The New York Jets are not going to win many games in 2021.
That reality has set in fast and becomes even more evident now that rookie quarterback Zach Wilson is out with a knee injury.
Sitting at 5-1 before the trade deadline should set up the team to be sellers.
Head coach Robert Saleh made a few things clear about his team’s strategy leading up to November 2.
“I’m in complete lockstep with Joe with regards to making every decision that we need to make that’s in the best interest of this organization and the future of it and the direction we’re trying to go,” Saleh said, as shared by Pro Football Talk. “So, if it’s something that will help us, great. If it’s not, great. Forcing things is not Joe’s forte, he is very deliberate, he communicates with us all the time. So, I love the way he goes about his business and I love his process. But I’m with Joe. If it’s something that’s going to help us, awesome. But I also know we’re not looking for a fire sale either.”
The main point to take from this is that the Jets aren’t expected to trade all their talent away just to acquire more draft capital.
"I truly believe we're going to win championships. I know it's hard to see right now, but I know the direction we're going and I know where it's going to get"
– Robert Saleh pic.twitter.com/hVIHqsdJ00
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 25, 2021
Time To Evaluate
Another losing season for a rebuilding team means the organization is once again evaluating all the talent on the roster.
This includes young players and veterans, as the front office must determine who deserves to come back in 2022.
Actually trading away talented players will not help the team start winning again soon, which is why the Jets are avoiding the fire sale route.
#Jets owner Woody Johnson, at the NFL fall meeting, says he has “unwavering, steadfast confidence” in Joe Douglas, Robert Saleh and the coaching staff. “We will get it right. … Just a very young team with a 22-year-old quarterback. He’s seeing things for the first time.”
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 26, 2021
At some point, a rebuild has to result in wins on the field.
The Jets are just starting over in 2021 with Wilson after doing the same with Sam Darnold in 2018.
Saleh has been put in a tough spot but he had to know this could be a possibility when he took the job.
The Jets avoiding a true fire sale should also keep morale high enough to compete if the organization is showing faith in those on the roster.
