5 questions facing the Jets this offseason

The Jets’ front office probably rues the meaningless Week 13 win over Atlanta.

Nick Folk’s 56-yard field goal as time expired gave the Jets their third and last victory of the season, which in the end cost them the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.

Aaron Glenn took the blame for the Jets’ sorry season, saying he let the players and the organization down. Glenn vowed that he, ownership and general manager Darren Mougey will “work our [butt] off to get this [expletive] exactly where it needs to be.”

Now the real work begins for this floundering franchise. Here are five questions facing the Jets this offseason:

1. What will the Jets do at quarterback?

The Jets have picks 2 and 16 in the first round, 33 and 44 in the second round and three No. 1s next year. They have the capital to possibly move up if they believe Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is their guy.

Here’s the rub: Las Vegas has the No. 1 pick and needs a quarterback, too.

The Jets acquired three first-round picks and a second-rounder in the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades for a reason. They have to go all-in for a quarterback, whether it’s this year or next. Tom Brady is a part-owner in Vegas. He won’t help the Jets unless the offer is too good to pass up.

Oregon’s Dante Moore wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize at No. 2 if he enters the draft. Another QB the Jets could take later — if he declares — is Alabama’s Ty Simpson.

The Jets need a quarterback regardless. The Justin Fields experiment failed miserably, and he isn’t expected back. If Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson become available, the Jets will make the necessary calls, as will all of the other quarterback-needy teams.

Quarterbacks the Jets could pursue in free agency or via trade include Mac Jones, Malik Willis, Jacoby Brissett, Kyler Murray, Marcus Mariota, Davis Mills, Tyler Huntley, Kirk Cousins, Mitch Trubisky and Jimmy Garoppolo.

2. What if the Jets can’t draft the quarterback they want?

The Jets could hold off and draft their quarterback next year in what is projected to be a better QB class.

Going that route could lead to the Jets trading down this year for more draft picks and working on filling their other holes: receiver, edge rusher, defensive tackle, safety, linebacker, cornerback and running back if Breece Hall doesn’t return.

The Jets have to bring in a veteran quarterback who will help them win games this year and be a bridge and possible mentor for a young quarterback.

3. Who will be calling the defense next year?

The Jets got a head start on researching coordinator candidates after firing Steve Wilks with three games to go.

Former Jet Jim Leonhard, who is on the Broncos' defensive staff, would be a fan favorite. Others they may consider are former Hofstra player and coach Raheem Morris, who was fired by the Falcons on Sunday; current Michigan and former Giants coordinator Wink Martindale, Browns coordinator Jim Schwartz and Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris.

Glenn likes Chris Harris, who replaced Wilks as coordinator. Harris interviewed for the DC position last year and was hired as passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach. Harris could stay on Glenn’s staff.

You can’t rule out Glenn calling the defense, either.

4. What other changes are expected on Glenn’s staff?

The only safe coaches should be special teams coordinator Chris Banjo, his assistant, Kevin O’Dea, and offensive line coach Steve Heiden. The rest of the team underperformed or showed little to no development.

Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand is expected back. Quarterbacks coach Charles London probably won’t be. The Jets need an upgrade and someone more proven as quarterbacks coach than London, a former running back.

They need to have a better infrastructure in place for their young quarterback, perhaps a senior offensive assistant or adviser who focuses on developing the quarterback.

Glenn also could look for new receivers, defensive line and linebacker coaches and make changes in the secondary. The Jets became the first team in NFL history to go a full season without an interception.

5. Which prominent Jets free agents will and won’t be back?

They have 23 unrestricted free agents. The biggest names are  Hall, Folk, Quincy Williams, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Tyrod Taylor  and John Simpson.

Hall could be elsewhere unless the Jets franchise-tag him. Williams probably won’t return. The same for Taylor. Folk, 41, is deciding whether he wants to play another year. If he does, he earned another contract.

One of the two guards, Vera-Tucker or Simpson, could return. Vera-Tucker is the better player but is injury-prone. Simpson is penalty-prone.

Defensive lineman Micheal Clemons and safety Tony Adams likely won’t return. Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson is under contract, but his name could come up in trades.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.