As soon as he hit the UFA market there were many teams interested in him but no one signed him... In an interview Rex said he still thought highly of Douglas but that if he found a big offer on the free market he had Rex blessing to accept it and leave... But he is still out there and I haven't read anything lately on Rotoworld about him visiting anywhere. I know we want to get younger at DE but, except for Ellis (who's 33) and DeVito, we have two very unproven guys as backups. I'll be very happy if we draft a 3-4DE (especially Odrick) but if we don't (let's say the BPA is clearly another guy in rd 1 & rd 2) I'd like to have Douglas back on the team for another year. Do you think the Jets are dead set on letting him go or they might bring him back if we aren't able to sign any DE in the first 3rds? Right now DE is our weakest position and we HAVE to do something about it.
I agree. I see no harm in bringing him back on a 1 year deal, if for nothing else but to give us more freedom in the draft. The guy knows the defense and can be relied upon. I also think it's fair to say we will draft a 3-4 DE prospect at some point in the draft, so having a guy like Douglas to groom him would be an additional benefit.
The point is... in the first 3-4 rds means he is certainly an upgrade over what we have at backup right now (Wright and Pitoitua) but if we get him in the later rounds how can we be sure he's going to be a better prospect than those two? We aren't really that old at DE (except for Ellis) so I feel it only makes sense to draft someone in the higher rounds... otherwise we already have players who ahve had a full year to train under sexy Rexy. Problem is 3-4DE is NEVER a deep position in the draft and I'm not sure I want to reach for a guy instead of going BPA. that's my philosophy...
My guess is Rex told him to explore the market and try to find a better deal and the Jets will match it if they can. If no one offers him anything more then they will bring him back for the veteran minimum again. He's a very solid role player for Rex's defense.
I never understood letting him go in the first place. He's not spectacular, but he's solid. Sort of like Coleman was. You don't hear a 3-4 DE's name too often if they are doing a good job...
I would assume with little or no interest from other teams that he can be brought back cheaply, sometime before mini-camps in May?
He probably is seeing if there is anyone out there willing to give him good money, with an understanding with the Jets and Rex that they will have a chance to match it if they want. Also that if a good deal doesn't come along, Rex will take him back with open arms to be a backup/mentor to whatever DE they bring in at the draft. The DL might get awfully crowded though.. Jenkins, Ellis, Pouha, DeVito, Rookie, Douglas, Pituitua potentially.
I like the idea of signing Douglas as a depth signing because he obviously knows this system but nothing more. We need someone better to start across from Ellis. Please be Odrick...
Douglas will be back if we don't draft another DE...he will also be back if no one gives him a better 1 year offer. He is a post draft type signing for us or any interested team who missed out on a DE...
I'd be ok with going into the season with 7 DL considering age (Ellis, potentially Douglas), injuries (Jenkins), inexperience (the eventual rookie, Pitoitua, Pouha and DeVito are inexperienced as starters too). That is, BTW what we did last year when we had Douglas, Ellis, DeVito, Pitoitua + Jenkins, Pouha & Green.
