Mike Maccagnan frustrated by Jets' 3-5 record, but he's excited for the future

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Mike Maccagnan says he’s a “little frustrated” by the Jets’ record but is excited about Sam Darnold’s development and where the rookie quarterback can take them in the future with more help.

The general manager stressed that the Jets’ losing record has to do with their young roster and the number of injuries they’ve suffered. He said he’s seen “a lot of positives” and remains hopeful that they can be a playoff team this year before what will be a very busy offseason for him.

“I feel very good about where the team is right now,” Maccagnan said Thursday. “There’s a lot of young players. We’re not consistent enough to win or close out some of these games, but we definitely see some positives in there. From the standpoint of where we are and going forward, I do feel good about it. But we’re not where we want to be.”

This is Year 4 of the Maccagnan-Todd Bowles partnership, and the Jets are 3-5 for the third straight year. They will play their next three games against AFC East rivals, so this is a key stretch, but the reality is the Jets are not a contender.

After tearing down the roster and trying to rebuild it last season, Maccagnan said the Jets “have a lot of pieces in place” but also acknowledged he’ll be “very active” this offseason. The Jets are projected to have almost $100 million in cap room. They have all of their draft picks, aside from a second-rounder, plus an extra No. 3 they got from New Orleans in the Teddy Bridgewater trade.

Maccagnan sees the Jets taking a major leap next year.

“We could be in position to really springboard this thing forward,” he said. “We feel good where we are.”

Maccagnan said he talked to just about every general manager in the league before Tuesday’s trade deadline. He added that he was involved in talks to acquire a player but didn’t want to give up too many assets if the player wasn’t going to be a long-term solution. This offseason is too important and the Jets aren’t one player away from making a run this year.

The Jets have numerous areas of need — edge rusher, defensive playmakers, offensive line, running back and wide receiver — to address. Maccagnan said they have the ability to re-sign some of their own players and bring in new ones they hope can be difference-makers.

A big question is who will coach the presumably revamped Jets next season. Chairman Christopher Johnson has said he would like to see progress from this group. There has been speculation that Bowles, who is under contract for next year, won’t return if the Jets struggle during the second half of the season.

Bowles and Maccagnan received contract extensions last year. Maccagnan didn’t  want to discuss whether they are a tandem that should continue to go forward together.

“Those are subjective questions,” Maccagnan said. “Todd and I work very well together. We’re focused on the same thing. That’s our focus going forward.

“I think the coaches have done a good job. But we’re 3-5, so it’s not as if we’re all sitting here happy with our record. We’re definitely focused on things we can improve.”

That’s what the Jets are looking for in the final eight games: improved health and performance, and seeing if they can get in the playoff race and stay in it.

The Jets haven’t made the postseason for seven straight years, but Maccagnan believes they’re getting better.

“Things we’re going to go through this season are going to help us going forward,” he said. “In the end, our goal is to be a team that can compete consistently for the playoffs.

“We’re always going to feel like we came up short if we don’t make the playoffs. Our vision for what we’re trying to accomplish, there’s definitely some positives that we’re heading in the right direction.”

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.