The New York Jets case for tackle over receiver at No. 11 is clear

The New York Jets case for offensive tackle over wide receiver at No. 11 in the NFL Draft is clear beyond all doubts. It's that special time of year again. You know, the one that features yelling, finger wags and a whole bunch of head shaking. The time in which everybody suddenly identifies as an expert, those whose "Quinnen Williams is Aaron Donald 2.0" takes suddenly never existed. NFL Draft time is here. Yeah, we've been stuck in NFL Draft season for some time now---nearly a full year since the "way too early" mock drafts hit us the Sunday following the 2019 edition. Now is different. Now, with just 12 days until virtual Round 1, the draft energy officially begins. What's energy without the New York Jets involved? No, Jets fans no longer have the New York City-draft tradition of blowing up at the sound of any first-round announcement, but that doesn't mean all is lost. There's plenty of chaos, name-calling and "expertise" flying around Jets land. This year, the subject revolves around offensive lineman or wide receiver at No. 11, and, amazingly, fans continue to want to torture themselves with the idea of wide receiver no matter the situation. It's wrong. Make no mistake, selecting a wideout at No. 11 isn't a sin. Depending on who's available, Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb at that spot makes sense. What's wrong is craving one of those youngsters if everything else is even. The evidence that offensive tackle at No. 11 over wide receiver, if everything else is even, is beyond overwhelming. Copycats rule the NFL. One year, the Miami Dolphins insert the Wildcat concept and the next thing we know, it's running wild across the league. Shortly thereafter, mobile quarterbacks are sought and read-option schemes are implemented (see Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick). The salary cap is no different and the more savvy general managers know it. For instance, it's never a wise decision to sign a veteran free-agent running back to big-time money. It rarely works out and the value a middle-to-late-round guy or low-level free agent can provide is tremendous. Backs rely on the offensive line more than any one position in sports. Wide receiver also falls into the unfortunate category. It's a simple concept. For a receiver to reach his maximum ceiling, the quarterback must deliver. For the quarterback to deliver, the offensive line must do its job. Now that you've fully taken in your third-grade-level football education for the day, it's time to dive into recent Super Bowl champions' actions. Only one Round 1 wide receiver has greatly-contributed to his drafted Super Bowl champion over the last 11 years. His name is Demaryius Thomas and the team was the Denver Broncos back in 2016 (the 2015 NFL season). KC: Tyreek Hill (5), Travis Kelce (4), Sammy Watkins (N/A), Mecole Hardman (2), Demarcus Robinson (4) NE: Julian Edelman (7), Rob Gronkowski (2), Chris Hogan (N/A), Phillip Dorsett (N/A) PHI: Zach Ertz (2), Alshon Jeffery (N/A), Torrey Smith (N/A), Nelson Agholor (1) NE: Julian Edelman (7), Danny Amendola (N/A), Chris Hogan (N/A), Martellus Bennett (N/A) DEN: Demaryius Thomas (1), Emmanuel Sanders (N/A), Owen Daniels (N/A) NE: Julian Edelman (7), Rob Gronkowski (2) Danny Amendola (N/A), Brandon LaFell (N/A) SEA: Doug Baldwin (N/A), Golden Tate (2), Tyler Lockett (3), Zach Miller (N/A) BAL: Anquan Boldin (N/A), Torrey Smith (2), Ed Dickson (N/A) NYG: Victor Cruz (N/A), Hakeem Nicks (2), Mario Manningham (3), Jake Ballard (N/A) GB: Greg Jennings (2), Donald Driver (7), Jordy Nelson (2), Andrew Quarless (5) NO: Marques Colston (7), Devery Henderson (2), Jeremy Shockey (N/A), Robert Meachem (1) First-round wide receivers rarely win a chip with his drafted team. It's a once-in-a-decade event, and, for the Jets, looking at team-building is about winning Super Bowls. If Nelson Agholor and Robert Meachem are counted, three first-round wideouts drafted by their original teams have won Super Bowls over the last 11 years. Hardly an eye-popping number. First-round pick Sammy Watkins is fresh off a Super Bowl, but he wasn't drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, he was a (somewhat) under-the-radar free-agent signing after his stock dropped a bit. In comparison, a total of seven instances of first-round offensive tackles have won a Super Bowl with his drafted team. Eric Fisher (KC-2019) Lane Johnson (PHI-2017) Nate Solder (NE-2016) Nate Solder (NE-2014) Russell Okung (SEA-2013) Michael Oher (BAL-2012) Bryan Bulaga (GB-2012) https://twitter.com/RobbySabo/status/1249024491377905664 It's a runaway, folks; and remember, it's not like offensive tackle features more spots. Wide receiver features far more spots across a 53-man depth chart than tackle does, maybe five or six players to three or four. Jedrick Wills Jr., Tristan Wirfs, Andrew Thomas and Mekhi Becton represent the tackles. Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb represent the wideouts. Joe Douglas awaits with the No. 11 pick. If Wills, Wirfs and Thomas are gone, and Douglas isn't a fan of Becton, selecting the available Jeudy would make sense. If he thinks both Becton and Jeudy are the real deal, it's a no-brainer---tackle. Everything about Douglas's history suggests he will go tackle if the talent of the available guy is even somewhat close to that of the available receiver. Some of the fans at home want the highlight-ready guy he can spark up once Madden 21 rolls his way. Nobody knows what'll happen. All we know is offensive tackle in Round 1 is the more intelligent pick---as long as everything else is even.