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There is no question
that the best draft strategy is to stick to your value board, and pick the best player available, regardless of position.
No matter how boring that is to some people, it’s the approach that has stood the test of time.
After all, what is the point of spending all that time as a staff stacking the board, after spending millions of dollars on scouting over the coarse of the year, to then ignore that board, and reach for need?
So the Jets must ignore this narrative being pushed by outsiders that they need to load up on offensive players to support the young QB, because they supposedly didn’t do that for Sam Darnold.
Stick to the board, Pick the best players, regardless of position. That is what the smart teams do.
Now, of course, if you are on the clock, and you have close grades on a couple of players, and one is at a position of need, and other is not, you pick the position of need.
And the Jets biggest need right now is probably cornerback.
The NFL is a passing league, so if you don’t have enough corners, the opponents are going to light you up, score a lot, and put your QB in a tough position, having to score a lot of points.
Some people will tell you the Jets need to pick offensive linemen for the young QB.
Yes, if the value board points you there, but I’m not sure there is even an opening in the starting lineup right now.
The tackles are set with Mekhi Becton and George Fant. The same is likely true for the center – Connor McGovern. Fant and McGovern are two guys Joe Douglas really likes, and personally signed them last year, giving them good money. They weren’t holdovers from the prior regime, and the same obviously with Becton, Douglas’ first ever first-round pick as Jets GM.
At guard, the Jets signed Dan Feeney, a player who started 57 games at both guard and center for the Chargers from 2017-2020. He was a highly-regarded prospect in the 2017 draft out of Indiana, and the Chargers grabbed him in the third round. He’s a great fit for the zone blocking system being installed by new OC Mike LaFleur and line coach John Benton. Feeney actually goes back to college in the zone system, where he blocked for a very good one-cut zone runner with the Hoosiers, a guy named, Tevin Coleman, now with the Jets.
As for the other guard spot, Alex Lewis is back, after being suspended last year for telling off Adam Gase in practice. Considering Gase was fired, and Joe Douglas loves Lewis, from their time in Baltimore together, Lewis is still very much in the plans.
The Jets also have Cam Clark at guard, a college OT, who was essentially red-shirted last year, after being picked in the fourth round, so he could get comfortable playing guard. Douglas picked him and really likes him.
Also in the mix are a starter from last year, Greg Van Roten and Jimmy Murray, who bounced between the practice squad and regular roster last year. He has really developed nicely after entering the league as a raw prospect out of 1-AA Holy Cross.
As for receiver, as we brought up the other day, they have plenty of talent there.
Should the Jets add some offensive players player with some of their ten picks in the 2021 draft? Absolutely.
And they should pick defense as well.
Wherever Douglas’ value board takes them.
Don’t draft based on outside narratives that should be viewed as white noise.
April 26, 2021
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