Time will tell who won the day in free agency, and whether that even matters. But the Jets couldn’t have hoped for much more than they got out of this big-spending spree. They landed receiver Corey Davis on a three-year, $37.5 million contract with $27 million guaranteed, according to one source. And they signed defensive end Carl Lawson to a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed according to another.

And just like that, the Jets’ two biggest needs were filled.

Of course, spending big money in free agency doesn’t always guarantee success – a lesson the Jets learned under Mike Maccagnan in 2018-19 with the likes of Trumaine Johnson, Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley. Davis and Lawson could be busts. So could middle linebacker Jarrad Davis, the Jets’ first signing of the day who got a one-year, $7 million deal.

But what feels different about these three players is the upside they bring. Corey Davis, the former fifth overall pick who never quite lived up to that billing, had 65 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games after the Titans declined to pick up his fifth-year option for 2022. He’s a big receiver (6-3, 210) who is seemingly getting better. The Lions passed on Jarrad Davis’ option too, in part because for four years they couldn’t seem to figure out how best to use him. As for Lawson, he’s been trying to live up to the promise he showed as a rookie when he had 8 ½ sacks, and he finally seemed to come close when he had 5 ½ sacks and ranked fourth in the NFL with 64 pressures last year.

They are all ascending players. And young. All three will be 26 on Opening Day. Douglas still wants to mostly build his team through the draft, but good young free agents like this are still part of what his program needs.

Of course, the Patriots did well, too. They received reluctant applause around the NFL for their targeted spending spree, which included deals for tight end Jonnu Smith (four years, $50 million), nose tackle Davon Godchaux (two years, $16 million), cornerback Jalen Mills (four years, $24 million), edge rusher Matthew Judon (four years, $56 million), receivers Nelson Agholor (two years, $26 million) and Kendrick Bourne (three years, $22.5 million) and ex-Jets defensive end Henry Anderson (two years, $7 million).

They spent like Tom Brady had left his bank card and PIN in New England and Bill Belichick had just found it while cleaning out his locker room. The seven-hour flurry had to drive Jets fans crazy, especially as they watched one of the Jets’ top targets – ex-Patriots guard Joe Thuney – sign a five-year, $80 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

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