Jets' free-agency outlook: GM Joe Douglas has money to spend and lots of areas of need

Joe Douglas has everything he needs to quickly upgrade the Jets’ roster if he’s more willing to spend than he was last year.

The Jets have a new head coach whom players want to play for, multiple first-round picks the next two years and roughly $69 million to spend in free agency. It will be up to the general manager to spread that cash around and address the many needs his team has on both sides of the ball.

"We’re very well-positioned with the capital we have, with where we are financially," Douglas said. "We feel we’re well-positioned to start this offseason and really improve this roster."

It would be surprising if Douglas isn’t aggressive in free agency, which begins Monday, when teams can start negotiating with players. The Jets went 2-14 last season and need reinforcing at just about every position.

Last year, Douglas’ first offseason as a GM, he made rebuilding the offensive line his mission. He worked methodically and kept his spending down, and the Jets ended up carrying over roughly $27 million in cap space from last year.

The offensive line still needs work, along with wide receiver, edge rusher, running back — you name it. Douglas said he and new coach Robert Saleh are "both looking for explosive, dynamic playmakers."

Douglas believes in building a team through the draft and using free agency to supplement the roster. There are some quality, impactful playmakers in this class who are going to demand top dollar, but Douglas will have to pay for them.

"If the opportunity and the value meet," he said, "that’s going to be the point where we’re going to be aggressive and get someone that we feel good about, helping this team not only on the field but with the culture and inside the building."

Money aside, the addition of Saleh could make the Jets appealing to free agents. He has injected life into the team with his passionate demeanor and proven ability to game-plan and get the most out of his players as a defensive coordinator.

Some of Saleh’s former players with the 49ers and Seahawks could be on the Jets’ radar, including San Francisco cornerbacks Richard Sherman, Jason Verrett and K’Waun Williams.

"There’s always comfort in familiarity," Saleh said. "It’s almost human nature to gravitate to people you’ve worked with and people you’ve been around."

The Jets still have one huge decision to make, and that’s at quarterback. Sam Darnold’s future with the team is very much in doubt. Douglas hasn’t committed to him and even said he would take calls inquiring about trades for him. The Jets have the No. 2 pick in the draft, which they could use to select BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.

Douglas doesn’t believe that uncertainty will affect the Jets’ ability to sign skill players. He has to do a better job than last year, when Breshad Perriman was signed to replace Robby Anderson and Frank Gore was brought in to back up Le’Veon Bell. The latter was former coach Adam Gase’s call, but Douglas bears responsibility for not giving Darnold or the offense enough weapons to succeed.

Receivers the Jets could target are Kenny Golladay, Will Fuller, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Corey Davis and Curtis Samuel. Aaron Jones, Kenyan Drake, Leonard Fournette, Tevin Coleman, Jerick MacKinnon and James Conner are among the running backs they could pursue.

Edge rusher has been a glaring need for the Jets. In the last 15 years, only two Jets have recorded double-digit sacks: Muhammad Wilkerson (twice) and Calvin Pace (once). There are some free agents who would fit well in Saleh’s system: Shaq Barrett, Haason Reddick, Carl Lawson, Yannick Ngakoue, Trey Hendrickson, Matt Judon and Bud Dupree.

No matter who the quarterback is, the offensive line needs to improve. The Jets are expected to be in the mix for two of the biggest names out there: Joe Thuney and Corey Linsley.

"We’re excited about the opportunity that we have in front of us," Saleh said. "We’re excited about what Joe and his staff have been able to accomplish since they’ve gotten here. Now it’s just a matter of being able to piece the whole thing together."

WR re-signs: The Jets re-signed wide receiver Vyncint Smith. He was set to become a restricted free agent. Smith, who also returns kicks, played just seven games last year due to injury.