New York Jets: And the Quarterback Is...

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

What a difference five weeks made for the New York Jets. From 8-3 to 9-7. from Eric Mangini as head coach to Rex Ryan, and from Brett Favre as the starting quarterback to, well, your guess is as good as ours. Those last five games sent the franchise into yet another new direction, one that will only start coming into focus when free agency opens on Feb. 27.

NFL Coaching Carousel

Hired: Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs
The architect of the Cardinals' offense heads to Kansas City to try to turn around a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 1993. Click through for more NFL head coaching changes.

Al Behrman, AP

Fired: Herm Edwards, Kansas City Chiefs
Edwards was canned after a disappointing three-year campaign which was capped by a 2-14 record in 2008.

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Hired: Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions
Schwartz, who had been Tennessee's defensive coordinator, inherits a Detroit team that finished 0-16 in 2008.

Carlos Osorio, AP

Fired: Rod Marinelli, Detroit Lions
An 0-16 disaster capped Marinelli's run in Detroit. In his three seasons as the Lions head man, Marinelli posted a 10-38 record.

Carlos Osorio, AP

Hired: Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs twice promoted Morris once the 2008 season ended. Initially, he was tabbed as the team's new defensive coordinator, replacing Monte Kiffin. Then, when the team canned Jon Gruden, Morris ascended to head coach.

Chris O'Meara, AP

Fired: Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Both Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen were canned after the team collapsed following a 9-3 start and failed to make the playoffs. It was a stunning turn of events for the coach who brought Tampa Bay a Super Bowl title in 2003.

Reinhold Matay, AP

Hired: Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts
Caldwell will step in for Tony Dungy as the new head coach of the Colts. Dungy hired Caldwell in Tampa Bay in 2001, then brought him to Indianapolis in 2002. Last year, Caldwell was tabbed as Dungy's heir.

Al Behrman, AP

Retired: Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts
Perhaps the most well-respected coach in all of the NFL, Dungy announced his retirement after seven seasons with the Colts. Dungy racked up 139 wins in Tampa Bay and Indianapolis and won a Super Bowl title.

Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images

Hired: Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos
The 32-year-old McDaniels will take over for Mike Shanahan in Denver. McDaniels had been New England's offensive coordinator, and helped groom quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Cassel.

Bill Sikes, AP

Fired: Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos
An incredible late-season collapse ended Shanahan's 14-year run with Denver. The Broncos led the AFC West by three games with three weeks left, but lost the division title in a Week 17 blowout loss to San Diego.

David Zalubowski, AP

While the Jets have no real worries about losing players on their roster, they have a few glaring holes that need to be filled this offseason. None is bigger than the starting quarterback, because that decision, along with Ryan's hiring, will be the one that officially sends the team down its new path.

Free Agents: LB Eric Barton (UFA), CB Ahmad Carroll (UFA), RB Jesse Chatman (UFA), S Abram Elam (RFA), K Jay Feely (UFA), TE Bubba Franks (UFA), CB Ty Law (UFA), DT C.J. Mosley (UFA), K Mike Nugent (UFA), CB Hank Poteat (UFA), S J.R. Reed (UFA), FB Tony Richardson (UFA), LB Cody Spencer (UFA)

Draft Picks: 1 (17), 2 (52), 3 (76), 4 (111), 5 (145), 6 (180), 7 (201, 211)

Needs

1. Quarterback. Right now they've got Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge on the roster. Clemens started eight games in 2007, but failed to definitively nail down the starting role before Favre joined the team in '08. The other two have never played in a regular season game and none inspires much confidence about the immediate future. Expect to see them add a veteran QB, with names like Kyle Boller, Byron Leftwich and, if he becomes available, Marc Bulger at the top of the list. The draft may bring another candidate. If they fall in love with Mark Sanchez, it wouldn't be surprising to see them move up for a shot at him.

Brett Favre Photos

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 14: Brett Favre #4 of The New York Jets looks to pass against The Buffalo Bills during their game on December 14, 2008 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. According to reports February 11, 2009, Brett Favre has informed the New York Jets he will retire. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Getty Images

** FILE ** This is a March 6, 2008 file photo showing Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre getting choked up as he talks about his retirement during a news conference at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc. Brett Favre's agent says the New York Jets quarterback will retire. The 39-year-old Favre instructed agent James "Bus" Cook to tell the team Wednesday Feb. 11, 2009 that he won't return for a 19th NFL season _ and second with the Jets. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)

** FILE ** This Sept. 28, 2008 file photo shows New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre acknowledging fans as he leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Favre's agent says the New York Jets quarterback will retire. The 39-year-old Favre instructed agent James "Bus" Cook to tell the team Wednesday Feb. 11, 2009 that he won't return for a 19th NFL season _ and second with the Jets. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)

** FILE ** This is an Oct. 19, 2008 file photo showing New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre walking off the field after the Jets lost 16-13 in overtime to the Oakland Raiders in an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif. Favre's agent says the New York Jets quarterback will retire. The 39-year-old Favre instructed agent James "Bus" Cook to tell the team Wednesday Feb. 11, 2009 that he won't return for a 19th NFL season _ and second with the Jets. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)

** FILE ** This Aug. 28, 2008 file photo shows a fan of New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre, Kelly Odenwelder of Allentown, Pa., holding up a sign during the third quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia. Favre's agent says the New York Jets quarterback will retire. The 39-year-old Favre instructed agent James "Bus" Cook to tell the team Wednesday Feb. 11, 2009 that he won't return for a 19th NFL season _ and second with the Jets. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

** FILE ** This is a Nov. 2, 2008 file photo showing New York Jets' Brett Favre during the first half of the NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Favre's agent says the New York Jets quarterback will retire. The 39-year-old Favre instructed agent James "Bus" Cook to tell the team Wednesday Feb. 11, 2009 that he won't return for a 19th NFL season _ and second with the Jets.(AP Photo/Dean Duprey)

** FILE ** This Oct. 26, 2008 file photo shows New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre throwing against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J. Favre's agent says the New York Jets quarterback will retire. The 39-year-old Favre instructed agent James "Bus" Cook to tell the team Wednesday Feb. 11, 2009 that he won't return for a 19th NFL season _ and second with the Jets. (AP Photo/Tim Larsen, File)

** FILE ** This Dec. 21, 2008 file photo shows New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre walking along the sideline in the first half against the Seahawks in an NFL football game in Seattle. The Seahawks won 13-3. Favre's agent says the New York Jets quarterback will retire. The 39-year-old Favre instructed agent James "Bus" Cook to tell the team Wednesday Feb. 11, 2009 that he won't return for a 19th NFL season _ and second with the Jets. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

** FILE ** In this Nov. 2, 2008 file photo, New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre looks on after an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Favre's agent says the New York Jets quarterback will retire. The 39-year-old Favre instructed agent James "Bus" Cook to tell the team Wednesday Feb. 11, 2009that he won't return for a 19th NFL season _ and second with the Jets.(AP Photo/Don Heupel, File)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 28: Linebacker Channing Crowder #52 of the Miami Dolphins pressures quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the New York Jets on December 28, 2008 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Dolphins defeated the Jets 24-17. (Photo by David Drapkin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brett Favre;Channing Crowder

Getty Images

2. A consistent pass rush. Ryan has been brutally honest about Vernon Gholston's awful rookie year, saying that he's gotta decide if he's a player at this level. If he decides to put the work in, you have to figure that Ryan's the best bet to turn him into something. The Jets need it, because they will have to put pressure on opposing offenses to make Ryan's scheme a success, and they probably don't have enough cap space to chase someone like Terrell Suggs.

3. Secondary. As you can see above, the Jets have several corners hitting free agency, and none of them would have been locks to return even if they were under contract. Darrelle Revis is a star on one side, but they'll need growth from Dwight Lowery or a new face opposite him to shut down receivers while the rest of the defense gets after the passer. Ryan has talked about turning Kerry Rhodes loose, and he'll need someone like Baltimore's Jim Leonhard to provide steady enough play at strong safety to make that happen. Leonhard, as it happens, is a free agent.