TGG Mock JETS GM Draft Grades

I've been working on getting my info together for my turn as Jets GM in the TGG mock, and I couldn't help but wonder how my predecessors have done looking back over the past few years. The first true modern era TGG mock was the Merger Mock we did back in 2007, though there were some done in the years prior. That mock was the birth of what we now see today as the main mock done every year and ran by WW. One important note is that my analysis isn't going to be able to reference how exactly they would have been on the Jets, because that's pretty impossible, but I'll do the best I can.

2007- GM: Scikotics

http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=19715

1. Justin Blalock, OG Texas- By all accounts a very good offensive guard, 46 starts in three seasons and no time missed due to injury. Was known as a great run blocker in college and appears to have done much of the same helping guide the way for Michael Turner.
2. LaMarr Woodley, LB Michigan- STUD. Five star monster stud. Was a huge steal by the Steelers, and would have been equally beastly with the Jets. The other Michigan LB they did get isn't bad though.
2. Eric Wright, CB UNLV- A pretty good young cornerback for the Browns, with potential to be an above average #1 corner. Kind of pales in comparison to
3. Paul Williams, WR Fresno State- One catch in three years on the Titans, but he is still on the team, so that's something.
5. Matt Spaeth, TE Minnesota- A solid backup Tight End, production fell off a bit this year but a good blocker. Would definitely have a role.
6. Le'Ron McClain, FB Alabama- Nice garbage round pick here, who wouldn't love to have this Pro Bowler as a power back to match with Shonny Greene?
7. Stanley Doughty, DT South Carolina- Undrafted, never made it.

Draft Grade: A+. A starting OG, a pro bowl passrusher, a quality young cornerback, a solid backup TE, and a Prp Bowl FB thrown in at the end? Yeah, I'd take that. The only thing working against him is that he didn't get a chance to do what the real Jets did, and select the best cornerback in the world.

Real picks: Revis went 20 to the Giants (uhh...), and Harris went 45 to the Panthers. The Panthers actually got Chansi Stuckey in the 4th round as well, and Jacob Bender went to the Jags in the 7th.


2008- GM: Warhound7

http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=30838&highlight=2008+mock

1. Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB Ohio State- Booooooooo.
2. James Hardy, WR Indiana- The big wideout has been a big disappointment for the Bills. The only positive thing he's done was give TO his #81, and that worked out great for everyone...
4. Tom Zbikowski, DB Notre Dame- Has been solid as a backup/returner for Baltimore, and is going to push for a starting job if Dawan Landry leaves.
4. Tashard Choice, RB Georgia Tech- A decent backup running back for the Cowboys, numbers dropped a lot in his second year with Felix Jones' emergence.
6. Robert Felton, OG Arkansas- Undrafted, no career.
7. Maurice Murray, DT/DE New Mexico St.- See Robert Felton.

Draft Grade: D+. I'll give Warhound the benefit of the doubt, there were a decent amount of people that liked Big Vern, and he did bring up the concerns about his attitude when he made the pick. Couldn't trade down, didn't have much choice really.

Real Picks: Besides Vern staying true to his pick, Dustin Keller went midway through round 2 to the Falcons. Dwight Lowery fell to the Texans in Rd 5, with Erik Ainge going nine picks earlier to Carolina. Marcus Henry and Nate Garner both went undrafted (for good reason).

2009- GM: Jabba

http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=42516&highlight=2009+mock

1. Jeremy Maclin WR, Missouri- Terrific rookie season for the Eagles, would be a great compliment for Jerricho. Downfield speed probably would have made Braylon unnecessary, too bad it would have been KC throwing to him.
2. Donald Brown RB, UConn- Effective as a rookie for the Colts, but benefited the team most in that Joseph Addai stepped his game up during the competition. Brown might not be as good as Greene, but does catch the ball well.
3. Sherrod Martin S, Troy- Martin played pretty well as a rookie, picking off three passes in only ten games. He did take over the starting job as the year went on and could be a staple of that secondary for a while.
4. Chris Baker, DE/NT Hampton- Went undrafted, but found a home in Denver as a reserve NT. The people there seem to think he could be an actual option for the future of that line.
6. Terrance Knighton, NT/DE Temple- Knighton ended up going a lot higher than this pick (3rd round), and he turned out to be pretty good. He actually looked like the better interior player than his aging linemate John Henderson.
7. Richard Quinn, TE North Carolina- Despite being seen mostly as a blocker, somehow went in the 2nd round. Predictably, he did nothing, though that nothing would have looked a lot better as a 7th rounder.

Draft Grade: A-. A number of quality players would have emerged from this group, but it's hard to match up with the draft the Jets ended up with. Realistically, there'd be three guys starting from that group (Martin now that Rhodes is gone and Knighton at End for next year, future at NT), with Donald Brown and Chris Baker as key reserves.

Real Picks: Sanchize went #10 to the 49ers. Shonn Greene went three picks after the Jets got him in the 3rd round to Seattle, who also got Matt Slauson at the end of the 7th.

 

What sucks is that the earliest thread that's there on the Draft Forum is from October '06. There definitely were drafts done here before then, but I'm pretty sure it was the merger one in 07 that created the idea of one big, "official" mock for the board.