Joe Douglas discusses New York Jets’ desire to avoid being “reckless” in free agency
New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas spoke to the media at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Florida. Douglas had some interesting things to say about the team’s offseason to date and what’s still to come.
Speaking about the team’s approach to pursuing free agents, Douglas discussed his desire to balance aggression with caution, explaining that the Jets “want to be aggressive, but [they] don’t want to be reckless.”
"We want to be aggressive, but we don't want to be reckless"
Joe Douglas on his philosophy in pursuing big free agents: pic.twitter.com/vqMQyPY4VI
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) March 29, 2022
“You try to put in a little bit of wiggle room when you have your walkaway number. But at the end of the day, you have to be firm,” Douglas said.
“There were some situations, there were some players we were in [on] in free agency, and we were right there at the end, and just couldn’t get it done. There was a number that we felt was bordering reckless, so we had to stand down.”
Douglas spoke about offensive tackle Mekhi Becton, saying that the team pictures him as one of its two starting tackles.
Joe Douglas fully expects Mekhi Becton to be one of the two starting offensive tackles this year for the Jets:
"Our expectation is that he'll come back ready to roll. He's fired up to compete." pic.twitter.com/rgULs3Uige
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) March 29, 2022
“Yes. We are operating like Mekhi is going to be one of our two tackles,” Douglas said.
Douglas said he “feels great” about the Jets’ tackle situation, mentioning George Fant, Conor McDermott, and Chuma Edoga as three additional players who have started games for the team.
Regarding the interior of the Jets’ offensive line, Douglas gushed about Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, saying he thinks it could potentially be the best guard tandem in the league.
"We feel fortunate to have one of the best, if not the best, guard tandems in the league"
Joe Douglas with @JeaneCoakley on Alijah Vera-Tucker and Laken Tomlinson: pic.twitter.com/ytuLRz2roQ
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) March 29, 2022
“We feel fortunate that we have one of the better, if not best, guard tandems in the league. It’s a nice luxury to have for our offense,” Douglas said of the pair.
Douglas spoke about the decision to move Vera-Tucker to right guard, mentioning that offensive line coach John Benton was involved in the decision. Douglas cited Vera-Tucker’s “experience playing left and right” and Tomlinson’s “comfort level” at left guard as the reasons for the decision.
Finally, Douglas expressed excitement about the Jets’ opportunity to make noise in the draft with nine total selections and four in the top 38.
"This year, having 4 picks in the top 38….we do this the right way, it could really be special. It's a huge opportunity for us."
– Joe Douglas on the NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/vuJjB5UkXK
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) March 29, 2022
“This will be my third offseason with the team. I feel like every offseason you walk in with a plan, working with coach, and Woody [Johnson], Christopher [Johnson], and Hymie [Elhai], and you try to put the best plan available,” Douglas said. “So there’s pressure every offseason. But obviously this year, having four picks in the top 38, [if] we do this right way, it could really be special.”
