The shift is here, yet in reality, mock draft makers have not adjusted. Think intangibles and commitment when mocking New York Jets draft.
Make no mistake about it; the shift is here. Its effectiveness is not the topic at hand. Whether or not it’s the right call is meaningless at this very moment.
What’s critical is understanding the validity of the New York Jets’ new line of thinking in the front office.
Joe Douglas has said it himself on several occasions.
“The plan is the same: to create the best culture in sports and that involves bringing in the right people,” Douglas reiterated, as recently as April 1, 2020, via conference call.
“The plan is to create the best culture in sports,” says Joe Douglas.
“Every great team has that culture. It’s gonna take people with the right level of commitment, character and competence.”
Encouraging words for #Jets fans. This GM knows it’s NOT only about talent. pic.twitter.com/xvJUNVaVfW
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) December 31, 2019
It isn’t exactly the top organizational line every front office boss in sports spews on a consistent basis. Sure, culture and locker room fluidity is an idea mentioned quite a bit, but rarely do final decision-makers make it the mantra for an entire franchise.
Douglas does and it means folks need to start readjusting their idea as it pertains to mocking the Jets draft.
To get the obvious out of the way, yes, talent is critical. The man or woman who argues that point needs to be swatted to the sidelines without a second shot. But when a general manager so often mentions “culture,” intangibles become overly impactful.
It’s enough to drive the average mock drafter nuts. There just isn’t enough information out there to know which guys shine in those specific areas Douglas and the Jets are seeking. Yet, at the same time, it’s a critical part of selecting the right guy.
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