SAN FRANCISCO — Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has an admirer in Hall of Fame GM Bill Polian.
Polian, who built Super Bowl teams in Buffalo and Indianapolis, said he thought Maccagnan might have done the best job in football in his first year on the job after making trades for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brandon Marshall and hitting some home runs in free agency.
“I thought he really did a great job,” said Polian, who is now an ESPN analyst. “I’ve got to give [former Jets GM] John [Idzik] credit because he did clear out the cap space. Mike did a terrific job. Fitz was great. The trade for the receiver Marshall was great. He did almost everything right, which is hard to do when you’re coming in new.It really is. He did a terrific job. When you think about who might be the executive of the year, he’s got to be in the mix.”
Maccagnan actually did win the Executive of the Year from the Pro Football Writers Association last month. Now, Maccagnan faces the challenge of having as much success in his second offseason. The biggest question for Maccagan is what to do with defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who is scheduled to be a free agent. The Jets are expected to use the franchise tag on him. But then what? Should they sign him long-term or try to trade him?
Maccagnan has tough decisions to make about his defensive line, which is one of the best in the league, but will be hard to keep together. Nose tackle Damon Harrison also is scheduled to be a free agent.
Polian said he was skeptical about the Jets being able to hold on to all of their defensive line talent, which also includes Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams.
“The cap is increasing, so it’s possible,” Polian said. “The theory is that they should not. The idea of the cap is to weaken good teams and weaken good position groups.
That’s why Gene [Upshaw, the former players’ union leader] bought into it because it provides competitive balance. So theoretically they should not, but with the cap the way it is and ever increasing and if your legerdemain is pretty good, maybe they’ll be able to do it.”
The Jets agreed to a two-year deal with linebacker Freddie Bishop, who spent the past three seasons in the Canadian Football League. Bishop had 11 sacks for the Calgary Stampeders last season. … The team also signed kicker Kyle Brindza to a reserve/futures deal. … Todd Bowles added Jeff Hammerschmidt to his staff as the assistant special teams coach.