ESPN Report: NY Jets doesn’t regret the controversial offseason trade, to the Denver Broncos…

This was a mistake by the Jets.

The NY Jets’ offseason defensive line decisions have gained greater attention as the team waits for the arrival of star pass rusher Haason Reddick. More especially, and understandably so, the team’s choice to send John Franklin-Myers to the Chicago Bulls for almost nothing has come under scrutiny.

During his first press conference since April on Thursday, general manager Joe Douglas made it apparent that he doesn’t regret previous judgments.

When questioned about the Franklin-Myers transaction and whether he regrets it, particularly in light of what has transpired with Reddick, the general manager of the Jets declined to acknowledge any uncertainty.

Douglas said to reporters that he is not sorry about the trade of Franklin-Myers to the Denver Broncos on draft night for a sixth-round pick in 2026. Regretfully, that decision was not only incorrect at the time, but it is also the cause of some of the team’s present problems.

It is unfortunate that the NY Jets traded Myers for John Franklin.
The Jets have made an effort to promote the myth that they had to deal Franklin-Myers in order to meet their cap requirements, but that myth is untrue. Franklin-Myers and the Broncos worked out a revised agreement that will cap him at just $5 million in 2024.

Although the Jets never even approached the veteran defensive lineman with the possibility, he was amenable to a revised contract. Rather, they lost him for basically nothing in exchange for two years’ worth of a sixth-round pick.

In addition, the team’s initial choice to trade Franklin-Myers was influenced by other moves made throughout the offseason. It’s the choice to swap out Quinton Jefferson for Javon Kinlaw, who is considerably more expensive but less productive. Indeed, it’s the choice to swap out Bryce Huff for the more costly and elderly Haason Reddick.

The total cap impact for Franklin-Myers and Huff in 2024 is $10 million. The cap hit on Jefferson is less than $2 million. Kinlaw, who has never been nearly as prolific as Jefferson was in 2023, was given $7.25 million by the Jets for a single season.

Not to mention the sum of money they will finally give Reddick when he appears. To save money, the Jets compromised on their defensive line. The errors have been closely examined in light of Reddick’s protest.

It’s also important to remember that the Reddick conundrum may have its roots in the Franklin-Myers transaction. According to reports, the All-Pro pass rusher informed the Jets that he would attend minicamp and OTAs without a new deal. Apparently, plans were altered.

However, what transpired between OTAs and the Reddick trade? In the deal of Franklin-Myers, the Jets gave Reddick more negotiating power. As September draws near, he and his agent are still attempting to take use of that leverage.

For an extended period, Franklin-Myers has been among the Jets’ most underappreciated players. In 2023, this player had 50 pressures, which is just six less than Jermaine Johnson. For comparison, Michael Clemons finished with just eight pressures.

The Jets made a mistake in moving John Franklin-Myers, and while Joe Douglas may not acknowledge it in public, it’s reasonable to assume that some team members are second-guessing their decision.