As good as it gets . . .

It is some of best . . .

. . . reporting on the Jets I’ve ever seen.

To get this kind of detail about a team’s thinking before the draft is rare.

This from the Daily News –

“Although I’ve been told that the Jets believe that Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams is destined for stardom, folks in the building are infatuated with Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver’s otherwordly skills,” wrote Manish Mehta.

“Oliver has strong support in the organization from those who believe that he has the tools to wear a gold jacket one day. There are, however, fair criticisms about him that have sparked a healthy debate on One Jets Drive.”

And then the pièce de résistance, an unnamed quote from a Jets official on Oliver.

“He’s an alien,” one team source told me about Oliver.

I’m floored by this reporting.

To get this kind of feel about how a team feels about a prospect, before the draft, is a tour-de-force from a journalism standpoint.

Usually teams are incredibly tight-lipped about how they feel about prospects.

So what is going on here?

Some would assume that some of this is coming from agent Joel Segal, who has a history of being very helpful to reporters. He represents Oliver.

He’s helped media careers over the years with info. I can’t name names, but believe me he has.

Remember, the higher Oliver goes, the larger his commission.

But one source close to the Jets said to me today that he thinks part of this is perhaps the Jets trying to scare the Oakland Raiders into trading up to get Oliver.

The source said the Jets might not even like Oliver.

From a scheme standpoint, Oliver to the Jets doesn’t make a ton of sense.

The Jets are staying in 3-4 defense, and Oliver is an ideal fit at the three-technique position in a 4-3 defense. At around 280, he’s not really built like a 3-4 defensive lineman.

Plus, the Jets are paying Henry Anderson and Leonard Williams a lot of money this year to handle the 3-4 end positions (with Steve McLendon at the nose). Oliver can’t play nose in a 3-4 defense – he’s way too small. And Anderson and Williams are going to start at end, so not sure where Oliver fits in with the Jets.

If you are going to pick a defensive lineman to rotate with Anderson/Williams at end, 303-pound Quinnen Williams makes a lot more sense.

You keep hearing stuff like, “Gregg Williams loves Ed Oliver.”

Where is that coming from?

Do you really think Gregg Williams is running around telling people who he loves? That would be pretty darn reckless.

And plus, he’s not running the Jets draft, Mike Maccagnan is.

Saying “Gregg Williams loves Ed Oliver” sounds like “Agent Talk 101.”

Like I said before, Joel Segal has a history of being very media-friendly.

There is a lot of smoke being blown, and I think Segal is very involved in all of this.

And if the Jets love Oliver as much as the Daily News blockbuster claims, why would they trade out of their spot to allow another team to pick him? That doesn’t make a ton of sense.

April 23, 2019

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