I noticed a huge theme in a LOT of mocks here (other than OLB/Safety) was RT. However the more I think about it, this is probably a better year to draft a guard. I mean you got the guard DESPERATE teams who went out and blew a ton of cash on some of the big name free agents (Grubs/Nicks). And this draft seems pretty deep at guard. I think that we could legit get a starting guard in the middle rounds. With Moore out the door in the near future, and Slauson an UFA after this year (plus having pretty big surgery this off season so the rookie could get TONS of snaps) it seems like a guard not only seems smart, but a bit of a need. Brandon Washingonton is one name that comes to mind, talented guy, might take a little time to get up to speed in the nfl, but has some great experience with a strong rushing attack. Hes also versatile Lucas Nix, another versatile guy on the line, although would be a better fit @ guard. Run blocking is also his main strength. Johnnie Troutman- later pick, great for run blocking, not really pass blocking, might be a great late pickup with one of our conditional picks for jumbo TE sets. I know people are big on tackle, but if we dont target a tackle early (assuming a superior talent one doesnt fall to us), I think drafting a guard in the middle rounds would reap far more benefits for us than some of the later tackle prospects.
I've been saying right along that I'd rather see us going after a guard this year over a RT if we can help it. I mean if the right guy is there at the right pick at RT then maybe yeah you take a shot and hope that you can either use him or Ducasse if they both develop into starters at guard. -You get more value with your pick at guard because they aren't as valuable generally. - Drafting a guard gives us more flexibility to replace Moore and more leverage to resign Slauson next year. - A starting guard this year would let us swing Slauson out to RT if he can beat out Hunter and Ducasse in an open competition. Having an OL consisting of Brick/Promising rookie guard/Mangold/Moore/Slauson makes me feel a lot more comfortable than Brick/Slauson/Mangold/Moore/Hunter (puke) That would let us have Hunter as basically the overpaid backup which is all he should be anyway. Gives Ducasse a chance to develop and if everyone works out well we just rotate in Ducasse at RT next year and move Slauson back with the new kid and we have a great lineup at OL. If Ducasse doesn't work out than Slauson holds us together at RT this year, and we can go and get our RT for the future next year when we're really sure that we need him. In a perfect world we should be going after a guard or a guard/tackle to increase our flexibility.
Honestly, I dont see us draft a RT in the 1st 3 rounds. I really think the FO is pushing all in with Ducasse. So because of this, the earliest I see us addressing the OL is the 4th round, and at that position, I really like Brandon Washington (who is also athletic enough to play RT). I see us going OLB, S, WR or RB in the 1st 3 rounds and then maybe drafting for depth at the OL. Thats just my opinion and the way I look at it...
I really like Lucas Nix, Tony Bergstrom, and Zeitler. I'd like the Jets to focus on guys with a lot of starts under their belt, some versatility, and some attitude. I'd like them to avoid the bad body type "road graders" that don't have the balance to manage the kinds of rushes they'll see at the next level. Experience at tackle is definitely a plus, because it implies a certain amount of foot quickness, and future upside. -X-
There's probably nothing more silly than drafting a first round guard. You're talking about an interior lineman. These guys play inside because they lack the size or athleticism to play outside. If they bust, you end up with a backup guard; where, if a tackle like Robert Gallery busts, he has the requisite athleticism to move inside and have a very competent career. Decastro might be great, but he doesn't fix Wayne Hunter. The Vikings had Steve Hutchinson for the last few years, and they've been utterly miserable in pass protection, to the point where they're almost forced to take an offensive tackle in round 1 this year. Teams have always been able to find guards in the latter rounds. The first round is for the premium positions. -X-
Agreed. Same thing for safeties, as I remember you always saying in the past. I love Decastro, and I think he'll be a great player, but ultimately the fact that he plays a position that can be filled by simply a competent player makes value a big question mark. It's also why I'd take Cordy Glenn over DDC, because I think that he can be a very good RT, which outweighs a great OG.
Agreed. I was surprised by Cordy Glenn's combine build, because I expected him to be very sloppy looking, but he's just a very large man. But yes, give me a guy with some versatility any day of the week. -X-
I'm a big fan of DeCastro because he seems to be the lowest-risk first round pick this year and could compete with Slauson from day 1
I think a guard in the first two rounds this year would be stupid. OLB needs to be adressed, we can get our future starting guard in the 3-5th without much difficulty, depending on how they fall
Do you think the Jets should reach for an OLB if none that the FO/coaching staff likes falls to 16? Try and trade down? Or draft another position?
Im all about BPA, and it looks like OLB is the most likely position to fall, with many, many OL and WR needy teams in front of us. MLB can certainly fall as well tho Plus i truly think we can get a very good future starting guard in the 3rd-5th
If we draft Decastro, where do you envision him playing on our line this year ? And what do we do with the oddman out ?
DeCastro starts at left guard, Slauson starts at right guard. As soon as we know Slauson is healthy we cut Moore and save his $4.5 mil of cap space for a guy that underperformed after coming off hip surgery lat year. If DeCastro can pull like Faneca used to he and Mangold will allow our running game to do some amazing things with below average running backs.
1,318 1,175 1,435 1,696 1,880 Shaun Alexander's rushing numbers after Seattle drafted Hutchinson with the 17th pick. If you can get a guy that would immediately be one of the elite players at his position, that just happens to be a major question mark for the team, I think you pull the trigger.
If we got Decastro, would you be opposed to taking say Brandon Washington if hes on the board in the 4th?
Depth and competition for Slauson wouldn't hurt. The key is getting DeCastro even if it means moving up.
