Content available exclusively for subscribers
Yes, they do need to do this better, but to act like the current regime is better than the previous one in this regard might not be true . . .
ESPN Headline – “Jets’ rebuild hinges on drafting better than previous regimes.”
I don’t totally agree with this premise.
Does the Jets’ current regime need to draft better? No question.
But honestly, I don’t agree with the four words – “better than previous regimes.”
Has Mike Maccagnan drafted better than John Idzik and Mike Tannenbaum?
So far, the answer is “no.”
Maccagnan’s first two drafts have been underwhelming. Now this perception could change moving forward as some of the players in his first two classes continue to develop.
But so far, only one player has really had an impact, and that is Leonard Williams. And that pick was a no-brainer. A Pro Bowl-level player slipped to them.
I’m not going to extol the virtues of Darron Lee right now. He didn’t play that well last year. He could emerge in his second year, but I’m not going to praise a pick for potential. He’s got to do a better job for this pick to be praised.
The second-round picks from both of Maccagnan’s drafts have had no impact so far.
The Jets picked a pair of OLB pass rushers in the first two drafts, Lorenzo Mauldin and Jordan Jenkins. Both are 4.9 forty guys and neither is going to trim the edge. They both have great motors and get effort sacks on occasions, but they don’t often torch offensive tackles with an explosive first step. Both players are solid, but neither has solved the Jets need for a dynamic edge-rusher.
The Jets picked a cornerback in the fourth-round last year, North Carolina State’s Juston Burris.
He’s okay, but his hips are a little stiff so it hurts his ability to cut with quick receivers. He must get better at press coverage. He’s a big, physical corner who needs to maul receivers at the line and not give them a free release because his recovery speed isn’t great.
The jury is still out on 2016 seventh-round punter Lac Edwards, who was very inconsistent last year.
2016 fifth-round tackle Brandon Shell looks like he could challenge for a starting job at right tackle, not left. If he emerges as a solid starting RT, this will improve the quality of this draft.
Seventh-round receiver Charone Peake gets an incomplete so far. There isn’t enough film on him yet to grade him.
Going back to 2015. Fourth-round quarterback Bryce Petty didn’t look great last year when he had a chance to play before he hurt his shoulder. So far, the pocket presence and field vision are underwhelming. Fifth-round guard Jarvis Harrison is no longer with the team.
Seventh-round nose tackle Deon Simon looks like a decent player, but he needs to be more consistent and keep his pad level lower consistently.
So yes, the Jets need to draft better than the previous regimes. But the current regime also needs to draft better than they have so far.
April 11, 2017
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Wednesday.