The New York Jets officially introduced their new general manager, Mike Maccagnan, and their new head coach, Todd Bowles, earlier today. But before each met with local media, Maccagnan sat down with NewYorkJets.com and revealed that the team plans to be active participants when free agency rolls around.
"We definitely have a lot of cap space," Maccagnan said. "Our goal is to look at all avenues possible in free agency. I don't want to give away our philosophy in terms of how we're going to attack free agency, but our goal is to ideally fill some of our needs via free agency, which will allow us to be a little more flexible in the draft in terms of looking for the best player available-building through the draft is ideally what I'd like to do, but we'll be very active in free agency."
Ex-Jets GM John Idzik was a cap specialist who sat on roughly $20 million in cap space without making any significant moves outside of signing wide receiver Eric Decker. Maccagnan has more of a personnel background and seems to be more interested in adding talent from the open market.
The Jets certainly could use some upgrades to their secondary. Patriots safety Devin McCourty and San Diego Chargers corner Brandon Flowers are likely to be the top two defensive backs available this offseason. Could the Jets be interested in adding either player?
New York is expected to have between $40 million and $50 million in salary cap room this offseason. While Maccagnan doesn't have to go off and sign the biggest names out there, improving areas of weakness with solid veterans could go a long way in getting this team back to respectability. The Jets have not enjoyed a winning season since 2010.
