, re signed Alex Lewis, and signed connorra Governed, which really solidifies the left side of the line, assuming George and is the left tackle and not right tackle, even though he has

experience at both positions. So let's just take a look at the offensive line before we move on to different positions. And I forgot to mention off the top that Olivia Landa spoke to Bob was Shoes in the radio voice of the Jets and talked all things Jets, and so let's just start with the offensive line. Last season, the unit was ravaged by injuries that had eleven different starters, like nine different starting combinations and so many players went

to I R and battled injuries throughout. But the way it stands right now, I would assume left to right would be George Fan, Alex Lewis, Connumer, Governor, and Brian Winners and that Chuma Adogo who would be entering his second season in Yeah, Green's I mean if you're playing tomorrow and the Jets aren't playing tomorrow, So I don't look at the offensive line as a finished product. And we know the way Joe Douglas operates, that's not the

way he is going to attack this thing. But no surprise because we've been talking about all week and this is it feels like Greens, this is one of the longest professional and personal weeks I think a lot of us, maybe I've ever had. Yeah, I have not been this excited for a weekend in the season or even in the off season at at work, but like I feel like I need a break from just working from home,

which sounds weird anyway. Um, Yeah, so fans. The interesting thing that we didn't touch upon last night, it was almost like there's a mini trade here in free agency because Fan goes from Seattle to the Jets. That's what the news reports are right now, and Brandon Shell comes to an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks, so um conceivably, Shell will be starting on the right side for the Hawks next year, whereas Fan could start for the Jets

on the left side. Again, I thought it was an intriguing move because here's a big he was played both left tackle and right tackle. He's got good feet. Anybody who plays college basketball to Division one level like Fan did does. And the other thing is, how are you gonna develop this guy in your system when you bring him in to one Jets drive Eventually, hopefully it's sooner than later. Green's um left guard. You gotta figure this

is Alex Lewis's job. Period twelve starts last year. I consider him one of the guys when Joe Douglas always talks about I want guys who love football, Greens. You know, if this guy loves football, he's gonna get after it now at the center position. What I like with McGovern is, even if he plays at guard, you all of his sudden at center. You got very good depth there. Because don't forget about Jonathan Harrison either, because he is under contract.

I thought he did a good things last year. But mcgougery also plays guard to exactly exactly, So I think we think in terms of who's starting all the time. I think we have to think too what Joe Douglas is doing here is he's building depth as well, no matter who ultimately is your your starters, your five. And then at right guard, Douglas is very complimentary Brian Winters at the NFL combine, what's to see how things shake out.

Obviously Winners have been here for a long time, one of the longest, one of the longest tenured New York Jets. And then at right tackle, you mentioned Huma Adoga, a guy the previous regime draft in the third round. He's another intriguing athlete. Um but again there is no period on the sentence with Douglas. And as we talked about last night, Greens and you've been doing this draft deep dive for a long time, listen, a lot of prospects,

good off mental line prospects. There are draft experts who say, and you can get starting tackles in the second and third round. Maybe not this year, but those are guys who are going to develop ultimately in the starting tackles. I know we think about in terms of that Big four here in the two thousand and twenty draft class.

And what I like about the Big four in particular is, if let's say the Jets hype hypothetically, do you want to go with one of those four players at eleven, meaning Andrew Thomas, mackay Beckton, Tristan Worfs, and Jeddrick Wills. All those guys have experience on the right side of the line. And Andrew Thomas McKay Beckton played at left tackle at their respective schools, McKay Beckton for Louisville and

Andrew Thomas for Georgia. But both of those guys have started seasons on the right side, whereas Tristan Worfs and Jeddrick Wills, their primary home at the collegiate level was on the right side of the line. So let's say, hypothetically, George Fant is your left tackle the any one of those four guys if the Jets draft one of those four or Calm April or whenever the draft ends up being, if it changes, any one of those four guys, if they end up in Green and white, have experience on

the right side. And you know, I think that with Joe Douglass and the offensive line. It sounds like quantity is important in addition of quality, but he definitely wants to have a lot of offensive lineman, especially if one goes down. I mean, you think about the Eagles one of the top units in the league. So I wouldn't be surprised to see if Joe Douglas adds more free agents to the offensive line or even goes that route

during the draft. Obviously, Joe Douglas will continue to add pieces moving forward along the offensive line and throughout the rest of the team. And tomorrow's podcast not to look ahead. We're gonna look at the defense, but we're gonna continue to look at the offense. Right after we hear from Olivia Landis and Bob was Shusan who caught up and talked all things Jets. Let's start a little bit into the Jets some free agency talk, and let's talk a

little bit about Joe Douglas. Heading into this offseason. General manager Joe Lists spoke a lot about how he wants to have certain areas of focus when heading into free agency and the off season. Obviously number one, number one in his list was rebuilding the offensive line. Now we've known that there have been some reports out there from multiple NFL analysts that the Jets have made some moves in free agency. Would have been your initial thoughts on

the moves Joe Douglas has made on the offensive line. Yeah. I think he has done exactly every time I've talked to him what he said he was going to do philosophically. I mean, even when we were having these conversations and six months ago, he wasn't sure who would be available or how much player A B or C would cost, but he always said multiple things. Obviously, he is an offensive lineman, so he knows you have to build a brick wall in front of your young quarterback or you

have no chance. And um, I think he's looking at each guy is having a price value, and if he can meet that price value with each specific guy, great, If he can't, well then you move on to someone else. I do. I always believe that he has looked at free agency as kind of option to UM. I think he looks at the draft still as if you're gonna build a team, you're gonna build it primarily through the draft.

And so even with this remaking of the offensive line, you know who knows how the top ten picks go in front of him, But if one of those tackles is there at eleven, I fully expect that that's probably the direction the Jets would go, unless they've got one of these wide receivers like third on their board and the guy drops all the way down to eleven and you just have no choice but to take him because you can't believe he fell as far as he fell.

I think they'll take an offensive lineman, and I think they'll look at the offensive lineman they take in the draft as their most important acquisition, not even any of the free agents. Well, like we already mentioned, we've heard some rumored trade signings that have had that have happened. We've heard OFFL analysts report them around the league so far.

But when you look at this free agency period where we're at right now, because it is such a weird time, you know, with people and players not being able to travel and everything, where does he go from here? What's the next move? Well, I think he's even waiting on a couple of the guys that are Jets, or at

least could conceivably be Jets again. Um, and I think it kind of plays into his overall philosophy, like a Jordan Jenkins or Robby Anderson, Guys like that one name out there that everybody is wondering what's going to happen with from a pass rushing standpoint, because he seems to be clearly the most talented of the pass rushing group.

Jadavian Clowney and I think the Jets would be, of course interested in a player like that if all of a sudden the market kind of dried up for him and it was a chance to bring him in at a reasonable price. And now maybe going forward, you know, kind of fits more to the framework of what they

want to do. So I think they are content to sit back a little bit and see if some of these players all to them, rather than getting antsie jumping up and throwing money that they don't want to throw, or think maybe these guys either aren't quite worth or would upset the overall framework of what they want to do to fill out kind of the bulk of the roster. There's a lot of guys out there in free agency,

that second wave and third wave of free agency. Sometimes people forget when those first big names come off the board that there's another fifty players behind those guys that are also looking for contracts, And it kind of seems sometimes, in my personal opinion, when that second and third wave comes, maybe even this time, it might be taking a little bit longer to come because we're in such a weird

time frame with the virus going around. I don't know, yeah, and and Robby Anderson in and of himself is a really weird spot. It's just that I don't ever remember a player being a part of a position group that in the free agency world is so thin. There's like three or four legit top notch wide receivers available in free agency in the exact same year that there is a draft class that is historic in terms of its

talent and depth. So for every team out there that might be thinking about Robbie Anderson and Robbie Anderson's reps might be coming back and saying, hey, I think I'm worth X, that team is saying, well, not only are we not sure you're worth X, we think you're worth why? But we could get a guy in the third round of the draft worth virtually nothing at least for his first four years in the league, and he might be better than you. So all of this is that pot

of trying to forecast the draft. How many wide receivers do you have on your board? How deep does your talent pool go? All right, Robbie, here's the deal. We've got twenty five receivers that we think we could draft in the first four rounds that all I think are gonna be really good NFL players. But we also like you and think you're a really good NFL player. But we can't pay you what you might have gotten three years ago when there was maybe a dirth of wide

receivers in the draft. It's it's just a very weird kind of you know, alignment of the stars for Robby Anderson. Before I let you go, Bob, I wanted to get your input a little bit on quarterback Sam Donald, obviously entering his third season in the NFL. We discussed this right before we came on the podcast, but you know, also e A. Eric Allen talked about it a little bit earlier today. Sam Donald is now the longest neard

quarterback in the ANFC East. Him and Josh Allen obviously both are from the same draft class, but he has more starting experience. Do you expect him to have a very big jump in your three and kind of bring that with him. I think if they put an offensive line in front of Sam Donald that can protect him, then you're going to see him become the best quarterback in the division. And I think his ability level is

different than anybody else. Now. Who knows who the Dolphins are gonna end up with, and they're probably gonna end up with a rookie quarterback of their own this year. All of the signs point to them taking one of those top quarterbacks probably to if they can make it happen. Um, if you gave me my choice between Sam Donald and two, I would take Sam Donald. Um. So I you know, I think their future is brighter as things stand right

now than anybody in their division. And as scary as it is to say it, it's been forty years since you can even maybe have that argument because thirty seven years ago Dan Marino was drafted and for the last thirty seven years the Jets have had a Hall of Fame quarterback or two on the teams in their own division. And in thirty seven years, I think Sam Donald's probably the best quarterback of the quarterback with the most promise

that they've had in that entire time. So he needs to play all sixteen games, and he needs to stay healthy. He needs to take care of himself. He needs to um prove that he can be, you know, from a durability standpoint, a guy that they can count on every single week. But if he does that and they put a a wall of blockers in front of him and and give him some weapons, then yeah, the last thing I'm worried about with the Jets is the quarterback. He's

the least of their words. Great to hear from Olivia and the voice of the Jets, Bob was choosing Glad they're doing well in their respective quarantines. But let's talk about the rest of the chef Rosster. Obviously, the offensive line a focal point for Joe Douglas and the Jets, not only this season but every year in which he is general manager of the New York Jets. And let's go to the quarterback now, because obviously it's Sam Donald,

that's not a question who's starting. But the guys behind them, there's only one guy under the under a contract, and that is Mike White. Trevor Simeon and unrestricted free agent, and same with David Fails. So who are some guys that are on the market. Who are some guys that you think could make sense for the Jets. Wow, that's a great quiet because you know what I go back to is the CBA, Greens, is that you're gonna see

rosters effectively be fifty five next year. So I think what you're gonna see are a lot of teams go with a veteran quarterback behind you and then that developmental guy becomes a practice squad guy for you during the week. So we'll have to see what happens with the Jets down the line, but I would imagine they will be in the market for a veteran um. Trevor Simeon Unfortunately, he wasn't able to take over when Donald had the monol because he went down against the Cleveland Browns and

that late head from Miles Garrett. So the Jets, unfortunately last year they played four quarterbacks in the first four games. Greens. Here's the thing. Sam Donald was seven and six as a starter last year. Over the past two years, when Sam Donald doesn't start, you know the Jets record. Oh no, not at the top of my head that I don't. But never by the way you get it, it's a losing record zero six. Uh So, what Joe Douglas is doing right now is he's trying to build that fortress

of round Sam Donald. He wants to protect the goods, the guy who completed sixty two percent of his passes last year through for three thousand yards. Excuse me, I'm getting excited, um who I think is one of the most talented young quarterbacks in the NFL. With with that being said, um it it traditionally means uh. An NFL season traditionally means that you're gonna you're gonna need a veteran backup quarterback because it's tough to start sixteen games

every year. It really is. Yeah, yeah, no, no kidding. I Actually, if we're just having fun and spitballing, here one name that I would keep an eye all. Are you gonna saying? I'm saying Joe Flacco just because he's the guy that UH was founded essentially by Joe doug list when he was on the Ravens out of Delaware and he stood up he Joe Douglas stood on the table for Flacco and supposedly reportedly the Broncos are waiving him or releasing him with a failed physical designation, so

we'll see what happens there. And yeah, then you brought up You're glad you brought up the flacco Um release because of the failed Injurynation designation. Here's the thing, if the Jets did have interest in bringing him in again, it might be a little tricky for a while because that's a guy you're gonna want to have a physical

probably in your place, I would figure. But you're right, Joe Douglas, if you look back, he's the guy who found this dude out of Delaware and said, hey, Ozzie, I think we got a guy here, and Ravens ultimately take him. And you know, Joe Flacco might have prevented Adam Gaze from getting the Super Bowl because if you remember the Baltimore Ravens taking down the Denver Broncos a few years back. And Okay, so let's just that's the quarterbacks.

Let's branch out to the wide receivers because right now the Jets the receivers under contract a lot of questions. Quincey and Noon, will Willie be healthy. Robby Anderson not under contract, He's on the free agent market right now. Josh Bellamy's is under contract. Vincent Smith, Braxton, Barrios. There's not a whole lot of receivers that have a whole

lot of experience under contract. And obviously if you look at the draft, this is something that this is a class that is so deep and it's supposed to be a historical draft class at wide receiver that the Jets and theory, having four picks in the top eighty could come out if they drafted two wide receivers with within the top eighty, they could theoretically come out with two

Day one starters. Hold on Green's you're playing a lot of mad and you're going two receivers in the top eighty maybe depending what happened to free agency or how how who gets drafted ahead? Like, let me ask you this, if four tackles are gone by eleven and the trading back is not an option, what position do you think the Jets would go? Okay, I'm going back at you. Are Judy, A, Judy and Lamb on the board at eleven, You'll have your pick of the litter at receiver at

eleven because the four tackles in this scenario are off. No, I understand, I'm asking you. If Judy and Lamb are on the board at eleven. Oh you were you they are? Do you think that's ultimately gonna happen? Well, okay, okay, you're saying not in my scenario. You're saying ultimately, I think one of those one of those guys one or two will will be off the board before Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think it's it's an interesting debate because of how rich this draft classes at receiver.

Do you does a team want to take the first guy or does the team feel hey with taking somebody in the top of the second round or the top half of the third round because you know that it's such a rich class. I think it's an interesting debate. Now one team that I you know, I think a couple of teams could definitely take a receiver really after probably from seven to eleven. Okay, I don't think I think that's really where you would see one or two of those guys start to come off the board. Okay, Uh,

this is all fascinated to me. Here's the catch. Joe Douglas is gonna bring in at least one free agent receiver. I'm not I'm not putting pressure on the guy you just talked about. The roster in terms of numbers, and you mentioned the names. Well, I like where the Jets are at slot on that inside across the board, because we talked about news outlets saying the Jets had agreed to terms with Brian Pool. I love that reciting. And you got Jamison Crowder who made such a tremendous impact

last year. He knows how to find the soft spots in the zone. He also is effective against man coverage and he can make plays down the field. You're set at slot position. Who are your guys on the boundary. There's an interesting free agent out there. Let me name him Robbie Anderson. I know that so well, let's to see. You know, Joe Douglas been very complimentary of Robbie Anderson, so was Adam case And and he is testing the

market right now. We don't know what's happening. Um, but if Robbie Anderson signs with someone else, then you're gonna turn and pivot. And you've mentioned some of the guys out there, um, Philip Door set to Marius Thomas, who was on this roster last year, came in and doesn't did a nice job for your Greens, especially Yeahhard Perriman, a former first round pick who ended last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers three consecutive a hundred yard games,

so he was starting to turn the corner. Um. But I'm hearing a lot of these guys want to go play for Tom Brady right now. Yeah. You know somebody that we have not talked about recently really at all, Josh Doson is under contract and got about that. That was great, great point, And that's a former first round pick and again one of those low under the radar moves,

but again value potential value there. So one of the most popular names in terms of mock trafts in the third round of the Jets has been Florida State running back Cam Akers, and a lot of people think that he would be a good compliment to Levy on Bell at a little dynamic juice maybe and maybe a home run threat for Adam Gates and add speed like we were talking about. And before we wrap up here, I would say Trent Cannon is still on the roster. And you mentioned a couple of guys Josh Adams to your

former Eagle. Yeah, so Joe Douglas very familiar with John Chathams. He was one of the players that He was one of four players that the Jets claimed when Joe Douglass took over as general manager. That was like one of his first UH avenues, as he'd like to say, to add talent to this team. One of those players was Braxton Barrios, who was second in the NFL at the end of the season and punt returned average. So how

about that great job exactly. This is Joe douglas first time going through an off season as general manager of the Jets, and we're, like we said earlier, were at the very beginning stage is a free agency, even though it feels like we've been doing this forever and we'll see what happens from now on. But many thanks to Olivia and Bob. I gotta say something real quick. Oh yeah,

bring it on, Bring it on. We didn't talk about one position group on offense, and that was on purpose tight ends that you offensively, that is your most solid position period because you think about the depth, you think what you've already done there. You resigned Ryan Griffin. Joe Douglas resigning Ryan Griffin, who did it all for the

Jets last year and he's another good character guy, loves ball. Um. You're knocking on wood that you get Chris Herndon back, because that opens up things for Sam Donald and he brings an element of speed. You resigned Daniel Brown before free agency started, so listen, tight en position, lock it up. You're good there, don't worry about it. I totally agree with that. So again tomorrow's podcast, we'll do the same thing what we did with the offense, but we'll do

with the defense. And if anything else happens in free agency in regard to the Jets reportedly, then we will break that down as well. But again, many thanks to Olivia, Bob, was, Susan and e A. Thanks for hopping on again and I'll talk to you tomorrow. Okay, brother s,