Absolutely Gut-Wrenching Day, But Maybe It's For The Best

Dave Hutchinson gives the Jets the best grade in the AFC East (today's Sunday Star-Ledger):

http://www.nj.com/sports/nfldraft/index.ssf/2010/04/grading_the_nfl_draft_only_six.html

AFC EAST

Jets - Coach Rex Ryan got his cornerback in Piscataway native Kyle Wilson to solidify the back end of his blitz-happy scheme. But who’s going to rush the quarterback? Thirty-five-year-old Jason Taylor? Jets reinforce aging O-line with UMass’ Vladimir Ducasse, who could replace Alan Faneca, and trade up to grab RB Joe McKnight to replace the departed Leon Washington (Seattle). Grade: B-

Bills – News Bills GM Buddy Nix pulled a fast one by selecting Clemson RB C.J. Spiller at No. 9 overall but the joke is on him. RBs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch are the strength of the team. Buffalo’s O-line is a disaster area. After taking Spiller, Bills continue to ignore offensive line by going defense with next two picks. Looks like a long season for new coach Chan Gailey. Grade: F

Dolphins – Traded down and nabbed Penn St. DE/DT Jared Odrick, a perfect fit for their 3-4 scheme and a shot of youth for their aging defensive line. Also picked up Utah OLB Koa Misi to energize a pass rush that lost DE Jason Taylor and LB Joey Porter. Ole Miss G John Jerry is solid. Grade: C+

Patriots – Bill Belichick got quantity but did he get quality? We like Rutgers CB Devin McCourty, but TE Rob Gronkowski missed all of last season following back surgery and LB Brandon Spikes is so slow he was timed with a sun dial in the 40-yard dash. WR Taylor Price might be a gem. Pats select three Florida Gators. Grade: C+

Holy cow... he gives the Bills an F!

 

Today's Star-Ledger sheds more light on yesterday's whirlwind "craziness:"

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2010/04/jets_wrap_up_draft_weekend_by.html

Jets Wrap Up Draft Weekend By Making Some 'Hard Decisions'

By Manish Mehta/The Star-Ledger
April 24, 2010, 11:00PM

Of the move to release Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca, Jets coach Rex Ryan, above, said, 'We’re getting better (along the offensive line). That’s why we made the move we made.'

When the craziness was over, when the Jets stamped a wild offseason with a flurry of final draft-day moves, the man behind the madness had plenty of explaining to do. For two peaceful days, Mike Tannenbaum played the role of boring drafter, taking the best player that fell to the Jets’ allotted slots. For two quiet days, he resisted the temptation to wheel and deal.

Then, today happened.

In the end, the pull was too strong, a siren’s song that lured the aggressive Jets general manager back to his trading ways. In the span of two hours, the Jets traded up for USC running back Joe McKnight, traded away running back Leon Washington to the Seahawks, officially announced the release of perennial Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca and left little doubt that they simply can’t sit still.

The draft-day transactions had a ripple effect:

•Second-round pick Vladimir Ducasse will compete with second-year pro Matt Slauson at left guard.

•Robert Turner will be the backup center.

•Former first-round disappointment Vernon Gholston will move from outside linebacker to veteran Shaun Ellis’ backup at defensive end.
Washington’s days with the team were numbered when the Jets traded their fourth- (124th overall) and sixth-round (198th) picks to the Panthers to move up 12 spots in the fourth round to select McKnight with the 112th overall pick.

“We have to make the hard decisions,” Tannenbaum said. “We felt that once we had Joe (McKnight), we can move on from Leon.”

Tannenbaum conceded it would have been “very, very, very difficult for us to re-sign (Washington) at the end of the year knowing other challenges we’re going to have.”

The Jets have a litany of players (David Harris, Darrelle Revis and Nick Mangold), who will need to be signed to long-term deals. The general manager, however, said it was a “fair assumption” that Washington, rehabbing from a season-ending compound fracture in his leg, would have remained on the team if McKnight was off the board.

Washington, who skipped the first portion of the Jets’ offseason workouts, recently returned to the team after signing his restricted free-agent tender.

But the Jets’ brain trust felt the 5-11, 198-pound McKnight could fill Washington’s role as a dual threat out of the backfield. He rushed for 2,213 yards (6.4 avg.) with 13 touchdowns in 36 career games.

“I got a lot of versatility to my game,” McKnight said. “I got some toughness to my game. I think I showed people this past year that I can run between the tackles somewhat.”

McKnight, however, comes with baggage. He was embroiled in a SUV controversy before forgoing his senior season to enter the draft. The NCAA has an open investigation surrounding alleged infractions stemming from McKnight’s use of a SUV registered to a Californian businessman in December.

McKnight, 22, suffered several nagging injuries throughout his career, including a sprained knee, two broken fingers and four dislocated toes.

Then, Tannenbaum traded Washington and a seventh-round pick for Seattle’s fifth-round selection. The Jets picked up Kentucky fullback John Conner with that pick.

Tannenbaum later announced the team parted ways with Faneca, a nine-time Pro Bowler. Faneca’s release was first reported Friday on nj.com, the Star-Ledger’s website. The Jets will have to pay Faneca $5.25 million of his $7.5 million salary, a curious move that leaves the inexperienced Slauson and rookie Ducasse as the only left guard options.

“We never would have let Alan go if we didn’t think that one or both of those guys could do the job,” coach Rex Ryan said. “In this business, you got to move on. We’re getting better (along the offensive line). That’s why we made the move we made.”

Tannenbaum has been undaunted this offseason by the restrictive Final Four rules in place for teams that reached the conference championship games.

“Final Four rules or whatever, we were going to improve the team,” Tannenbaum said. “That’s the mind-set we have. Whatever the rules or the challenges or the distractions are, we embrace that. I draw energy from that.”

NOTES

Ryan admitted signing veteran Jason Taylor last week to fill the team’s pass-rushing needs allowed him to move Gholston to defensive end.

“So that’s why I never felt that it was a need to jump up and take a defensive end (in the draft),” Ryan said. “Our plan all along was, ‘Let’s put Vernon in a position where he can be successful.’”

BTW, who the hell is Manish Mehta?