Jets GM Joe Douglas speaks at NFL Combine about improving OL, Mecole Hardman’s comments and more
INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time since the conclusion of the 2023 season, Jets general manager Joe Douglas spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon during the NFL Scouting Combine.
Douglas addressed several topics, including the release of left guard Laken Tomlinson, Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman and how the Jets will address their offensive line situation.
Here’s a summary of what Douglas addressed:
WHAT WAS BEHIND TOMLINSON’S RELEASE?
On Monday night, the Jets released left guard Laken Tomlinson after two seasons with the team. Considering the Jets already need two starters on the offensive line entering the offseason, some people were surprised Tomlinson, who has started all 34 games the last two seasons, was released.
The Jets saved $8.1 million by releasing Tomlinson.
“Had a good conversion with Laken on Monday,” Douglas said. “We just felt like it was the right move for us moving forward.
“I have so much respect for Laken as a person and as a player. Ultimately, we did what we thought was in the best interest of our team.”
JETS WON’T MOVE AVT AROUND IN 2024
In the last two seasons, the Jets have used Alijah Vera-Tucker‘s versatility to their advantage. He has played every position on the line other than center during his three years with the Jets.
Moving Vera-Tucker around has come with criticism. He has suffered two season-ending injuries (torn tricep and Achilles) during the last two years.
But moving forward, the Jets will keep Vera-Tucker at one position. What that position is, they’re not saying.
“I think we are in a really good situation because of the flexibility of AVT provides us. We don’t have any decision on exactly where he is going to line up.
“He has the ability to play four different spots and play four different spots well. It gives us a lot of flexibility moving forward on roster building and line building.
“The one thing we are going to do this year, we are not going to move AVT around. We are going to have a spot for him and leave him there for the season.”
JETS WON’T TAG HUFF
Bryce Huff had a breakout campaign last season for the Jets. He led the team in sacks with 10 in 2023.
The Jets are expected to meet with Huff’s representatives during the combine this week. However, they won’t place the franchise tag on the 25-year-old.
“There’s going to be productive conversions,” Douglas said.
Huff could be looking in the neighborhood of the four-year, $98 million contract with $72.9 million guaranteed defensive end Montez Sweat received from the Bears last November. That would ultimately take the Jets out of the Huff sweepstakes.
Gang Green has too many holes to fill with its offensive line, backup quarterback, wide receiver, defensive tackle and safety this offseason.
THOUGHTS ON HARDMAN’S COMMENTS
During an appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, Hardman spoke about his brief time with the Jets.
“There’s no standard there,” Hardman said.
“You just got a new [offensive] coaching staff that came in and there’s no standard there. Everybody does what they want to do.
“Granted, the defense has more of a stabilized standard with the coaching staff on that side, so the defense has a standard. But the offense is just like, ‘We’ll just figure it out. It’s Aaron’s show. Let Aaron [Rodgers] do what Aaron does.’ Then, when Aaron goes down, it’s like we don’t know what to do.”
The Jets signed Hardman to a one-year contract worth up to $6.5 million. But just months after the deal, Hardman became frustrated with his role after Xavier Gipson passed him on the team’s depth chart during training camp.
Hardman played only 28 snaps offensively and two on special teams during his six games with the Jets. That led to him saying he “was so checked out.”
The Jets traded Hardman back to the Chiefs on Oct. 18, where he spent the first four seasons of his career.
“Not to get into any specifics on what Mecole said,” Douglas said. “We were excited to sign Mecole. But Xavier Gipson really came on for us this year. He did an outstanding job for us.
“Ultimately, we made the decision to move on from Mecole. Our process on adding Mecole, he was excited to be here. It just didn’t work out.”
WILL THE JETS HAVE CHIEFS INVESTIGATED
That wasn’t the only thing Hardman said that created headlines. He also told The Pivot podcast that before the trade to Kansas City, he had already talked to Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and quarterback Patrick Mahomes and told the two to “Come get me.”
Douglas was asked if he would ask the NFL to investigate the Chiefs for a possible tampering violation.
“Those are comments that definitely resonate with us,” he said.
IS THIS YEAR DIFFERENT KNOWING EVERYTHING IS ON THE LINE?
It is no secret that this is a make-or-break season for Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh. At NFL Honors earlier this month, Jets owner Woody Johnson told reporters he was frustrated following a second consecutive 7-10 season.
“They’ve seen me about as mad as I could be with what was going on with the offense particularly,” Johnson said. “We’ve got all this talent and we’ve got to deploy talent properly.
“I think they all got the message. We’ve got to produce this year. This is not a playoff mandate, but we have to do a lot better than seven wins.”
Douglas says he talks to Johnson frequently and shares his sentiments about how the last two seasons have gone for the Jets.
“I mirror the frustrations that Woody has,” Douglas said. “He and I talk every day. We are certainly on the same page.
“I like the direction that we are headed. There’s a lot of talent coming back to this team. We know exactly what we have to do moving forward. The pressure is always intrinsic in this job whenever you walk in every day.
“I can tell you, we are not stressed. We are prepared, we are prepared to answer the bell here with the decisions that have to be made moving forward. A lot of that has to do with the meetings that we had after the last time we talked to you guys. I feel really good about all of us, the personnel staff, the coaching staff, analytics, everybody being on the same page.”
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