Joe Douglas on Jets' draft outlook: 'It's a great position to be in'
Jets general manager Joe Douglas speaks to the media at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, N.J., on Thursday. Credit: Errol Anderson
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Jets expect to get four starters with their first four picks in next Thursday's NFL Draft, although they could use two of those picks to land one impact veteran.
General manager Joe Douglas has the assets and cap space to put himself in right in the middle of just about any trade discussion.
The Jets have the fourth, 10th, 35th and 38th picks in the draft. They were willing to part with 35 and 38 in a trade for Tyreek Hill, who chose to sign with the Dolphins instead. Those same picks could be had if the Jets were able to land unhappy 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel or wideouts A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf or Terry McLaurin.
Hey, anything to help Zach Wilson, right?
“It’s a great position to be in,” Douglas said Thursday. “There has been a lot of moves made to be in this position. Unfortunately, we’ve had to trade some really good players to be in this position but it’s a great opportunity to be a part of any opportunity that comes up and have those discussions. If the right situation presents itself, we can be in it.”
Douglas wouldn’t get into any specifics regarding possible talks for Samuel, who has requested a trade from San Francisco. Douglas said conversations with other general managers “are just starting to heat up” with the draft fast approaching.
The Jets acquired the No. 10 pick from Seattle in the Jamal Adams trade and No. 38 from Carolina for Sam Darnold. It’s unlikely Douglas will part with one of his first-round picks, though. He wouldn’t for Hill.
Douglas truly believes in building through the draft and is confident the Jets will find “difference makers” with picks four and 10 and starters with their four early selections.
“The expectation is those four players are going to be impact players for us,” Douglas said. “You’re expecting those players in the first two rounds to be starters. That’s our viewpoint going into any draft.”
Barring a trade, the Jets could go any number of ways with those four choices. The expectation is they will take an edge rusher, wide receiver, cornerback and offensive lineman — not necessarily in that order, though.
The Jets likely will go with a lineman with the No. 4 pick. Which side of the ball is the question?
Douglas believes you can never have enough good offensive linemen, and he has made it clear that building around Wilson is THE priority. Jets coach Robert Saleh wants his defensive front to be disruptive.
It could come down to the Jets deciding between potential franchise offensive tackles Ickey Ekwonu and Evan Neal or edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
“That’s what so cool about our process,” Douglas said. “We get together. Everyone checks their ego at the door when we get to these draft meetings. There’s some good dialogue, good discussions, good back and forth. The art to it is you’re trying to get the players that everyone is excited about — the coaches and the scouts.
“At the end of the day, we’re trying to get guys that we’re all excited about being Jets.”
Receivers Drake London or Garrett Wilson as well as cornerback Sauce Gardner could be possibilities for the Jets with the No. 10 pick. Both are positions of need. Douglas quoted his mentor and Ravens executive Ozzie Newsome in saying he will always take the best player available.
“You get in trouble if you’re breaking it up by position of need,” Douglas said. “Ozzie used to always have a saying, ‘A luxury today can be a necessity tomorrow.’ If you get away from your process, if you get away from your board I think that’s when you can get into a real jam.”
No Becton
Left tackle Mekhi Becton did not attend the first week of voluntary workouts. Douglas said Becton is back in Dallas. Becton injured his knee in Week 1 and never returned despite the Jets initially saying he would miss 4-to-8 weeks.
“We’ve had great dialogue and discussion back and forth with his medical team back in Dallas,” Douglas said. “We’re on top of everything with him right now. These are voluntary sessions.”
Becton’s weight and conditioning have been a major topic. This is an important offseason for Becton, who could be switched to right tackle if George Fants beats him out for the left spot in camp.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
