New York Jets: 3 Things Mike Maccagnan must accomplish in 2018

New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan needs to make a splash in the 2018 offseason. Here are three things he needs to accomplish moving forward.

Pressure is starting to build on New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan and he knows it. It’s do or die time for him to rebuild his roster into a legitimate playoff contender in the AFC. Jets fans are tired of going 5-11 the last two seasons. It’s time for the Hightstown, NJ native to come through and get Gang Green back on the winning path.

Free agency commences next month and the NFL Draft is the month after. New York should have more than $100 million in salary cap space after Muhammad Wilkerson, Matt Forte and a few other players are shown the door.

The Jets also own the sixth overall pick in the draft and have two second round selections as well. They can shop at Tiffany’s. They can make a huge splash in the draft. Maccagnan has to make smart decisions. No more Christian Hackenberg debacles. He has to rise to the occasion.

Here are three things that Maccagnan must accomplish before the start of training camp in late July:

3. Land a franchise quarterback

I wrote last month that the Jets should sign free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins. Sure, it will cost a boatload of money but Gang Green is swimming in salary cap room right now. That would give New York a top-10 signal-caller in the prime of his career. And yes, finally, their franchise quarterback.

The other option is obviously via the draft. With the sixth pick in the opening round, New York should be able to grab one of the top four hot quarterback prospects — Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield. I would much prefer signing Cousins so Maccagnan can use this selection to fill another need, of which the Jets have many.

Wouldn’t Denzel Ward or Tremaine Edmunds look good here? You bet.