Jets revamped their offensive line, but does that mean it’s better?

Joe Douglas stayed true to his word in the first week of free agency by obsessing over improving the beleaguered New York Jets offensive line. The general manager signed five linemen in five days. Truth be told, he’d sign five more in the next five days if not for the TLC the rest of roster needs.

Douglas added a starting tackle, two starting guards and a center with the hope of better protecting Sam Darnold and opening holes for Le’Veon Bell this season.

It’s understandable for Jets fans to be excited about the flurry of transactions in the trenches, but before declaring the problem solved, consider this: New doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Successful offensive line play is predicated on skill, smarts, and perhaps above all, a shared understanding to work as a cohesive unit. Chemistry matters.

Can Douglas, Adam Gase or anyone else for that matter definitively proclaim that Gang Green’s 2020 offensive line will be markedly better than last season simply because there are a handful of new faces on board? That’s obviously the hope. Gang Green faithful wishes that becomes a reality but shouldn’t be blinded by it.

Although it was abundantly clear offensive line upgrades were required, would it be shocking if this new line underperformed? It’s not as if Douglas added Walter Jones, Steve Hutchinson and Jim Ringo to the roster.

Former Seahawks tackle George Fant has plenty of promise, but enlisting him to protect Darnold’s blindside doesn’t come without legitimate risk. Fant, an athletic former college basketball player, would be best served as a swing tackle or right tackle. Depending on how the rest of the offseason unfolds, the soon-to-be 28-year-old Fant might wind up on the right side of the line. He possesses some tantalizing traits, but a left tackle’s primary purpose is to be consistently rock solid in pass protection, not be good in open space on screens. And by every objective measure, he’s far from a finished product in pass protection.

The Jets downgraded from former Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Kelvin Beachum, who was Douglas’ best lineman last season.

The Jets gave Fant a three-year, $30 million deal that is essentially a 1-year, $9.25 million pact. They overpaid. Sources said Fant was hoping for about $6 million per year on the open market. The Jets curiously gave him 30% more.

Center Connor McGovern (Penn State) appears to be a solid addition in the pivot. He’s an improvement. How much remains to be seen. He’s a disciplined player, which matters. The Jets are hopeful he can grow with Darnold.

Former Panthers guard Greg Van Roten proved to be a quality run-blocker on the left side in Carolina, but apparently there were pass-protection concerns last season. Is he a clear upgrade from Brian Winters? Anyone who definitively tells you he is probably has some available swamp land in Florida. The good news is the Jets are forking over only about $10 million for their starting guards in 2020.

There’s a giant question mark at the second tackle spot that will be addressed in the near future.

Douglas had the correct strategy to attack the offensive line in free agency, but he didn’t provide many long-term solutions. Fant, Van Roten and Alex Lewis all signed de facto one-year deals, so Douglas could be right back in the same spot looking for massive line changes a year from now if these guys underperform.