At the end of the game Michael Carter of the Jets celebrates as he leaves the field after a 20-17 win over the Buffalo Bills as the two teams met in an AFC East game played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on November 6 2022. The New York Jets Host The Buffalo Bills In An Afc East Game Played At Metlife Stadium In East Rutherford Nj On November 6 2022
While Jets fans focus almost exclusively on the team’s quarterback situation which figures to have the team in pursuit of Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers and likely a few others, there are plenty of other items to ponder with free agency and the draft on the horizon.
Near the top of the list is the team’s depth at the running back position. With the way the team’s coaching staff is shaping up, the Jets will likely have a run-heavy attack in 2023. With Breece Hall coming off of season-ending injury, he’s unlikely to be ready by week 1.
Does this mean the team addresses the position in the coming months, or should they stick with what they’ve got in Hall, Michael Carter, Bam Knight and James Robinson?
Hall is clearly a stud back who the team will expect to be the bell cow when he returns. Knight looked fantastic early on for the Jets before their O-line fell apart and running room disappeared.
Robinson was invisible after being acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars but there were some whisper of a lingering knee issue that slowed him a bit with Gang Green. Was that the Jets saving face for making a bad deal or was he legitimately hampered? Robinson is a former 1,000 yard rusher who would be an excellent depth piece.
Then for course there’s Michael Carter, whose production fell off a cliff after a productive rookie season. Even still, he’s got a skill set that can make him a valuable asset moving forward.
So the question for Joe Douglas is, do you use a mid to late round pick or some cap space to add more depth, or stick with the group you have and fortify the offensive line to give them room to work with?