New York Jets figure to be busy this offseason

One of the biggest movers and shakers in the NFL this offseason should be the New York Jets, who have already gotten the ball rolling with the hire of new head coach Robert Saleh. The move has been praised in league circles as Saleh has assembled a top-notch coaching staff to try and get more out of the organization's talent than what Adam Gase's regime had accomplished.

There is still a ton of work for Saleh and GM Joe Douglas to do to improve a roster that is pretty bare on the talent front coming off a 2-14 season. New York hasn't made the postseason since 2010, the longest active drought in the league, and it seems unlikely that the Jets can do enough work in one offseason to snap that streak in 2021.

The good news is that Douglas has plenty of assets available to him to address various areas of need, including over $80 million in salary cap room and five draft picks in the first three rounds, highlighted by the No. 2 pick in April. Let's go position by position to break down what the Jets could look to do to improve.

Quarterback

There are really only three realistic options the Jets will pursue here, and they are the following:

1. Run it back with Sam Darnold for another year.

2. Draft a quarterback at No. 2 overall.

3. Trade for Deshaun Watson.

The third option took a hit in Douglas' latest media availability when he threw cold water on trading a bunch of draft picks to land one player. This isn't to say that the Jets would be completely out on Watson if he became available but Douglas' preferred method of operation is to build through the draft.

Douglas is doing his homework on the draft's top passers and won't make a decision until after he completes those assessments. If the Jets feel that one of the Zack Wilson/Justin Fields/Trey Lance trio is a franchise passer they will take one at 2 and trade Darnold. The smart money is on the 2021 quarterback coming from that pick.

Running Back

Le'Veon Bell is gone and Frank Gore won't be back, leaving the Jets in need of some more options out of the backfield. Ty Johnson and La'Mical Perine will be back but this is an area the Jets can efficiently attack in free agency. Big money splurges are out of the question but look for Douglas to pursue runners who can thrive in Mike LaFleur's zone-blocking system. Possible options include Jamaal Williams, Marlon Mack and Kenyan Drake. Don't be shocked if the Jets draft one too.

Wide Receivers/Tight End

This area should be addressed significantly as Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder are the only two locks to be back in the Jets' receiving corps. The free-agent market is loaded with top pass-catchers such as Allen Robinson, Kenny Golladay, and Chris Godwin so there are going to be options to add a top-flight receiver.

Another guy who could make sense is Curtis Samuel, a gadget player who can be a fun fit in LaFleur's system.

New York could also look to add another wide receiver in the NFL Draft since this year's class is deep. Tight end will see Chris Herndon come back for another year but the Jets do need to add some depth behind him following Herndon's struggles in 2020.

Offensive Line

The move to a zone-blocking scheme will help existing players like George Fant and Connor McGovern, meaning New York's offensive line is 3/5 of the way built for 2021. Both guard spots need to be upgraded, however, an approach that could see the Jets sign one big free agent and draft another player. The free agent to watch is Patriots' guard Joe Thuney, who Douglas was prepared to back up the Brinks truck for last spring before New England surprisingly slapped him with the franchise tag.

Defensive Line

The Jets are going to a 4-3 scheme under Saleh, which should help them utilize some of their existing players like Quinnen Williams, Foley Fatukasi and John Franklin-Myers. 2020 third-round pick Jabari Zuniga should also play a role but this group needs an edge rusher badly. Expect the Jets to target players like Yannick Ngakoue, Matt Judon and Bud Dupree to find the pass-rushing punch that New York's defense has lacked since trading away John Abraham in 2005. Another option to fill this need would be to use the Jets' second first-round pick, which is No. 23 overall, to add an edge-rushing prospect.

Linebackers

Getting C.J. Mosley back should be a big boost since he is the perfect fit for Saleh's defense. Two lost years have helped people forget how dominant Mosley was in Baltimore, which helped him earn the big contract former GM Mike Maccagnan lavished on Mosley in 2019. There aren't a lot of great in-house candidates for the two outside linebacker spots so this could be another spot where the Jets look to draft one player and sign one in free agency.

Secondary

The Jets' secondary needs a massive overhaul, particularly at cornerback. Youngsters Bryce Hall and Bless Austin have shown enough promise to compete for a job but you can easily argue that Douglas needs to land two starting corners. Richard Sherman would be a natural fit on the free-agent front given his familiarity with Saleh's system from his time in San Francisco. Retaining slot corner Brian Poole would also be a boost since he has been extremely effective when healthy for the Jets.

Corner is also an area that the Jets could look to address with either No. 23 in the first round or their first pick in the second round, with Florida State's Asante Samuel Jr a contender here. Don't be shocked if the Jets keep adding corners until they find a combination they like.

Safety is a bit more settled as New York will keep Marcus Maye through either the franchise tag or a long-term contract. Second-year man Ashtyn Davis will be able to compete for a job with a veteran the Jets bring in to push him.

Special Teams

The Jets really need to find a kicker and it could be interesting to see if they try to draft one late to compete with a veteran. Punter Braden Mann had a solid rookie year as a sixth-round pick and is locked in for 2021.

Finding an upgrade in the return game will also be key for Douglas. Davis could factor into this mix but don't be shocked if a few of the Jets' draft picks have some ability in this area.