One press-conference quote from Joe Douglas could be a hint to New York Jets’ 2022 draft plans
New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas answered questions from the media during a press conference on Thursday, one week ahead of the 2022 NFL draft. Most notably, he commented on the Deebo Samuel trade rumors and the whereabouts of Mekhi Becton.
While Douglas’ comments on Samuel and Becton were the biggest attention-grabbers from his nearly 24-minute appearance, his most telling quote of the press conference was a statement that seemed to be a reference to one of the team’s most difficult conundrums entering the draft.
Asked about how he balances addressing positional needs with taking the best player available, Douglas declared his preference for the latter strategy.
“I think you get in trouble if you’re breaking it up by position of need. I think you have to take the best player available,” Douglas said.
That’s a fairly generic answer you would expect to get from most general managers. His next statement is the one that really popped out, potentially revealing a glimpse into the team’s draft plans.
Douglas brought up an interesting quote from Ozzie Newsome, his former boss in Baltimore. Newsome served as the Ravens’ general manager from 2002 to 2018 and has served as their executive vice president of player personnel since 2019. Douglas worked as a scout for the Ravens from 2000 to 2014.
“Ozzie [Newsome] used to always have a saying, ‘A luxury today could be a necessity tomorrow.’ If you get away from your process, if you get away from your board, I think that’s when you can get into a real jam,” Douglas said.
That quote from Newsome sounds like it could be a direct reference to the great debate of whether or not the Jets should consider drafting an offensive tackle with the fourth overall pick.
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When the Jets come onto the clock at No. 4, there is a realistic chance that the highest-ranked available player on their board is either North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu or Alabama tackle Evan Neal. However, the Jets appear to already have two starting tackles on their roster in Mekhi Becton and George Fant.
The presence of Becton and Fant makes the tackle position seem like a non-issue for the Jets. But questions arise when looking toward the future.
Becton’s durability is a major concern after he played 100% of the Jets’ offensive snaps in only eight games across his first two seasons. Fant will be a free agent after the 2022 season and turns 30 years old this July.
With those concerns in mind, it’s possible the Jets could simultaneously see the tackle position as a short-term strength and a long-term weakness – aligning with Douglas’ quote from Newsome.
Selecting a tackle might be considered a “luxury” today but the position could become a “necessity” in the near future.
You can hear Douglas speak about this topic at around the 19:41 mark in the video below.
Could Douglas pull the trigger on Ekwonu or Neal at No. 4 regardless of the talent New York already has on the roster at offensive tackle?
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Of course BPA is always a critical consideration and the guiding principle for any draft, but not some unbreakable rule that must always be followed blindly. Any GM who follows that slavishly and ignores need, positional importantce, scheme fit/potential chemistry, how much of an upgrade that player would provide at that position vs a different player at another position is incompetent imo. It’s also one thing when one already has a solid team or a playoff team, and quite another when one is still rebuilding. When a GM is rebuilding, he absolutely should not ignore a glaring hole/need at one position to take the BPA at another position that is a lesser need or not a need at all.
Mac supposedly drafted on the basis of BPA, and you see how that turned out with all the DTs he drafted, taking Jamal Adams instead of Mahomes or Watson, and basically ignored the OL and WR positions early. Unless they are certain that Fant won’t sign a reasonable extension, his play last season was a fluke, or unless they have severe doubts about Becton, taking an OT at #4 would be foolish imo. You can’t let the #4 pick in the draft sit on the bench, and if JD has an open competition and the player taken at #4 loses out, JD will look stupid. If he then decides to trade one of Fant or Becton, he will have killed whatever leverage he had. If they think they must take an OT early in this draft, it should be in the 2ndn or 3rd round, not 1st. I say that loving Ickey Ekwonu. If we didn’t already have Becton and Fant, I would want him to be the pick.
The same thing applies to Sauce Gardner. He’s a great prospect but would he provide as much of an upgrade over Hall as KT or JJ would over Huff, Martin, Zuniga or maybe even Lawson? They aren’t going to bench Reed. Hall and Echols have talent and played well for the most part last season. Both can and hopefully will improve with a year’s experience in the system and a better pass rush this season. Also, is getting that marginal improvement at CB more important than getting the best Edge we can get from among those who are left at #4 or more important than getting the best WR who is the best scheme fit at #10? IMO the answer is clearly “No.” Drafting Gardner would be a luxury, just as drafting two Edges in the 1st round, drafting Zion Johnson, or Linderbaum would be. Taking him would mean that we would ultimately lose out on taking the Edge, WR, S, or DT who could best help us.
JD has to use common sense, and thankfully, I think he will. Our glaring needs are at Edge, WR, FS, and DT (run stuffer beside Q Williams) have to take priority over CB or getting two Edges. Yes, we could wind up with a need at OT this season, but we KNOW we definitely do have needs at Edge, WR, FS, DT, and to a lesser extent RB, TE, and OL depth. To draft a player for a potential need over a player for a definite need would be stupid imo. If JD does that, or chooses to upgrade a position that isn’t a big need over one that is a glaring need, then he isn’t the GM I thought he was and may not be the right man for the job.
So what would you do if the first 3 picks are Hutch. KT and Walker? You don’t want Iky and you don’t want Sauce.
You guys actually missed the hint, JD said the way you make Zach Wilson better is getting him the ball on defense. So 4th pick will be a defensive pick and second getting the ball could mean many ways on defense, but the what did the Jets lack last offseason the most in…you got it folks INTERCEPTIONS! Sauce at 4 and i just cracked the code! Thank you so much😂😂😂
You didn’t crack anything. Improving the D will be done and will help get Zach more opportunities, but if he doesn’t have good weapons around him, and a solid OL in front of him, it won’t matter how many opportunities he gets.
So you say, anyway i bet we draft sauce at 4!
If you told me Icky at 4 you knew we’d get Jermaine Johnson at 10 and we’d get a really good receiver in round 2? Sold. Do that.
Iky at 4, JJ at 10, Pickens at 35. Shakir in the 4th.
Did JD let the cat out of the bag during the draft presser? On the YouTube video, at the 12:25 mark he says, “You go into any draft, whether you’re picking 4, 10, or 26…” He seems to go deeper at the 15:00 mark and says, “It’s important for us to be on the same page. Who are our Top 4 players, who are our Top 10 player, who are our Top 38 players?” Why is JD talking about Pick 26 and not talking about Pick 35? Are we trading Pick 35 to move back into the 1st Round or is this a smoke screen? Anyone from Tennessee what to comment?
OMG, JD did let the cat out of the bag! This just happened! Jets trade back into 1st Round. Traded Pick 35 for 26
SMOKE SCREEN ALERT!!!! Ahmad Sauce Gardner will and should be the 4th pick. Drafting a Lineman just for best player sake just seems too out there. If the Jets draft a lineman at 4 he will and should be an immediate starter at that high of a pick. He wouldnt be a back up thats for sure.
With any of JD’s pressers you have to read between the boiler-plate coachspeak lines. I did pick up the same thing you did Michael and thought it was a reference to Ekonwu as well (BPA possibility). I also thought he referenced Johnson when he talked about the benefit of players succeeding in different schemes. I thought it was a reference to Johnson thriving at FSU after switching from Georgia. Personally I would be very surprised if Sauce is a Jets pick. I don’t get the sense this team is using premium picks at CB when the trenches are not yet finished being built (and rightfully so IMO).
I thought him talking about players playing well in other schemes was about JJ and Travon Walker as well because Walker would be making the transition so he was the projection he was talking about while JJ was an example of someone who has done it. Being they both played at Georgia with similar production in the GA scheme I think this would probably make a Walker projection less risky and possibly make him a more plausible as a pick for us if he falls.
Huh? How is Walker less risky? He hasn’t put up big production in any scheme. JJ did similar to what Walker did at UGA, but then went to FSU and dominated. JJ is the less risky pick. We know that he produces. Walker is just an athlete with a lot of potential, but is very raw and may never develop.
Are you reading what I wrote? I said the fact that JJ was able to make the transition when he was slightly less productive at GA than Walker. May make the Jets view him as less risky. Whether he is or isn’t only time will tell, but you bet on traits in the NFL. Chandler Jones had 10 career sacks at Syracuse. He is almost dentical to Walker 9.5 sacks. So scouts realize you have to look at traits to see can this player do what we would ask of him. Then you add in his athletic profile and it may make him the right fit.
The more I hear about them taking a tackle the more I think they are trying to arrange a low risk trade back with the Giants or Panthers. That way they can recoup an extra 2nd or 3rd back if they trade for Deebo and still likely get the player they want. I think that player is Sauce, imo. I am not buying this Edge at 4, because everything they say is about Edge is really deep but no Bosa brother (per Saleh), WR really deep throughout draft (per Rex Hogan). So I think they are tipping their hand but not in the way many think, they said they would consider a unicorn and people think they were talking about Hamilton. I think Saleh was talking about Sauce, a truly unique player who had 4.41 speed but is a great mover with fluid hips and Great size at approx. 6’3″ w/33.5 inch hands and 79.5 inch wingspan.
How would we rank our CB, Edge and Oline rooms.
I think the weakest is CB (Reed, Hall, Echols, Carter II, Guidry, Dunn), now add Sauce how does this room look!!
Next Edge (Lawson, JFM, Martin, Curry, Huff, hybrid S. Thomas) Add Karlafatis, JJ, or Mafe (at 10 or in a trade down)
With O-line being strongest especially starters (Becton, Fant, CMG, AVT, Tomlinson, Feeney, McDermott, Edoga). ( I think we fill room with LDT and draft picks and improve our depth I would target Abraham Lucas OT and Dohovon West C/G). Others I like as well if we pick up picks.
My guess is we good all in for Deebo with 38, 69 and 2023 1st round pick.
We keep 3 picks in top 35 and add a Sauce and an Edge with top ten picks. Then add O-line, LB or safety with 35.
Then fill out depth throughout roster. Probably with two of our picks being O-line. That way you continue to build O-line but no continue to spend a 1st rounder every single year on O-line.
I think they are all in on Samuels as well, but would be surprised if a 1st round pick of any kind is in the deal. I also agree on Lucas as an OT option in the 3rd. Things are definitely not settled at Tackle beyond 2022 and maybe even 2022 depending on Becton’s availability. Just think back to the train-wreck of a game in Buffalo at the end of last season. With one injury you’re possibly back to that in the absence of another highly drafted Tackle.
I agree with you 100% Oline depth is needed for this squad. On the Deebo front because so many teams who would want him have either two 1st or a high 1st. I think we would be smart to give up what should likely be around pick 20 next year with Deebo and a solid draft for 38 and 69 this year. It is not that crazy a deal. We can likely get back a 3rd this year in this deal. So really swapping 3rds and trading a 1st and a 2nd. That is only way I see 49ers trading him. I don’t think we want to trade 10 and so I think 49ers would want a 1st no matter what to justify the deal.
Since #10 is probably going to be a wr anyway I’d give the #10 and 69 for Deebo. That or 35 38. Niners choice
Too me that is part of the value of 10 to us. We have 3 major positions where we can make a huge impact on our season. WR, Edge and Secondary. So if we keep the two top 10 picks and trade for Deebo we can fill all 3 impact positions. That is why I would give a 1st next year. That why you give away what is expected to be a lesser 1st and keep 10. You give 38, 69 and a 1st next year and you can trade down and get a 2nd next year or a first if a team is trading up for QB.
There are no guarantees that the Jets can trade down from either #4 or #10. I love how Jets fans just assume that it will happen or can happen, as if it’s easy. IMO we’d be much better off not trading for Dweebo, drafting KT or JJ at #4, Jameson Williams at #10, Lewis Cine at #35, and Travis Jones at #38. That would address 4 glaring needs and make this team a lot better than adding Dweebo and only 1-2 of those players.
You are correct there are no guarantees we can trade down. Having 3 top 35 picks gives us the flexibility to trade down if we get an offer. But more importantly we should also understand there are no guarantees in the draft so a bird in the hand beats two in the bush. Meaning Deebo is a sure thing for our offense and our young QB. Then under my scenario you still have two top ten picks to which are better odds to land an impact player than 38 or 69. At that point odds are we are much better team than picking no Deebo and picking at 38 and 69.
You are right that there are no guarantees in the draft, and that the odds get worse the lower one goes in the draft, but I’m willing to bet on JD’s, the CS’s and the scout’s skills as talent evaluators based on last year’s draft. If I am correct in the positions the Jets were to take with their first 4 picks, and they take the right players, I believe the team would be better without Deebo.
I don’t like Deebo’s attitude and mouth. He truly seems like a Diva to me. I’d much rather trade for AJ Brown. He’s great and isn’t a Diva. Deebo also could create problems in that the Jets’ offense and Zach could become too dependent upon him and not develop/use Moore enough, or utilize their other weapons (Davis, Conklin, Uzomah, MC, Berrios, and maybe even Mims). MLF is still young and learning. He could easily fall into that trap. While he did show an ability to learn from his mistakes and make changes last year, give him a player like Deebo, and that could change.
If the Jets do trade for Deebo, I hope that it will work out, and if they do trade their 2nd rounders, I hope that they will be able to trade down and recoup those picks this year rather than in future years. I’d really like to see them address all their big needs this year, so that next year and in following years, the Jets can primarily go BPA and focus on depth and drafting for future replacements/starters.
My ideal id Ikky at 4, JJ at 10, Pickens at 35, Brisker at 38. Hope Troy Anderson falls to 69.
#10 should be it. I don’t think the other teams have a pick that high they’d trade. Since we were talking about taking a WR at #10, that makes the most sense. Giving up both our 2nds, a 2nd and a 1st next year is nuts imo. Teams who are trying to build through the draft cannot afford and should not waste draft capital trading up or trading multiple picks for a player. Let the Niners keep the unhappy Dweebo, and we can just draft Jameson Williams at #10 or maybe following a trade down.
So you wouldnt give up a 1st for Deebo?
Yes our 2023 1st which should be a much lower pick along with 38 and 69 is what I would give up max. Maybe ask for a late third back this year worst case a 4th.
Thought I said I would give up the #10
Personally, I hope they don’t trade for Dweebo Samuels (intentional). If we do, then a 1st is all I’d give them. I’m not giving them both 2nds, or a 2nd and 3rd.
OT depth is vitally important. I’d be happy with Tyler Smith or Lucas in the 3rd round or Bernhard Raimann in the 2nd.
You could be right about trading back, but imo you definitely are NOT right about which room is the weakest. Saying that CB is the weakest is laughable. Reed is a solid starter, as is Hall. Echols has a lot of potential, as does Dunn. Our D is predicated upon having a great DL, not a great secondary. Saleh himself said that having a great CB isn’t necessary. He later said he wants a CB that can shut down the opponents best WR, but that doesn’t mean that CB is suddenly more important than the pass rush. Lawson is coming back from an Achilles, he may never be the same player. JFM is better at DT than Edge, and after he got paid, he hardly did anything. Huff and Martin are good depth/situational rushers, but not starting material. At CB we have Reed, Hall, Echols, Dunn, and then at slot CB we have MC II and Guidry. That is one of the better, deeper units on the team.
If we give up 3 picks for Deebo, then JD is not the right GM for this team.
Taking Gardner and trading for Deebo would burn 2 of those top 4 picks, and would prevent the Jets from addressing a position or positions of need adequately.
We cannot afford to draft two OL even though the depth does need to be upgraded. We need to come out of this draft with our needs at Edge, WR, FS, DT, RB, and TE filled, and add OL and WR depth so the likes of Tariq Black, Montgomery or Jeff Smith never have to see the field for the Jets again.
CB is the weakest of those groups I named. Carl Lawson is a better edge than Reed is a CB. JFM was the highest rated player on the Jets last year as an edge (better than he had as a DT the year before) and is better than Hall. Jacob Martin, Vinny Curry and B Huff are better than the combo of Carter II, Echols and Dunn. Also I am not advocating for CB in the 2nd. The only CB I want in the draft in the 1st 3 rounds is Sauce. I believe he is the best player in the draft. I believe when great players are there you take them when you have an average starter in B Hall who I like, and you don’t think twice. Grab your edge at 10 and go from there.
Except Lawson has had 3 major injuries in his career. If he isn’t the same, or gets hurt again, then we have a glaring hole at Edge.
Lawson’s injuries are duly noted. Injuries are a factor for everyone Becton and Mims both had very low injury rates and now have missed a Full season worth of games each in two years. Lawson’s injury can be a factor but with his work ethic and age still only 26 he can bounce back and still have a very good career. Also when you have 15 million per allocated to a player you definitely have him included in your plans.
To look at it from my own bias, i’ll take that as he means CB. So maybe if it goes hutch, thibs, walker, jets will get Sauce.
I can absolutely see this as a sign for Sauce as well. In a situation where all 3 edge rushers are gone, I think I’m torn 50-50 as to whether they’d go with Sauce or Ekwonu. Depends on who they like better as an overall prospect. I think Sauce gets the edge there but Ekwonu might align more closely with Douglas and the team’s strong valuation of OL/DL.
Michael you are not torn, I have been listening to you…LOL!! You are clearly Team Sauce as am I. You know in your heart Ekwonu is a terrible use of resources when someone like Abraham Lucas can be gotten likely at pick 38 and your O-Line is set. Lucas is a fairly polished Player who with a year in an NFL weight room should be able to improve his Run Blocking to go with his excellent Pass Pro and be ready to start in 2023 on a cheap rookie deal to balance out your Cap over next 4 years.
Oh for sure haha, I’m definitely not torn on what *my* preference is, I’m Team Sauce, I was more just saying I’m torn on what I think *they* would actually do in a Sauce-vs-Ikem scenario. I can see them going either way.
This is some of what I posted above and think if we construct our team this way we will be in great position.
What do you think?
I think the weakest is CB (Reed, Hall, Echols, Carter II, Guidry, Dunn), now add Sauce how does this room look!!
Next Edge (Lawson, JFM, Martin, Curry, Huff, hybrid S. Thomas) Add Karlafatis, JJ, or Mafe (at 10 or in a trade down)
With O-line being strongest especially starters (Becton, Fant, CMG, AVT, Tomlinson, Feeney, McDermott, Edoga). ( I think we fill room with LDT and draft picks and improve our depth I would target Abraham Lucas OT and Dohovon West C/G). Others I like as well if we pick up picks.
My guess is we good all in for Deebo with 38, 69 and 2023 1st round pick.
WR (Deebo, Moore, Davis, Berrios, Mims, Jeff Smith) Looking pretty good and probably a later round rookie as well.
We keep 3 picks in top 35 and add a Sauce and an Edge with top ten picks. Then add O-line, LB or safety with 35.
Then fill out depth throughout roster. Probably with two of our picks being O-line. That way you continue to build O-line but no continue to spend a 1st rounder every single year on O-line.
I’m all in on an aggressive Deebo trade, as Stefan laid out in his article the Jets can outbid other teams to make an aggressive offer and still be left with the 6th-most draft capital in the NFL this year. They’re in a good position to make the move and I think he’s worth it for what he can do to help Zach grow.
I agree on building the OL pipeline with later picks. I went with Lucas at #69 in my predictive mock a few days ago. Like you said, you don’t necessarily have to load up on premium picks at a position to keep it strong long-term. Have to be good at developing the later picks too. The OL has plenty of premium assets invested into it (both first rounders and cap space) so it’s time to start finding gems in the later rounds and allocating the premium picks to other positions.
I’d prefer Kayvon over Sauce at 4 but if he’s not there I’m in on Sauce. A CB duo of Sauce/Reed with Echols/Hall as depth and MC2 in the slot can be excellent.
Thanks for replying I think Sauce is a more sure thing plus has all the potential in the world as well that is why I picked him at 4. I would get the edge 2nd because I think Sauce can be an All Pro… While I think we can have some Pro Bowlers not sure if at 4 a 1st team All Pro potential player is there at Edge. As always thanks for being gracious and responding!
No problem! Always appreciate the Jets discourse
I definitely agree on Sauce being a more sure thing, I just really want to get an EDGE in R1 for this scheme. If they do not get Deebo, I want to secure Edge at 4 and then go WR at 10. If they can get him without giving up 10, I love the idea of going Sauce at 4 and Edge at 10. If they get him and get up 10, then I think you have a tough decision of Sauce at 4/bypassing Edge until R2-3 or Edge at 4. I think I lean edge, but man, I absolutely love Sauce and think he’s probably the best overall prospect in this draft, so it’s tough.
I agree Edge is a big need, that is why I think you give up a 2023 1st and 38 and 69 this year. So you can get who I also believe is the best prospect in the draft in Sauce and still plug the edge hole, maybe even in a trade back at 10 to recoup a 2023 1st or 2nd.
It’s not about just taking an Edge, any Edge, but rather the one who you think is best and the best scheme fit. Edge is a 100x more important than CB in this scheme. It’s not even close. The priority has to be Edge, not Gardner or the CB position.
The goal isn’t to see how many stars/All Pro players one can accumulate. The goal is to win games, and the teams with the best pass rushes win more games and have a greater chance of winning games. Gardner could be an All Pro, and the Jets still lose because the opposing QB has all day to find an open receiver and throws to the other side of the the field and other receivers than the one Gardner is guarding. That happened with Revis.
We could draft an Edge at #4 who may not become an All Pro, but he maybe give us 10 sacks or more and a lot of pressures and QB hits a season, and in conjunction with Lawson and/or our other pass rushers, could enable us to win more games, perhaps a lot more, than with Gardner.
Actually the goal of any GM is to accumulate as many All Pros as you can. That is why the GM himself said a “Luxury today can become necessity tomorrow”. Our defenses were always good with Revis because of his influence on the the QB and allowing to flex your defense and overload the numbers across the rest of the field. That will always work. I want us to have a strong Edge rush and an excellent CB room as well. In addition, I am not looking at this in a binary fashion as you are. I am saying I believe Sauce is the best Player if the Jets don’t think so they won’t take him but if they have him rated that high he will be the pick. Also I am still advocating for an Edge but don’t think have an Edge rated higher the Sauce and would be happy with an edge at 10 likely with a choice of Karlaftis or JJ.
I’ll think JD has lost his mind if he doesn’t take JJ (or KT if he’s there) at #4. IMO Gardner shouldn’t even be a consideration, and Ekwonu only if they have severe doubts about one of Fant/Becton.
You are a subscriber to Jets X Factor but it seems you didn’t watch the reviews. Even if you don’t want to hear Blewett takes just turn off the sound and watch the film. Sauce has the best film of any prospect in the draft, imo. He also has the most consistent resume. Since PFF starting tracking only 13 times has a CB allowed a passer rating of less than 40 in a season. Sauce in his 3 season has 3 of the 13 times. That means everyone else who has come out regardless of conference have ten combined out of thousands of draft eligible CB’s. He is in the 97th percentile for Size, 98th percentile for Arm length and 79th percentile for Speed. His production score is 97 the company he is keeping with that score are Denzel Ward Pro Bowler and Patrick Surtain Jr who just had an outstanding rookie season. I think Sauce is a little better than both coming out. So when you measure Sauce he gives it all to you measurables that are outstanding with unmatched productivity.
Edge is important but great players are more important!
No, I didn’t watch Blewitt’s review. I can’t stand his reviews. They are so unprofessional and rambling. I don’t care about any of that. Edge is more important than CB in stopping/slowing down a passing attack. Edge is more important in our scheme. Edge is a more important position than CB. Even the best CBs can only keep their man covered for 3-4 seconds. Those things are what matters and is really important, not that other crap.
I have said that in any other year, I’d want Gardner, but not this year. He would be a luxury pick, one we cannot afford. Your position that CB is the weakest group on the Jets is totally off-base and wrong, and frankly, mind boggling how anyone could think that.
I will address your obvious misreading of my 1st post. I never said CB was the weakest position on the entire team. It was a comparison of the 3 positions we can take at 4 or 10 with a Deebo trade assumption built in.
Secondly, if you don’t do the homework, how can we have a real discussion about the prospects. At this point if you are using highlights and very short reviews your knowledge will be limited. While they have some value they don’t provide the in depth information provided here. As I stated previously just turn down the sound if Joe is not your cup of tea and at least watch the prospects.
Lastly, you are right CB’s can generally cover for up to 4 seconds. But your D-line generally needs around 2.7 to 3 seconds to get to the QB, with many sacks taking over 3 seconds. Yet the average QB releases the ball in around 2.5 seconds and this numbers is dropping almost every year. So how do you get the time needed to get to the QB. That difference comes from your secondary and if you secondary gives up easy completions because they aren’t good enough your pass rush doesn’t matter. So you need both and while you can choose to value one higher the difference in importance is shifting toward CB according to most advanced stats.
Hopefully, our discussion has helped you realize you can have a point of view without every statement being an absolute. I had to learn that as well on public forums. Have a great day!!
Until the team injury woes are eliminated, Becton shows he can play a full season at a high to elite level and Fant proves 2021 was more than just dominating sub-standard pass rushers, it behooves JD and the FO to draft Ekwonu if he’s there. It seems the past 3 seasons have seen 5 different starters on the OL when comparing week 1 to week 16/17. If the QB position is truly of the utmost importance, Zach Wilson CANNOT be straddled with the likes of Connor McDermott, Chuma Edoga and/or a developmental rookie in substitution of either Becton or Fant. Should one or both go down, it would be for the best to at least have ONE blue-chip, plug and play OT that can step in and step up posthaste.
I wouldn’t be surprised if JD has a Draft Day deal in his pocket for Fant. Left Tackles are at a premium. Less risk by dealing Fant in October. There will be mass hysteria in Jetland if Ekwonu or Neal is drafted at 4, patience.
Hysterics aside, the odds the Jets’ 2022 offensive line will be the Jets’ 2023 offensive line is practically nil. I highly doubt Fant is re-signed and I’m almost certain that a new center will be added through free agency or the 2023 draft. Taking a VERSATILE plug and play anywhere OL who is arguably the best player in this draft makes sense given the investment in Zach Wilson weaponry this offseason. What good will all his new toys be if he can’t stand and deliver from a clean pocket? And do any Jets fans like the line’s odds of consistent competence if substandard OTs McDermott or Edoga have to start?
I was thinking similar but that they may trade Hall if they get Sauce. We’ve heard the rumblings that they somehow like echols over hall, maybe they think he’s not a dog or something like that. Just speculating, of course
Rex, I agree we need to continue to develop O-line but the Patriots almost always have a good O-line and they don’t draft top 15 players at O-line every year. If that is the only way you can develop your O-line than newsflash to all Jets fans then we cant develop our O-line. We need to build a pipeline of depth with players with solid production and traits who need a year to develop to take over in year 2 for guys like CMG and Fant. That’s how you build out your line and balance the assets on your roster.
Okay. But name the last season the Jets’ offensive line remained completely intact for every contest of the regular season. Then convince me that McDermott/Edoga are competent backups to Becton/Fant and having either of them start would have ZERO negative effect on the line. Or that Zach Wilson can rely on either of them to consistently provide him a clean pocket.
Rex I agree with everything you said, except allocation of the resource. I think if you are a good team an area that can be developed more than most others is O-line. Spending premium capital at every position is not needed to produce a top line look ay Green Bay throughout the years and many other winning programs. I want us to continually build out the O-line but you have to develop players as well or you team will not be well rounded.
The Jets are a good team? Have you been paying any attention the past 11 years? You seem convinced there’s no possible way Becton and Fant miss any snaps, Wilson is a finished product AND McDermott/Edoga could be starting Ts on any other team. It’s a piss poor observation by some Jets fans and media that the offensive line is complete because Becton and Fant are “bona fide” (they’re not) and there’s no need to address the very real injury issue the Jets have dealt with the past few seasons. There’s depth at Edge in this year’s draft and CB is not critically essential to the success of Saleh’s defense. Going into year 2 of Lafleur’s offense, Wilson’s protection can’t be left undermanned if the goal is to maximize his potential to be a franchise QB. I’d rather not spend the season crossing my fingers that Becton, Fant or both end up on IR and McDermott and Edoga finish out the season as Zach’s bookends because it’s highly unlikely the Jets’ CS sticks a developmental rookie out at either Tackle position. Bottom line, the Jets aren’t necessarily in the favorable position to make the “sexy” pick in 2022. And there are no guarantees the OL is as decent as it looks on paper. Especially, given the fact that the unit has yet to play a single snap together.
No one thinks the Jets are good yet, why are you debating so hard when we agree that a strong O-line is needed? I am stating that history shows while you want to have a great line every player cant be a high draft pick or high priced FA. You have to develop people to be able balance your roster. That is how you can have sustainable success. The O-line is not complete from a depth prospective or for 2023 but for 2022 we are likely a top 10-12 O=line. If things go very well top 8 is possible. If things go poorly we still probably finish top 18 at very worst. We have units like LB which is a bottom 3-5 unit in the league. So we still need to fix some things before we spend another top 15 pick on O-line. But I believe we still need to build out the line. I suggested bringing back LDT at guard and the drafting a High upside OT and C/G prospect in the draft. Let them develop and learn your system and then step in next year.
When it’s all a question mark except the center, you do NOT have a strong or even competent offensive line and to act as such is abject lunacy. Can you guarantee Becton is a reliable AND legitimate blindside protector? No. Can you guarantee Fant’s 2021 was more than a byproduct of facing shit competition at pass rusher? No. Can you guarantee Laken Tomlinson won’t see any decline in 2022? No. Can you guarantee AVT will be more competent at RG than he was at LG? No. Can you guarantee McDermott and Edoga will inexplicably become above average blockers after years of mediocrity? No. And can you guarantee the OL will remain intact and productive for the entire 2023 campaign? No. So, where’s the complete OL? Forget about “allocation of resources,” the OL is STILL very much a work in progress and is NOT currently built for longevity. And drafting OL for “next year” is penny wise and pound foolish in a PIVOTAL DEVELOPMENTAL YEAR for Zach Wilson.
You win…no assumptions allowed. Hopefully we draft at least 5 O-lineman just in case. Thanks for the banter!
Ask Saleh what happened when he got a tall fast corner by the name richard sherman
I follow your “line” of logic. If you remember Emmitt Smith running behind the great Cowboys SB line, he didn’t get touched until he was way past the line of scrimmage often. Troy Aikman always had time to make great throws and Dallas would score points. Score Points. Something we can’t do because we haven’t had a good line in years. I want Zach upright at the very least. No seeing ghosts. Fant wants to get paid big time. He may not be here next year. Lets get the best O line in the league-with depth! Someone WILL get hurt. Wilson needs time and the best protection. Icky at 4. Wilson at 10. Let’s beat New England!!!
Agreed HH
Sure, within a few years we should be able to being developing said pipeline. We aren’t at that point yet. We’re still patching holes in the Titanic.
You always should be building a pipeline. If not you can’t have sustainable success. But more specifically this post was about O Line where have done a decent job with Frontline starters but need to develop depth and future starters in a cost effective way.
So draft a rookie lineman at 4 and he is guarenteed a spot so what then? You trade becton or fant? Clearly whoever wins gets the left side loser right. So you wouldnt draft a lineman that high because there are not a lot of reps or space with the starters working.
Name the last season the Jets’ OL started the same 5 linemen for every single contest of the regular season. How’d that Bills game go with a bunch of backups blocking for Wilson? What idiotic moron would trade away a starter when the team has yet to NOT incur multiple injuries along the offensive line?
Offensive line is not a need in the 1st round of the draft, Sauce at 4 to lockdown the top receiver and then stay on defense with a edge rusher. 3rd pick 2nd round should be a wide receiver i like Calvin austin the 3rd. Very fast speedster short but blazing fast. We could start filling in the line round 3