Turnover of the roster for the New York Jets has been a considerable point of focus during the 2020 offseason. On Sunday, right guard Brian Winters was released, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
A surprise release: Jets are cutting last season’s starting right guard Brian Winters, per source.
As a starting guard, Winters is not expected to be without a job very long.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2020
Winters had been a staple of the Jets' offensive line since 2013, having started at least six games in each of the past seven seasons. Entering his age-29 year, as Schefter notes, should make Winters a valuable commodity now that he is on the free-agent market shortly before the start of the 2020 regular season.
The comments made by Jets general manager Joe Douglas back in April are now especially illuminating, in which he lamented his belief that there was a lack of adequate offensive line play in the league. That of course led to New York using its first-round Draft selection later that month to nab former Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton, who figures to protect quarterback Sam Darnold's blindside for the foreseeable future.
With Winters now out of the equation for the Jets, six-year veteran Greg Van Roten could be seen as his replacement at the right guard slot. Whomever nabs right guard duties will be another new face tabbed with keeping Darnold upright as right tackle George Fant and center Connor McGovern were both signed with that task in mind.
The effectiveness of the tinkering with the offensive line — judge for yourself — will be on display when the Jets open the season against the Bills on Sept. 13. The Jets' AFC East opponents sacked Darnold six times last year.
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