Limbo at Linebacker

Edition #313

Good morning! 🌟

Social media is an interesting place. On the one hand, you get an incredible range of opinions, on the other hand, it can be very toxic when it comes to the Jets.

Right now, my sense based on what I’ve seen over the last week is that no offensive coordinator will be widely accepted, and outside of Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers, no QB will be widely accepted.

If you want to maintain your sanity, it’s important to work through the noise and avoid toxicity. Hopefully, here at TJW, we give you a balanced view, a positive take without us acting as cheerleaders for the team, something we’ll never do.

Thank you to JB over at Mets Fix (Go get yourself subscribed ahead of pitchers and catchers reporting next month) for the updated graphic below. I work on the three-strike rule, and yesterday I received my third comment about Zach Wilson taking pride of place on our QT graphic. So we've made a switch. Thank you to Frank who gave me the idea to move to Namath, at least we won’t need to change it again for a while!

💼 The Jets are not the only team interested in Chad O’Shea, the Browns WR coach, and passing game coordinator. The Ravens interviewed him yesterday for their vacant OC position. O’Shea has already completed an interview with the Jets.

🗳️ Jets corner Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams were selected to the PFWA Writers’ All-NFL Team. Gardner and Williams were also on the All-AFC Team, along with special teams captain Justin Hardee.

⚜️ Former Saints Head Coach Sean Payton has scheduled a second interview with the Broncos this week. It would be a good hire for Denver and I trust Payton could turn Russell Wilson around, but it would require the Broncos to part with draft picks.

🫡 The Washington Commanders are interviewing the Dolphins “Associate head coach & running backs coach” Eric Studesville for their vacant OC position. Eric has a ton of experience and I’m somewhat surprised the Jets have yet to interview him.

🐏 The LA Chargers will interview the LA Ram’s senior offensive assistant Greg Olson for their vacant OC job tomorrow. The former Raiders offensive coordinator has a lot of experience and I’m intrigued by partnering him with Derek Carr with Brian Johnson as QB and passing game coordinator. Intrigued I tell you.

Here’s a recap of how well the rookies performed this year:

C.J Mosley
Jamien Sherwood

That’s our linebacker depth chart for 2023 as things stand. Needless to say, there is a lot of work to do at that position this off-season.

I’ve seen a few people suggest that the Jets cut ties with C.J. Mosley due to his salary. Here is his cap hits over the remaining years of his contract which includes two void years in 2025 and 2026.

2023: $21,476,000
2024: $21,476,000
2025: $5,952,000
2026: $0 ($2,976,000 in dead money)

Could the Jets restructure his deal? Potentially, but any further restructuring is just kicking the can down the line, and although we have a ton of flexibility, that flexibility will start to disappear.