FLORHAM PARK, NJ – The New York Jets, who once considered defender Sam Darnold an intangible asset, are open to commercial offers.
“I will answer the call if it is done,” CEO Joe Douglas said in a video conference with reporters on Wednesday, confirming previous reports that the Jets are willing to investigate the field.
Jets faces a major defensive decision: he stays with Darnold, writes a replacement with option no. 2 or can follow Houston Texans star Deshaun Watson if he becomes available – a potential scenario that Douglas downplayed.
Douglas said he is in no hurry to make a defensive decision, but there is an urgent deadline regarding the safety of Marcus Maye, a free agent pending whose agent attacked the Jets on social media on Tuesday night. GM rejected the criticism, saying the goal is for Maye to sign a long-term contract. Otherwise, it could use the franchise label by Tuesday.
The quarterback drama remains the main title, especially in light of Darnold’s struggles.
At the 2019 trading deadline, Douglas said he would listen to offers for every player except a franchise defender – and put Darnold in that category. Clearly, this position has changed. Since the end of the season, the organization has remained uncompromising on Darnold.
“As for Sam, we think Sam is a dynamic player in this league with incredible talent,” Douglas said. “He really has the chance to reach his remarkable potential going forward. [But] if calls are made, I will answer them. “
The Jets have received several calls from interested teams, ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously reported. Their plan is to evaluate the first defenders in the project before making a decision on Darnold. The best candidate with option no. 2 is considered to be Zach Wilson from BYU. Douglas said he was collecting “as much information – good information – as possible” about available quarterbacks. Another option is to stay with Darnold and trade the second choice for a series of project choices.
The dresser is Watson. With two first-round picks in the next draft and two more in 2022, the Jets have the ammunition to complete a deal of that caliber.
As a rule, Douglas is forbidden to comment directly on Watson, but he did not seem excited about the prospect of trading significant venture capital for a player. Of course, it could be a posture.
“Obviously, we have a lot of different scenarios and a lot of different rabbit holes that we can go down,” he said, answering a general question about a potential success agreement. “In order not to get so much into a hypothetical question, I’m just going back to [our philosophy].
“In order for us to get to where the big teams are, the most consistent teams are, do this by draft. It is the team’s friendliest market in sports. To be a team that constantly competes for the Super Bowls, we have to achieve our projects. “
Jets have a history of trading top draft options. They changed the unfortunate safety of Jamal Adams last summer, and now Maye – his former opponent – seems disappointed by the negotiations. Agent Erik Burkhardt wrote on Twitter that the Jets “refuse to take care of the best player, captain and MVP voted by the team.”
… However, they refuse to take care of their best player, captain and MVP voted by the older team, who had more All-Pro votes … and who played his entire rookie business and even changed its position in the year of the contract (after losing the safety of All-Pro last year). āš¼
– Erik Burkhardt (@ErikBurkhardt) March 3, 2021
Douglas removed it, indicating that it was part of the business and negotiations. He said they had “productive conversations” with Maye’s agents, adding: “Our plan has not changed. We’re working to make Marcus here for the long term. “