2021 NFL Draft: New York Jets top positional needs

The New York Jets have a ton of holes to fill between free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft. Let’s try to narrow those into the most crucial of needs.

The 2020 season has gotten off to a tumultuous start for Adam Gase and the New York Jets. If we’re being quite honest the number one need for New York is an entirely new coaching staff. Offensively, Gase has failed miserably to put together a competent game plan every week and his lack of creativity in play-calling has been even worse.

To make matters worse he clashed with star running back Le’Veon Bell for the umpteenth time and the New York Jets were forced to cut him. He’s had this reputation of butting heads with star players since his days in Miami.

Gase has also made some questionable decisions in handling his injured players. For starters, he dressed 2020 first-round pick, Mekhi Becton, even though he wasn’t healthy enough to start. Becton reaggravated his shoulder after he was forced to play after Chuma Edoga went down early against the Broncos. He missed his second straight game Sunday in Miami.

Then in the same game, Sam Darnold took a big hit to his shoulder making New York Jets fans fearful his season could be in jeopardy. He surprisingly returned shortly to finish the game. It wasn’t until the conclusion of the game fans and media found out Darnold actually has a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, which begs the question why was he out there risking further injury?

The New York Jets have so many issues I haven’t even gotten to the talent deficiency on this roster. That brings me over to the defensive side of the ball. General manager Joe Douglas brought in Pierre Desir to start at the top cornerback spot. He’s been absolutely terrible, but somehow has three interceptions on the year.

Last week with Bless Austin out, undrafted free agent Lamar Jackson started in his place and was asked to cover…DeAndre Hopkins? He actually wasn’t all that bad if you re-watch the film, but this team is just very short on talent that they have to rely on practice squad call-ups.

And I’m really not putting much of the blame on Douglas either. He inherited an absolutely brutal roster with big deals to star players that have barely contributed.

Douglas also was tasked to overhaul an entire offensive line with only one returning starter in Alex Lewis. He brought in free agents Greg Van Roten and Connor McGovern for the interior who’ve both gotten off to a slow start. However, his most questionable acquisition was tackle George Fant who’s been very solid in the first five games.

The good thing about those guys is that they’re all locked in for only one year with the exception of McGovern. So the only lineman guaranteed to be back next season is him and rookie tackle Becton. Clearly, this team has a lot of work to do.

I think I’m about done venting all of my frustrations with this team as a whole, so let’s try to narrow down all of the New York Jets’ positional needs.