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I happened to be in Daytona Beach, Florida the other day, and drove past Leonard Williams high school, Mainland, which is basically next to the Daytona Speedway.
They are doing major work on the speedway – a huge construction project.
And then a little bit more down the same road is Bethune-Cookman University.
A very busy street right off I-95.
But going past Leonard’s high school led me into some deep thought about the pick.
We are a few weeks away from the selection, and the fervor surrounding the pick has calmed down a little.
But honestly, I still can’t believe the Jets got him.
Think about it. All the pre-draft speculation about the Jets’ pick, all the mock drafts, nobody in their right mind thought the Jets would get him.
He wasn’t even a guy on the rumor mill radar.
And hearing Mike Maccagnan speak about the pick, I don’t even think they thought it was a possibility.
Personally, I think every team in front of the Jets in the draft made a mistake, and that even applies to Tampa Bay and Tennessee, two clubs that picked quarterbacks.
Neither one of those quarterbacks are slam dunk answers – both have major question marks. Neither is an Andrew Luck “can’t miss” QB prospect.
I agree with the unnamed scout quoted by Nolan Nawrocki in his draft book who said, “Leonard Williams is hands down the best players in the draft. He will be a perennial Pro Bowler, no if’s, and’s or butt’s. If I’m (Tampa Bay coach) Lovie Smith, I’m not taking a chance on a quarterback, I’m taking a chance on the sure thing.”
The Jets got the consensus best player in the draft at six. That scenario is so unusual. So often, a great prospect like this will slip due to character concerns. There are no character concerns here.
I know he still has a lot to prove, but defensive linemen who move like Williams, and have his natural power and balance, are very rare. And on top of his natural skill-set, he’s a great kid, who works very hard.
Tom Brady probably wishes one of his suspended games was against the Jets. Do you think he’s looking forward to facing a defensive line of Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams. They could be scary good. Three big, fast, physical, quick athletic freaks. When these three are on the field together, that is going to be fun to watch.
The Jets have been snake-bit over the years – more bad than good in their history.
But to me, they just were blessed with amazing good luck.
It’s like they won the NBA draft lottery, even though they had the sixth pick, if that makes any sense.
I still don’t know what the Washington Redskins were doing.
And quite honestly, any of the teams in front of the Jets.
What a great start for Mike Maccagnan, to get a player of this magnitude at six.
Driving past the high school, jarred this string of consciousness you just read.
Have a great weekend.
May 15, 2015
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