Joe Douglas and the New York Jets may have finally found a lucrative gambit where the reward outweighs the risk
Those who don’t wind up partaking in blockbuster projects are sometimes equally remembered as the architects themselves. The mere thought of Nicolas Cage playing Superman, for example, was enough to spawn a crowdfunded documentary.
Franchise fan-casting has perhaps been the one thing keeping New York Jets fans relatively sane over the past decade-plus. Several big-budget names have been attached to the Jets through gossip or legitimate interest. Most have eventually opted for greener pastures, ironically leaving Gang Green behind in the process.
The one successful lure cast to an NFL A-lister … $35 million bait grabbed by Le’Veon Bell … only set the team’s offense back several seasons.
Some of the relative snubs offered by the league’s finest (i.e. Tyreek Hill taking his talents to South Beach) have been blessings in disguise. Even the perfect offseason likely would’ve been offset by the prescience of Adam Gase, and a team plagued by lacks and deficiencies throughout the roster was in no luxurious position to bestow a massive long-term deal to a single big-name.
Such shortcomings have handicapped any real difference general manager Joe Douglas is trying to make in the Jets’ ledgers.
The trend is perfectly on display over the countdown to the 2022 NFL draft. There’s no doubt that Douglas’ offseason booty (which includes Super Bowl bricklayers like Laken Tomlinson, C.J. Uzomah, and Jordan Whitehead) makes the Jets a better team, but breaking into the AFC’s playoff penthouse still seems like a tall task.
That could change with the recent developments out of the Bay Area.
Deebo Samuel’s continued career in San Francisco was always going to be in doubt until his name appeared on a long-term contract offered by the 49ers. The volume of his calls to be moved has only been amplified as draft day approaches. None of the 263 names set to be called in Las Vegas will have the impact of an accomplished dual-threat like Samuel, he of a jaw-dropping 1,770 yards from scrimmage last season.
Needless to say, the first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl participant has drawn interest from a variety of suitors, including Gang Green.
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There’s every reason for the pursuit of Samuel to be as futile as the chases for Hill, Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, Allen Robinson, and others, as it, again, doesn’t take much research to notice that the Jets are far from the proverbial one move away from the Super Bowl. Moving away from the 49ers would get him out of the team’s quest to nurture 2021 quarterback draftee Trey Lance.
If something like that is going to scare Samuel away, he won’t want to come to a similar situation in New York, where a slightly more seasoned Zach Wilson is going through a similar process. If Samuel is truly serious about moving from a team that was a blown two-possession lead from going to the Super Bowl (and there’s no indication to say he’s not) he probably won’t be aching to go to a team trying to scrape it’s way back to the playoff bracket.
Losing Samuel to his own discretion is one thing. But Douglas can’t get outbid this time around. Even if Samuel doesn’t become the final piece of the Jets’ playoff puzzle, there’s no doubt he can make the Jets a better team both immediately and in the future.
Trading for Samuel would be Douglas’ most impactful move as general manager in terms of instant adjustments to the record. His blueprint brought in Wilson and head coach Robert Saleh, but it was clear from the get-go that each was meant to be a long-term project.
Douglas can preach patience and, indeed, more forbearance will be necessary on the part of Jets supporters. But adding a name like Samuel would show that Douglas is willing and able to go all-out in the Jets’ pursuit of new victories, an aggressive jolt that’s sorely been missing.
Football fortunes already frowned upon Douglas, who was forced into the awkward position of picking up the pieces of Gase’s post-draft war of attrition with the ousted Mike Maccagnan. Nearly three full years into his metropolitan tenure, any move that can be labeled a step forward on New York’s path back to the postseason can be quickly cast aside by the fact that the unlucky Jets have won only an appropriately macabre 13 games since he took over the team’s roster operations.
Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to New York football, but it’s also an endangered species whose eradication has been brought about by the sense of instant gratification social media has only exacerbated to unhealthy levels.
In a rare shift from gridiron tradition, the powers that be are finally looking upon Douglas and the Jets with favor. New York has several coaching connections to Samuel; even if Saleh’s Golden Gate duties centered on defense, Samuel previously worked with names like offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and receivers overseer Miles Austin.
Furthermore, the Jets would provide a haven of sorts for Samuel and give him what he desires on a personal level. While much would be expected from Samuel if and when the Jets came calling, they’d fulfill his apparent request of laying off his rushing endeavors, which (according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) serves as the bane of his San Francisco existence.
The Jets wouldn’t need to rely on Samuel for his dual-threat prowess. They are relatively deep behind Wilson with the emergence of the promising (yet developing) Michael Carter while the re-signed former Samuel teammate Tevin Coleman provides substance and complementary yardage alongside Ty Johnson (or, potentially, a mid-to-late round draft pick).
The Samuel situation draws parallels to a recent chapter of Jets history: the Jamal Adams saga written with a sense of relative tragedy though it’s on pace for a happy ending.
Such similarities are ironic and almost poetic. Samuel is under contract to a squad working through a possible transition and will likely cause as much of a public scene as he can to work his way out. If this narrative’s screenplay were to end with the Jets using the final unknown yield of the eventual Adams trade – the 10th overall pick obtained from the 49ers’ rivals from Seattle – it’d be rejected by the major studios for lacking subtlety.
It might take even less to put San Francisco out of its Samuel-induced misery. The Jets’ reported trade package for Hill didn’t include a first-rounder. While that bargaining chip is a crowd-pleaser in any war room (especially one that’s not scheduled to submit its first draft card to the commissioner until the 61st pick) it is something few, if any, other Samuel suitors will be able to offer.
Douglas’ patience and dedication to his blueprint can be admired. It’s one that’s produced several moral victories among the bearers of Gotham green who are no doubt desperate for any kind of conquest.
But if moral victories counted, the Jets and their 31 NFL brothers would be sharing slivers of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. There’s a plan to make things right, but by NFL standards, unreasonable and unfair as they could appear, things are taking too long.
Samuel could be Douglas and the Jets’ ticket out of both gridiron purgatory and hell. It’s understandable to see why such a ticket, previously labeled with different names, remains unpunched in the name of fulfilling his vision. But hesitation is a luxury Douglas can no longer afford.
Opportunity’s finally knocking. Douglas can’t be late to the door, lest he find himself walking out of it come January 2023.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
Next Article: NY Jets GM Joe Douglas comments on Deebo Samuel rumors
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One last time. I really like the suggestion one of tge writers made last week about a potential trade with the Saints.
We give up the 4 and get back 15 and 18 giving us 10 15 18 35 38 in the first two rounds.
JD might need to rearrange the draft priority with wr dl cb in round one or cb/s, wr dl but 5 picks in a draft with few superstar prospects but alot of depth might be the best way to go.
We will find out soon.
I suspect that teams like NO (as well as GB, KC, and PHI — all with two mid-first round picks) are thinking just that: few superstars but lots of depth. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a lot of teams trading (or at least trying to trade) down into the second day.
How in the world does a GM who has transformed this team from a joke under the past 3 regimes need a blockbuster deal to save his job?
It would hurt the Jets and Jets fans if JD were let go. After last year’s draft and this offseason it might take him 10 minutes to get a job.
I’m OK with giving up the 10th pick (we would be spending it on a wr anyway…just not the cap space) plus the lower of the two 4th rounders.
. If that’s not enough I’ll take my chances with Douglas’ good judgement with one of London Wilson or Williams. We have some talent in the wr room already with Moore Davis and Berrios and maybe Mims remembers how to play football.
This dosent mean I don’t want to add. Samuels would be great here, but he dosent want to run from the backfield anymore so that takes some of his value. One of the 3 wr I mentioned could be the next big wr star and if they want something like #s 10 35, 69 for Deebo then I’d rather trust JDs good judgement in the draft.
There are plenty of other needs and 2023 is when I expect the Jets to be a perennial playoff team.
We need Edge NT Cb S rb and could use a developmental OL as well.
Deebo, Yes!!! but at the right price..any fool can push his chips to the middle of the table.
Ditka gave up 5 players and 6 picks for rb Hershall Walker.
Douglas’ job on the line is just silly!
To answer your question: easily done, if the owner is a moron. I’ve said this many times over the past few decades — in the long run, the most important individual in any sports franchise is the owner. You can tell just by the number of championship trophies who the good ones are, and by the number of last place finishes (or, in the NFL, the number of top five draft picks) who the bad ones are.
This article is why I’m beginning to hate many Jets fans. This is a terrible article. It is filled with inaccuracies, and an absurd perspective. JD should be under zero pressure with the Johnsons. Who gives a damn what the media and Jets fans think? Neither JD, nor the Johnsons should care.
Saying that JD cannot be outbid for Samuel is ridiculous. Samuel is a great player but he isn’t a QB or stud Edge. Any package should be/HAS to be reasonable. Your comment is one made out of impatience and desperation. Your comment about the Jets’ record under JD shows your cynicism, negativity, and lack of understanding. When JD took over the Jets, they had the worst roster in the NFL, bar none. No one who understands how long it takes to turn over one’s roster expected the Jets to be a contender within a year or two. He wasn’t hired until after FA and the draft, and then had to contend with Gase for two seasons. JD wasn’t given full control of running the team until last year. That created scheme changes, and needs for different personnel.
In a very true sense, JD is only one year into his regime with the HC he hired (Saleh). JD has been masterful in trades and handled the cap and draft with aplomb. He is a true professional, and has the team on the right track. He is making the Jets a respected team and organization again.
Your comment about not including a first-round pick in the Hill trade is ignorant. It was ultimately Hill’s decision where he would be traded. KC had accepted the Jets trade as the best offer. It wouldn’t have mattered if the Jets had offered three first-round picks, Hill would still have wound up in Miami.
Jets fans just need to suck it up. If he makes panic-type moves out of fear for his job, then most likely, he and the Jets will fail to get to where we want them be. I’ve been a fan for longer than most Jets fans. I’ve been a fan since 1964. If I can be patient for another year or two, so can other Jets fans or they can go find another team for which to root. I’m sick of the negativity and cynicism. IMO only an idiot would think that JD is on the hot seat or should be on the hot seat.
The only one who should be walking out the door with his pink slip is you after this terrible article.
I wish I would have read your post before I put my 2 cents in. Would have saved me 10 minutes of the same type of outrage
I think an under rated part of this entire deebo thing is what is the hidden reason he has for wanting out? We know its partially about his usage but he said there was another reason that only he, his agent, and the niners know about. I live for this type of intrigue! Heh. It could be anything! Speculation is unbound!
So, deebo had dinner with shanahan and lynch. Next day, he scrubs his account of all signs of niners-ness. Easy to put it together that something about their convo didnt appeal to him. Maybe its contract related and has to do with rb/wr pay rate. Who knows.
Another factor though is how much control would they give deebo on where he ends up? Thats a huge one. If they give him any choice, sorry but i doubt he’d pick the Jets. He’s publicly stated his hate for artificial turf multiple times.
Everyone says, “if were a Deebo away from the SB….but we’re not.”
I would submit that if we nail this draft, we might be. Frankly, I think even without a Deebo trade, we could be.
IF we nail this draft.
Thibs #4
Trade w/Pittsburgh – #10 for #20, #52, and a 2nd next year.
T. Linderbaum at 20
J. Brisker at 35
C. Muma at 38
A. Pierce at 52
J. Ruckert at 69
Z. Tom at 111
J. Ford at 117
T. Booker at 146
BPA at 163
Thibbs is a 1 year wonder and he would not get us to the super bowl, Sauce at 4 is the better pick
ROFLMAO!
I think you’re wildly optimistic, and wrong. To begin with, Brisker is more SS than FS. He is not who we need. Lewis Cine is the FS we need at #35. You ignore the glaring hole at DT beside Q. Williams. The Jets’ CS blamed much of our inability to stop the run last season on that spot on the DL. Drafting Linderbaum rather Devonte Wyatt or Travis Jones in the second would prevent the Jets from getting anywhere near the SB. Booker, at best, is an average or below average rotational player, and certainly not a starting-caliber DT. If you’ve taken Lindenbaum, what’s the point of taking Z. Tom? He isn’t even that good a prospect anyway. Cole Strange, Dylan Parham, Cam Jurgens from Nebraska, and Dohnovan West are all better C prospects than Tom.
I really like the rest of your draft, but it is nowhere near enough to have us in the SB this year or next.
I didn’t say take Linderbaum in the 2nd. I said take him at #20 after we traded with Pittsbugh.
Not convinced Brisker is just a SS. He had 2 INTs and 5 PBUs with 0 sacks or TFL. That sounds more like FS to me. But I would have no objection to taking Cine over Brisker if both are there at 35.
Devontae Wyatt has all sorts of bad character stuff coming out. Multiple domestic violence incidents. Stay away.
I wouldn’t object to taking Travis Jones, but we also need LBs. Muma probably doesn’t last to 52, but we could land Troy Anderson, Damone Clark, or Brian Asomoah there. But that means we haven’t taken a WR yet. Pierce probably gone by 69.
Muma has to be taken at 35 or 38 or will absolutely be gone barring good fortune.
With regards to Linderbaum, I dind’t say that you took him in the 2nd, but in taking him, it would mean that the Jets don’t get a S or DT or maybe 2nd WR, or at least one that could step in and start day one. IMO the first 4 picks need to go to Edge, WR, S and DT.
Thanks for that info on Wyatt. I hadn’t heard that about him. JD will have zero interest in him, then. Brisker might be able to make the switch. He did play some at FS in college, but played much more at SS. I prefer drafting players who will be playing the same position that they played in college. That helps with technique, instincts, and is easier to project them to one’s scheme in the NFL.
I agree that we need a LB, but unless they were just blowing smoke, the Jets may not feel they need one. They like Quincy Williams, are high on Sherwood and Nasirildeen, and just signed LB Marcel Harris. I would love to add Muma, but the LBs you mentioned plus Channing Tindall, and maybe Quay Walker could be available, and all are good prospects.
I agree that Pierce is gone by 69. He could easily go fairly early in the 2nd round.
I’d love to add Linderbaum, but I just don’t see a viable way for that to happen. The same goes for Gardner. IMO either would be a luxury pick. We have to address more glaring immediate needs, and aren’t at the position where we can start upgrading above average starters.
My mock did have us taking a S at 35 and a WR at 52. And Thomas Booker from Stanford will be a great DL with a late round pick.
Only lineman we can draft and they start right away would be a center, is that still enough to get zach wilson weapons on both sides of the ball? JD said it, not me!
Icky Ekwonu would start for us.
Ok where would he start with fant and becton?
I’d start Ekwonu at LT and have Fant and Becton fight it out for RT. If Becton proves to be a bust then you extend Fqant. If Becton comes back fine then you let Fant walk after the season.
After the season? Lol, what about now? You want to ovetsaturate the offensive line with 1st round picks but where are they going to go for the season? Make it make sense!
The loser is insurance against injury .
Ekwonu LT, Tomlinson LG, McGovern C, AVT RG, Becton/Fant RT.
Top 5 O line in the league, even if someone gets hurt. With Uzonklin at TE, we should lead the league in rushing.
Theoretically, they could train Ikky to play Center, and have him replace McGovern next year when his contract is up. I t depends who they value more, McGovern or Fant.
So whoever wins get RT, what to do with the other guy? Your missing the point, the OL would be too crowded to put a top 5 pick on the team. Ike to Center? How much time do you think we have for developing someone to a totally different position? Makes no sense
Again, I would keep all 6 linemen this season as insurance against injury. Next season they can decide if they want to keep Fant or McGovern or move on from Becton if he busts this year.
Nice piece – I don’t think JD’s job hinges on this. I want Deebo as well, and I’ve never cared about a billionaire’s money. Spend it until we win, but on the other hand if JD offers the 10th and maybe something next year, and/or gives them a great package and they refuse or let the player decide and he won’t come here it is what it is. We have 5 of the first 70 picks. Use them well and keep building. I wonder how many of us realize the absolute garbage he walked into. It’s gonna take a minute, but this guy is the best GM we’ve had in a long, long time.
So yeah, just forget it if deebo doesn’t come and lets go draft more WR and wait 3 more years. Man, JD needs to get Deebo to solidify his job. Woody is not going to sit back another 3 years and wait for shit to develop when we have the capital and money to secure a elite WR right now!
Woody has made so many great decisions over the years.
Still doesnt mean hes going to sit back another 3 years and wait for results
And the only positive result is Deebo Samuel ? Ok. Got it.
Winning is the result! Deebo makes the offense that much better compared to a rookie!
I UNDERSTAND and I said I want him too. I said if we don’t get him for reasons behind JD’s control he shouldn’t be fired. He’s done a hellova job. Yes. I expect results THIS year. With or without Deebo. If we go 4-13 again he should prolly go. I think with a great draft we should be between 7-9 wins. With a little luck, bounce of the ball whatever, maybe we get to 10. Anything less is unacceptable
Well if we draft Thibbs at 4 we are done! Sauce has the stats to prove he should be number 1 overall.
I don’t want Thibbs. I want Jermaine Johnson and a receiver at ten or Deebo.
Johnson will be there at 10, you don’t think thats a reach to draft him at 4? Sauce is clearly the better player all around.
Clearly ? I didn’t know you were a pro scout. You speak with such certainty. All draft picks are a crap shoot. I don’t know JJ is there at 10. I’d be ok w Sauce and JJ outta the first round. Then double dip at wr later
Well go look at his tape! Dont habe to be a scout to clearly see the dude shutdown opposing WRs and QBs.
You’re more reasonable than most, but there could be a number of reasons why the team wins less than 7-9 games this year. God forbid, Zach could go down with a serious injury and miss the entire season. The injury bug could strike us like it did last year. Other teams have a say in the draft as well. We could win up missing out on a number of the key players we hoped to draft. We could trade for Samuel and he could go down with a season-ending injury. The Jets might not draft an OT early, and Fant or Becton could go down with a season-ending injury.
Barring injuries, if the team wins less than 7 games, then Ulbrich and maybe Saleh should be the ones to go, not JD. JD has done what he was supposed to do. He has added talent, is reshaping the culture here, is bringing in players who love the game, who are solid citizens and won’t embarrass the team off the field. He has exceled in handling trades, the cap, and the draft. He hired the consensus best HC candidate last year, and had one of the best drafts in Jets’ draft history.
All of you who are even mentioning firing JD should think about what would happen if he was fired. The odds of getting someone as experienced and qualified as him and who would do as great a job as he has, would be against us. We’d be starting all over again, with a new CS, possibly new schemes, which would result in roster turnover again. At a minimum, we’d probably be 3-4 years away, and that’s if Woody made a great hire at GM, and that GM made a great HC hire. What are the odds that would happen? Gase was an awful HC, but if not for him, we probably wouldn’t have hired JD and wouldn’t be in as good a shape as we are.
For the first time in decades, the Jets and we fans have REALISTIC hope for the future (or should have!). We already have the most talented roster I’ve seen since 2009. We have a HC whom the players love and a lot of players around the league respect. We had very good FAs WANT to sign with us this offseason due to their respect for Saleh and JD and what the Jets are building. When was the last time that happened?
And you’re already thinking about scrapping that? Sorry, but that makes zero sense.
Who is scrapping anything? I said if he dont hit well on these players then he could be in trouble. Like i said, who knows if woody johnson is going to wait another 3 years for the team to really get going. True indeed JD brought us out of purgatory, but you know there is a fine line in the NFL when it comes to wins and loses.
Noone in his seat has made the progress Douglass has in ages. The combo of him and Saleh could make for a future (2 years) Super Bowl threat.
I’d give up the #10 and 69 if I’m getting thier 3rd back because we will be spending 10nonna wr anyway. The difference is the contract and he’s worth it.
If San Fran is looking for 10 a 2nd rounder and 69, I’ll take my chance with London at 10.
..All these superstars were once college players and after getting 5 starters in last years draft, JD has my trust.
But understand, you have a chance to get proven talent and not wait 3 more years for your pick to develop
BS. Short-sighted fans like you are the worst! When JD has us on the brink of being where we need to be, and maybe only a year away, you want to fire him. SMH JD doesn’t “need” to do anything. It won’t be another 3 years. You don’t know what Woody is going to do, and I’d bet that he is VERY happy with the job JD is doing, and that JD’s seat isn’t even remotely warm. Only unrealistic, impatient Jets fans think like you.
Who said me? And your name calling ain’t hurting me homie. So with that said this is a discussion not a name calling dispute because you think you right. Now call me a name again because of my opinion and im going in dude!
We got a pretty good one last year and much later that the 10th pick.
Can’t give up the farm but since a wr is needed at 10 I have no issue giving up that and a 4th.