The New York Jets have had a difficult 2021 to date, with a run of heavy losses where their defense has struggled to contain their opponents only recently broken by a 21-14 victory over the Houston Texans. What do the Jets need to do to make 2022 and beyond brighter?
“New York Jets Sam Darnold” (Public Domain) by Jack Kurzenknabe
New Players Are Needed
It is easy to say that better players are needed to improve any struggling football team, but that is exactly what the Jets need now. They have had some bad luck in 2021, with Carl Lawson picking up a season-ending injury in August, while others struggle to find their best form. The focus has been on the defense, but the team’s offense hasn’t been in great form this year either.
The off-season could be the moment for head coach Robert Saleh and his team to try and find a solution to their defensive woes. Cornerback is likely to be a priority position for them to fill, and that is possibly going to cost more money than they had expected to spend.
An increase in commercial activity could help to fund the spending spree that is needed. Even during the bad times, the Jets have enough loyal fans to help generate revenue in a variety of ways, such as the way that they have recently moved into the sports betting and casino market. For example, Borgata casino has offers based on New York Jets-themed blackjack and roulette games such as a Borgata promo code for a Bet & Get. Not only does this demonstrate how enthusiastic Jets fans are, in their eager consumption of all things Jets-related, but the earning potential of the franchise.
The Jet’s revenue had been climbing steadily in recent years, reaching a maximum of $497 million in 2019 before the anomaly of 2020. Forbes puts the Jets in eighth place on the NFL rich list, with an overall valuation of over $4 billion but it is clear that they could look for new ways to earn more money to improve the team.
Ed Yourdon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 2022 Draft Could Help
Could the 2022 NFL draft help the Jets? Along with the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, the Jets are among the teams who could benefit from having more than top-15 picks in the draft next year. As well as their own pick, they also have another from the Seattle Seahawks that comes from the Jamal Adams trade.
This event, in April, could help to define the future of the Jets, if they use their picks wisely. Recent mock drafts have suggested that third pick LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr could be their top choice, with offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu predicted to join the Jets in the second round.
Fans might need to wait a bit longer to see the Jets improve, but the combination of a top coach starting to make his mark and some smart picks in the draft could see them become more of a force in 2022 and beyond.
