We are essentially two weeks removed from NFL free agency, and while the Jets were busy making moves, they weren’t making too many good ones. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that you should build your team through free agency, but many of the guys the Jets brought in can’t be considered anything more than backups or fringe players.

With all that they lost in free agency, and the lack of quality players Darren Mougey brought in so far in his first go-round the Jets still have some glaring holes on their roster.

With that in mind, let’s rank the biggest gaps in the Jets offense based on what they currently have on the team and what options that exist to fill that gap. Keep in mind, while I absolutely hate the Justin Fields signing, the Jets made their choice, and we must live with it. 

Fields has a particular skill set which is different than most NFL quarterbacks.  Fields' abilities are mostly in his legs and using them to make big plays and open things up down the field.  That being said, the Jets' offense isn't really built for any type of quarterback to succeed as currently constructed.  

As I see it, the Jets offense currently has three glaring weaknesses that Darren Mougey will need to address before attempting to put a team on the field in September.

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3. Tight End

Current roster: Jeremy Ruckert, Stone Smartt, Zack Kuntz

The Jets saw Tyler Conklin head west for the Los Angeles Chargers and are counting on fourth-year man Jeremy Ruckert to finally make the leap in his development. And what better way to do it than to pair him with his former college quarterback, Justin Fields. The Jets are banking on that 2021 Ohio State magic as they now have four guys from that team on their offense. Stone Smartt is an intriguing player that many around the league think is an undervalued signing by the Jets and he could be productive. My problem is how much more undervalued can he be than a low value, one-year deal? Side note, it’s kind of weird to see a Jets TE depth chart without Kenny Yeboah on it, isn’t it?

Free Agent fix: Irv Smith

Woo-wee that tight end cupboard is bare. Most of the best available free agents at the position are well over 30-years old and were never that good to begin with. This may be a Ruckert or draft situation only.

Draft fix: Tyler Warren, Penn State

This is the question that will keep coming up for the Jets until they select at seven in the first round. Should they take the tight end or the tackle. I personally believe this year they should take the tight end. Warren will step in to a Jets offense that doesn’t have a great thrower of the football and instant become the second-best receiving option on the field and create mismatches all over the field. He is a fantastic blocker which will also help with the running game. Will he break records like Brock Bowers? Probably not, but there is no reason why he can’t be the Jets second-leading receiver.

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2. Wide Receiver

Current Roster: Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Tyler Johnson, Irv Charles, Malachi Corley

This is by far the Jets’ biggest need so far at this point in the offseason. The reason I have it at number two and not number one is it is also one of the easiest spots to fix in the short term. You will notice Allen Lazard is still listed on the team and while most expect he will be cut or traded at some point, they Jets could simply hold onto him and play out another season. Is he good? No, but he is better than any other option they have on the current roster.

Corley and Gipson are both slot receivers and I would be curious to see if either develops into anything other than special teams players with a coaching staff and new quarterback.

Any way you look at the current Jets roster, even if they keep Lazard, they will need to add someone to the wide receiver room.

Free Agent fix: D.J. Chark

The Jets can go any number of routes here to bring in a capable number two receiver. If they are willing to sign someone born in the 1990’s, they can sign Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen or Tyler Lockett who would all be upgrades. I went with Chark because he is a big play receiver who is still only 28-years-old. The Jets could also sign 28-year-old Diontae Johnson, but his volatility outweighs his talent. For my money, the free agent route for a short term fix is the best way for the Jets to go this season for WR2.

Draft fix: Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

The Jets love them some Iowa State players, don’t they? Higgins is flying up draft boards, but the Jets will have a shot get him in round two, or maybe even a trade up back into the end of round one. Higgins is a huge receiver with a wing-span that stretches over 6’7”. He’s smooth but physical in his routes and does a nice job of creating pockets of separation with force and strength. He wouldn’t come in on day one and be the Jets second best receiver, but we will be talking about him a lot by the end of the year with some coaching and playing time.

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1. Right Tackle

Current Roster: Carter Warren, Max Mitchell, Chukwuma Okorafor

The Jets saw Morgan Moses head up I-95 to New England on the first day of free agency and it left a gaping hole on the right side of their offensive line. The only player they brought in who might play the position is Okorafor who quit on the Patriots last season after half of a game and giving up five consecutive pass sets. The other option the Jets have is to use newly signed Josh Myers (another Justin Fields Ohio State teammate) at guard and bump Alijah Vera-Tucker out to play the right tackle position.

Free Agent Fix: Joseph Noteboom

Noteboom was released by the Los Angeles Rams but still just 29-years old. He was taken in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft and has been a swing tackle for the Rams since then. He isn’t the long-term fix for the Jets offensive line, but he will be a cheap option with plenty of career snaps at right tackle. The Jets need to find a long term solution to their right tackle position, but not every starting offensive lineman needs to be a top-40 pick or a high priced free agent.

Draft Fix: Armand Membou, Missouri

Membou is worth a pick in the top 10 of the NFL draft and if the Jets decide to make him the selection, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in my opinion. He will slide into the right tackle position and if all goes well, the Jets won’t be looking for another tackle for at least a decade between Membou and last year’s top pick Olu Fashanu.

My issue with the pick is simple, you can’t always rely on top picks and high-priced free agents to fill every position. The Jets need to be able to draft and develop some offensive line help outside of the first two rounds. Since 2020, four of the Jets 12 picks in the first two rounds have been offensive linemen. They haven’t ignored the position; they simply can’t sustain it. Selecting Membou will be the Jets again admitting defeat in being able to build an offensive line without the benefit of a top pick.

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When the Jets went all-in on Aaron Rodgers and it didn't work out, the Jets offense was left with a glaring weaknesses that they counted on him to overcome.  When that failed, the new regime is left to try and pick up the pieces.  

There will be a lot of debate between now and the draft as to where the Jets should go in the first round of the NFL draft to fix one of those weaknesses, but it is abundantly clear, that it is going to take more than one offseason to build an offense that can compete in the NFL.

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