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This draft will be a fascinating one for the Jets because there are so many different directions they can go. They were active-ish in free agency, but most of their postseason needs are still there two weeks before the draft.
You can make an argument for them going anywhere at No. 7: quarterback, receiver, offensive line, defensive line, cornerback, or safety. Obviously, some of those are far more realistic than others, but all of those are needs for general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn.
With so much on the table for the Jets, we figured it would be a good time to open the mailbag to address your concerns on the team.
Let’s get to it.
I would be very surprised if the Jets ended up drafting Shedeur Sanders. It doesn’t make sense to me. It seems very clear to me that the Jets want to give Justin Fields every single opportunity to be their quarterback of the present and future. That’s why they already named him the starter, stressed they’ll give him the opportunity to play “quarterback,” and are in the process of building things around him.
Drafting Sanders makes all of that pointless. The clock to play a top-10 quarterback starts the moment you turn in the card with his name on it. It’s not about what those in front of him do. When he’s ready to play, he’s going to play because he’s the future.
Selecting someone like Jalen Milroe or Will Howard on Day 2 or 3 makes far more sense. Those are developmental guys worth investing in. They’re insurance if Fields fails. The Jets could flip them for better return if Fields does turn into a franchise quarterback, similar to what the Patriots did with Jimmy Garoppolo.
Interior defensive line is an issue. There’s also a lack-of depth at defensive end. Eric Watts and Braiden McGregor were good stories a year ago, but you can’t go into next season assuming they’ll take a huge jump. The Jets really need to fortify that group. Safety is also still an issue, even after signing Andre Cisco. Tony Adams didn’t take the jump many expected after a promising rookie season. The Jets are very weak opposite Sauce Gardner at corner if the Brandon Stephens dice roll doesn’t pan out.
The Jets have an entirely new coaching staff. None of them have been made available to the media aside from Glenn, who very clearly does not want to share his opinions with us. I have no idea how Glenn feels about Hall, although the way he answered a series of questions on the backfield in West Palm Beach was interesting.
There were some concerns with Hall from the last Jets coaching staff. They wanted to see more toughness from him. He’s an elite home-run hitter, but the best backs get the ugly yards, too. Those three- and four-yard runs don’t look great on the box sheet but set up the chunks later. Hall, the last regime felt, was sometimes apprehensive to do that dirty work.
That was the last regime, though. Not this one. Glenn has made it clear, on multiple occasions, he is not the last regime. It would be very surprising to me if the Jets gave up on a talent like Hall to bring in someone new unless they were blown away with an offer. Is any team going to break the bank on a player who’s already had a major knee injury and yet to run for 1,000 yards?
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) during warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
I’m not sure that I have, to be completely honest. I’m very much in the wait-and-see approach with him. The biggest concern sources expressed to me with Fields, shortly after the Jets signed him, was processing. One high-ranking source went as far as to say he expected Tyrod Taylor to eventually take over the starting job. All I touched base with agreed you can improve processing, or a coordinator can make it easier on them. One offensive coordinator told me it’s usually something that never really gets good, just better.
Granted, many had similar reservations on Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield before they found new life with the Vikings (now Seahawks) and Bucs. For me, it’s about seeing Fields do it. Everything else to this point is just assumptions and educated guesses.
You see why the Jets believe he’s worth the investment, though. There is the potential for a top-10 quarterback if Tanner Engstrand can marry improved processing with Fields’ physical ability.
Right tackle. The Jets have already invested so much in their offensive line already. Alijah Vera-Tucker and Olu Fashanu are first-round picks. Joe Tippmann is a second-round pick. John Simpson was a priority free-agent signing. It won’t be long before you have to pay Vera-Tucker, Fashanu, and Tippmann. You can find a savvy right tackle on the veteran free-agent market (the Jets have done it twice with Morgan Moses) or middle rounds of the draft. I don’t think you need to invest the No. 7 pick in someone like Will Campbell or Armand Membou.
An NFL coach once explained the offensive line to me this way: You don’t need five great players. If you have four, they’ll elevate the fifth to make him look better than he is. Fashanu, Vera-Tucker, Tippmann, and Simpson have the ability to do that with a competent fight piece. Tyler Warren (tight end), Mason Graham (defensive end) or Tet McMillan (receiver) would be my picks over another lineman for that reason. It’s just a different allocation of resources.
Glenn did just watch how much of a difference a dominant offensive line makes in Detroit, though. Adding Campbell or Membou to the four the Jets already have gives them the potential for the best line in the NFL – certainly the most talented. Even if it’s not what I personally would do, I can get behind it.
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You can make an argument for them going anywhere at No. 7: quarterback, receiver, offensive line, defensive line, cornerback, or safety. Obviously, some of those are far more realistic than others, but all of those are needs for general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn.
With so much on the table for the Jets, we figured it would be a good time to open the mailbag to address your concerns on the team.
Let’s get to it.
Who won’t the Jets pick seventh overall? - @ActionJack69
I would be very surprised if the Jets ended up drafting Shedeur Sanders. It doesn’t make sense to me. It seems very clear to me that the Jets want to give Justin Fields every single opportunity to be their quarterback of the present and future. That’s why they already named him the starter, stressed they’ll give him the opportunity to play “quarterback,” and are in the process of building things around him.
Drafting Sanders makes all of that pointless. The clock to play a top-10 quarterback starts the moment you turn in the card with his name on it. It’s not about what those in front of him do. When he’s ready to play, he’s going to play because he’s the future.
Selecting someone like Jalen Milroe or Will Howard on Day 2 or 3 makes far more sense. Those are developmental guys worth investing in. They’re insurance if Fields fails. The Jets could flip them for better return if Fields does turn into a franchise quarterback, similar to what the Patriots did with Jimmy Garoppolo.
What’s the Jets most needed position that no one talks about? - @Wa2k_1999
Interior defensive line is an issue. There’s also a lack-of depth at defensive end. Eric Watts and Braiden McGregor were good stories a year ago, but you can’t go into next season assuming they’ll take a huge jump. The Jets really need to fortify that group. Safety is also still an issue, even after signing Andre Cisco. Tony Adams didn’t take the jump many expected after a promising rookie season. The Jets are very weak opposite Sauce Gardner at corner if the Brandon Stephens dice roll doesn’t pan out.
Are the Jets going to draft a running back in the first two rounds? What’s up with the Breece Hall situation? - @SDE1717
The Jets have an entirely new coaching staff. None of them have been made available to the media aside from Glenn, who very clearly does not want to share his opinions with us. I have no idea how Glenn feels about Hall, although the way he answered a series of questions on the backfield in West Palm Beach was interesting.
There were some concerns with Hall from the last Jets coaching staff. They wanted to see more toughness from him. He’s an elite home-run hitter, but the best backs get the ugly yards, too. Those three- and four-yard runs don’t look great on the box sheet but set up the chunks later. Hall, the last regime felt, was sometimes apprehensive to do that dirty work.
That was the last regime, though. Not this one. Glenn has made it clear, on multiple occasions, he is not the last regime. It would be very surprising to me if the Jets gave up on a talent like Hall to bring in someone new unless they were blown away with an offer. Is any team going to break the bank on a player who’s already had a major knee injury and yet to run for 1,000 yards?
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) during warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Is there anything you’ve learned about Justin Fields that makes you feel he can be a consistent winner? - @Chris10938269
I’m not sure that I have, to be completely honest. I’m very much in the wait-and-see approach with him. The biggest concern sources expressed to me with Fields, shortly after the Jets signed him, was processing. One high-ranking source went as far as to say he expected Tyrod Taylor to eventually take over the starting job. All I touched base with agreed you can improve processing, or a coordinator can make it easier on them. One offensive coordinator told me it’s usually something that never really gets good, just better.
Granted, many had similar reservations on Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield before they found new life with the Vikings (now Seahawks) and Bucs. For me, it’s about seeing Fields do it. Everything else to this point is just assumptions and educated guesses.
You see why the Jets believe he’s worth the investment, though. There is the potential for a top-10 quarterback if Tanner Engstrand can marry improved processing with Fields’ physical ability.
What’s a pick you would be surprised by, but could get on board with at No. 7? - @Sisyphus_Jets
Right tackle. The Jets have already invested so much in their offensive line already. Alijah Vera-Tucker and Olu Fashanu are first-round picks. Joe Tippmann is a second-round pick. John Simpson was a priority free-agent signing. It won’t be long before you have to pay Vera-Tucker, Fashanu, and Tippmann. You can find a savvy right tackle on the veteran free-agent market (the Jets have done it twice with Morgan Moses) or middle rounds of the draft. I don’t think you need to invest the No. 7 pick in someone like Will Campbell or Armand Membou.
An NFL coach once explained the offensive line to me this way: You don’t need five great players. If you have four, they’ll elevate the fifth to make him look better than he is. Fashanu, Vera-Tucker, Tippmann, and Simpson have the ability to do that with a competent fight piece. Tyler Warren (tight end), Mason Graham (defensive end) or Tet McMillan (receiver) would be my picks over another lineman for that reason. It’s just a different allocation of resources.
Glenn did just watch how much of a difference a dominant offensive line makes in Detroit, though. Adding Campbell or Membou to the four the Jets already have gives them the potential for the best line in the NFL – certainly the most talented. Even if it’s not what I personally would do, I can get behind it.
Continue reading...
