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This is the New York Jets’ plan this off-season, regardless of what you are being lead to believe. Here it is . . .
“I think going into this season we’re going to do everything in our power to be as competitive as possible,” Mike Maccagnan said today in Indianapolis.
I totally believe that.
I keep hearing this narrative being pushed by some fans and reporter that the Jets are in “total rebuild mode.”
It’s flat-out not true.
The Jets dumped some pricey players who have been banged up – Breno Giacomini, Nick Mangold and Ryan Clady. Also dumped was Darrelle Revis coming off two bad seasons (yes two, not one) making a king’s ransom.
And now they have moved on from Brandon Marshall. I will get into this more on Monday.
And with these moves, I keep hearing that they need to go out and get players to fill all these positions. Not true.
“Some of the moves we’re making, we feel good about the players behind them,” Maccagnan said today.
Okay, let’s get into this for a minute.
They have two solid candidates to take over at right tackle for Giacomini – Brent Qvale and Brandon Shell (who was a pleasant surprise late in the season). At center, they are ready to roll with the underrated Wesley Johnson. At left tackle, they will have Ben Ijalana (you can do a lot worse) and they will sign a player to compete with him like Kelvin Beachum. I happen to think their line will be fine.
Replacing Revis will be easy. He’s not a good player anymore, so how is that hard to replace? Expect the Jets to pick a corner in the first two rounds, and sign one or two free agents, maybe Dre Kirkpatrick, Mo Claiborne or D.J. Hayden. A.J. Bouye might be too expensive.
Obviously a big question remains at quarterback, but they are going to go out and get a Chase Daniel, A.J. McCarron, Brian Hoyer or Mike Glennon. One of these guys will be in the building.
As for replacing Marshall, they have a number of good young receivers and expect Eric Decker back, and let’s not forget Quincy Enunwa has turned into a starting quality NFL receiver.
Look, I’m not saying the Jets are going to have a great season in 2017. I have no idea.
But I can assure you that this New York Post headline from this week – “Jets waving white flag on 2017” – isn’t accurate.
They are trying to win this year. Why did they make these recent moves?
“We’re trying to reallocate the resources,” Maccagnan said today.
Exactly.
But Maccagnan needs to take his game to the next level this off-season. His first two off-seasons were very average.
It’s well-documented that the free agent spending spree in 2015 on defensive backs didn’t work out particularly well. The first two drafts, while it’s too early to give them a final grade, were a little underwhelming (so far) aside from Leonard Williams.
The Jets are trying to win in 2017.
I can assure you of that.
Let’s see how this looks at the end of August.
March 3, 2017
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