It’s safe to say that things aren’t looking very promising for the New York Jets this fall. The club went from an encouraging 10-6 finish in 2015 to only five wins this past year. General manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles appear to be on the hot seat after only two seasons. The look of the Team on the field has changed dramatically over the last few months and the roster is filled with more questions than answers. This is a club that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2010 and looks like an organization in full rebuilding mode.
Who’s gone?
Talk about a housecleaning? When you look at what the New York Jets have done this offseason, they wound up parting ways with a slew of notable veterans that not long ago were pivotal parts of that aforementioned 10-6 season two years ago.
Released by the organization were wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, center Nick Mangold, cornerback Darrelle Revis, inside linebacker David Harris, tackle Breno Giacomini, safety SS Marcus Gilchrist and placekicker Nick Folk. Marshall wound up signing with the New York Giants while Folk is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The team also didn’t re-sign quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith. And after using their first two draft choices in April on safeties Jamal Adams (1-LSU) and Marcus Maye (2-Florida), former first-rounder Calvin Pryor was dealt to the Cleveland Browns.
Who’s the quarterback?
A look at the quarterback depth chart for the New York Jets shows that free-agent pickup Josh McCown, who has put the word journey in journeyman, is the starter for now. He’s followed in the pecking order by Bryce Petty, a fourth-round choice in 2015 who saw his share of action this past season.
They’re joined by '16 second-round selection Christian Hackenberg.
The former Penn State product never saw the field in his rookie campaign. Maccagnan and Bowles certainly need to find out what they have in the former Nittany Lions’ signal-caller.
The Jets have a pair of solid running backs in Matt Forte and Bilal Powell but the team’s pass-catching corps has been severely depleted. 2014 sixth-round pick Quincy Enunwa finished second in the club with 58 catches this past season.
He led the Green and White with 857 receiving yards and four touchdown grabs but he is currently the most experienced wide receiver on the roster. With all the departures and uncertainty at the quarterback spot, it’s hard to imagine anything but a long year for these New York Jets.
