New York Jets Biggest Need Is Cornerback According To ESPN

The New York Jets biggest hole to address this offseason, according to ESPN, is cornerback.

The New York Jets are embarking on a new path this offseason. They had focused on adding veterans the last two seasons to try and make a playoff push. After winning 10 games in 2015, it made sense. But, the moves backfired.

The Jets took a major step backward in 2016. They won only five games, causing the front office to change their approach. It has resulted in a purge of the roster with the goal of getting younger.

Gone are long-time Jets and veterans alike. This offseason alone the Jets released Nick Mangold, Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis, Nick Folk, Ryan Clady, Breno Giacomini, and Erin Henderson. The Jets are committing to a youth movement and have plenty of work to do.

The roster is barren of many building blocks. Leonard Williams is probably the only star in the making currently on the roster. Quincy Enunwa has shown flashes, and the offensive line looks to have some decent players. But, overall, the roster is severely lacking in talent.

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With so many positions of need, it is tough to pinpoint exactly where the Jets most need to improve. One area to start would be in the defensive backfield. Cornerback, specifically, was selected at ESPN as the biggest hole currently on the Jets.

Over at ESPN a list was compiled that pinpointed the biggest hole on every team in the league. Cornerback was the one selected for the Jets. Here is what Aaron Schatz had to say about the Jets cornerback situation.

"What do you get for the team that needs everything? According to DVOA, last season’s Jets fielded the franchise’s worst pass defense since the start of our advanced stats in 1988. Injuries, coupled with Darrelle Revis’ demise, were at the heart of the 31st-ranked pass defense. New York did not rank better than 16th against any type of receiver, yet fielded the league’s second-most expensive secondary by cap hit last season, per Spotrac."

Just two years ago the Jets defensive backfield looked like it would be a strength for years to come. There was still hope for Dee Milliner, while Mike Maccagnan splurged on Revis, Antonio Cromartie, and Buster Skrine. Calvin Pryor looked like a building block at safety, and Marcus Gilchrist was signed as well.

Entering year three of the Maccagnan and Todd Bowles era and the defensive backfield is in shambles. Milliner was a huge bust. Pryor has plateaued and there is a chance the Jets do not pick up his fifth-year option. Cromartie was released prior to the 2016 season, with Revis being released this season. Gilchrist could also find himself on the free agent market.

This is not what the front office had in mind when they made those moves two years ago. They had hoped this group would be dominant and be the backbone of the Jets defense. Instead, their instability has eroded the Jets defense as they struggled to slow down anyone through the air.

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Luckily for the Jets, this year is loaded in cornerback talent. The draft is very deep, giving the Jets a chance to add an impact player in the secondary to go along with Williams in the front seven. There is plenty of work to do for the Jets, but adding talent to the secondary may be at the front of that to-do list.

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