Newly-hired New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas isn’t perceiving the current roster as one that’s rebuilding.
When the New York Jets hired Joe Douglas as their new general manager earlier this month, it was like fitting another piece in the puzzle. After hiring a new head coach in Adam Gase and signing running back Le’Veon Bell, the Jets knew all they needed was a confident GM who can finish the depth chart the right way.
Now, they have that. But at the same time, many still think they’re rebuilding.
New York has gone 13-34 in the last three seasons. They need to improve drastically on the field if they want to get back to the playoffs. So that being said, are they in rebuilding mode?
Douglas doesn’t think so.
Speaking on the current Jets’ situation, Douglas reflected on his time with the Philadelphia Eagles to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
“It was not a teardown [with the Eagles] and I don’t think it’s a teardown here,” Douglas said. “And frankly, those two are much better situations than when me and Adam [Gase] walked into in Chicago in ’15.”
Douglas was previously the director for college scouting for the Bears in 2015. He was also the vice president of player personnel for the Eagles from 2016-2019. It’s safe to say he’s had to deal with below-average rosters in the past to get where he is today.
With Douglas at the helm of the front office, Gase now calling the plays, and Bell in the backfield, the Jets should be looking to improve and become contenders in the AFC.
With those weapons and a reliable receiving core, quarterback Sam Darnold will be looking to be a lot better than he was last season. Darnold only threw 17 touchdowns to 15 interceptions in 2018, so the Jets organization will be looking for him to come into his own in year No. 2.
