Jets Mailbag: Where will New York end up in the AFC East?

The scheduled start of training camp is now less than a month away, and it’s safe to say the Jets’ virtual offseason left a lot of questions unanswered. 

Here are a few of the ones you had in our latest SNY Jets mailbag:

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Where do the Jets end up in the AFC East? -- @NyseaRadio

Not first and not last. I’m confident of both of those things. And until Cam Newton signed with the Patriots, I would’ve probably predicted second. In fact, earlier this offseason, I did a way-too-early game-by-game prediction and came up with 9-7, which included a split with New England.

I’d probably keep the Jets in that same range 8-9 wins, depending on health and other breaks. But I think the Bills and now the Patriots could be significantly better than that. Both have double-digit win potential, especially if Newton is healthy.

So I guess I’d pick the Jets to finish third.

Now, that could be good enough for a wild-card berth with the newly-expanded playoff field. And I think the Jets have the potential for more. But they have a lot of uncertainty. They are counting on Sam Darnold to have his breakout season, a thin group of receivers to stay healthy and prove to be dangerous, the rebuilt offensive line to gel quickly, and Gregg Williams’ defense to pull off the same miracle it did last season, despite adding almost no help.

That’s a lot to ask. And with two better teams in the division, it’s all a lot to overcome.

Is Jamal Adams in a Jets uniform and active opening day -- @Tkeruns

Prediction on the Jamal Adams situation? -- @CaliJets

Yes, barring an injury, I believe Jamal Adams will be in a Jets uniform and active on Opening Day.

Exactly how we get to that point is hard to say, but I’m going to stand by what I’ve said all along: Adams has no leverage here. He’s under contract for two more seasons and the Jets can wield the “franchise tag” for a year or two after that. They have no incentive to trade one of their best players and no desire to trade one of the best safeties in the NFL when they only owe him $13.4 million over the next two years.

So if Adams really wants out, or just wants more money, his only play is what he’s doing: Make some noise about his unhappiness and hope he makes the Jets uncomfortable enough to trade him. That rarely works, of course, and sometimes it damages the players’ reputation. He could add a holdout on top of that, but he’d risk fines of $50,000 per day – fines that the Jets can, but don’t have to, rescind when he arrives.

In other words, a training camp holdout could cost him $2.1 million – or 58 percent of the $3.6 million he’s due to make in salary and bonuses this year. Does anyone think a 24-year-old is willing to risk that money, especially when it still might not lead to a trade?

So if I was going to offer a prediction, I’d guess he’ll stage a brief training camp holdout to make his point, then maybe stage a slowdown – claim an injury and refuse to practice or play in preseason games. He’ll probably boycott the media so the story grows, and then he’ll have a press conference before the season starts where he makes it clear he’s still not happy.

And then he’ll play. Then, next offseason, the Jets will sign him to his lucrative contract extension and everyone will hold hands and sing happy songs.

Anything new on Logan Ryan or any possible free agents the Jets could look to sign before training camp? -- @JETLIFE000

No. Honestly, there have been a lot of rumors about the Jets’ interest in a lot of players. Some of it is true, some of it has been…well, let’s say, exaggerated. GM Joe Douglas does have cap room (about $24.8 million), and as he’s rebuilding this roster, he has inquired about a lot of guys. Inquiries don’t always signal serious interest.

But yes, they had actual interest in Ryan, the former Titans cornerback. It was just never clear how interested they were. Obviously, Ryan doesn’t have a ton of options, and he’s probably not going to get the $10 million per year he was seeking. The Jets wanted him for considerably less, and so they wait. When everyone gets closer to the opening of training camp (July 28), someone will need to flinch. Probably. Unless he wants to wait to see if someone gets hurt in a camp somewhere and a team gets desperate.

That holds true for any available free agent at the moment. Ryan, though, makes a lot of sense for the Jets who clearly have a thin cornerback group. But the ball’s in Ryan’s court now. It’s not a bidding war, it’s just his decision to make.

Who are your picks to make the roster from the UDFAs? -- @nothingnew23738

You know, in a normal year, this would be a fun question to answer. I would have seen all the undrafted free agents at rookie camp and during organized team activities (OTAs) and even the full-team minicamp. I’d have seen their interaction with the coaches, how they look on the field, and perhaps most importantly, where they are on the depth chart.

But we’re all flying blind on this question now, including the coaches. I don’t know how Adam Gase or his coordinators could possibly judge a UDFA on their interaction at Zoom meetings. Right now, all they really know about these players is what they knew when they signed them after the draft.

There is one good indicator of how the Jets felt about their nine UDFAs back then, though: Money. All UDFAs get the same three-year contracts, but teams differentiate themselves in the bidding with signing bonuses and guaranteed money. If a player gets a big bonus or guarantee, it’s a good indication not only that the team really liked him, but that other teams were strongly pursuing him too.

So keep an eye on the Jets’ most expensive UDFA, Memphis edge rusher Bryce Huff, who got $90,000 in guaranteed money. Right behind him were Alabama DB Shyheim Carter and Washington tackle Jared Hilbers ($62,000 each). Obviously, they all play positions of need, so they’ll have opportunities to win a roster spot, too.

But the one I really have my eyes on is Lawrence Cager, a 6-5, 220-pound receiver out of Georgia who probably would’ve been drafted if he hadn’t broken his ankle in November. If he’s fully recovered and healthy, he has a chance to be a solid receiver and maybe a red-zone threat down the road. A lot of teams were interested in him after the draft. The Jets got him with a guarantee of $57,500.