I'm all for building through the draft. It's the foundation and trademark of all great teams. And what better year to make a major impact to the Jets roster than this upcoming draft. Come May 8th of 2014, and for many of us it cannot come soon enough, Idzik has an enviable opportunity to set his imprint on the NYJ for years to come with a monster draft. The talent is there for the taking to significantly strengthen our existing nucleus of very talented young players, continuing to build on the 2013 foundation and in so doing setting our team forward to be competitive and a true contender over the next couple of years. What a great opportunity. For once, we have more picks that I can remember in a draft year replete with outstanding talent and football depth across at least the first five rounds if not more. We must come out of that draft with what I'm hoping will be 2 stud plug-and-play starters and at least 3-4 that can become solid starters in 2015 and beyond. We have an excellent chance to beef up our weak positions, WR, S, TE, OLB, CB, and bring competition and depth in the areas of OT and OG. This is an opportunity we cannot screw up. No overreaching for prospects, no crazy trades up, just stay the course and pick up best available talent on each and every round. Many expert analysts think that even a few undrafted free agents will have a chance to make an impact, so I sure hope we are lifting every rock and our scouts and talent evaluators are working overtime to analyze and bring young talent to this team. I might be overreaching, but 2014 will significantly determine our future. It will also send a strong signal as to the quality of our talent evaluators, scouts, college recruiting personnel and to some extent the whole front office. It's through drafts such as this that championship teams are created. Free agency is a necessary evil to plug a near term hole. But a consistent superior performance through the draft year after year is what it takes to get this team catapulted into a serious division leader. Success through the draft is the most critical measure of Idzik's performance. Cannot wait for this draft to occur. I can envision some great new faces, be it WR, TE, S and CB and even OLB flying bye in white and green during pre season giving us all a renewed hope of a potential emerging new AFC East division leader. Go Jets
Great post. I couldn't agree more, and don't think you are overreaching at all. I think this draft perhaps more than any other will determine Idzik's future career as a GM, and more importantly, what happens with the Jets over the next 5-8 seasons. It is an extremely important and even critical draft for the Jets, and will either lay the foundation for future heights of success or for mediocrity or worse. It would be one thing if the Jets only had their normal 7 picks and/or if this wasn't a very strong or deep draft, particularly at their positions of need, but with it being a strong and deep draft, particularly at WR and OLB, and to a lesser degree CB, the Jets should come out of the draft with something like the "2 stud plug-and-play starters and at least 3-4 that can become solid starters in 2015 and beyond."
Been saying for months on here that this is a crucial draft for this franchise and for Idzik so I agree. He has a chance to really upgrade the talent level on this roster. However at the same time, he also has to be held accountable if he has a mediocre or poor draft.
I was pretty excited to get in on this convo, but the NCJetsFan said pretty much what I feel. It's said to be the best class in years, and years, so there's that. In addition to it, this is likely the most draft picks we will have for quite awhile. I know next year we'll get one comp pick at best (for Austin). So in short, this draft is a huge, huge deal, and will determine the team's future as a whole very much, not just Idzik's future.
I think this is a great draft to trade down. Almost every mock out there has one of Lee, Cooks, or ODB dropping to the Panthers at 28. If CLE doesn't take a QB at 4 and Teddy/Carr/Bortles/Manziel is sitting there at 18, we better be calling. Maybe some team will also want to get in front of MIA for Martin? Would be beyond awesome to snag an extra 2nd.
Statistically speaking, going off of prior draft history, what are the chances that we get 5 starters to make an impact from this draft?
Would people want to trade back to get an additional pick next year? I know this is the "deepest draft in years," but I fully expect to hear that next year as well. What if we could move back a few picks and pick up a 4th/5th and an additional 2nd next year. I like the idea of stockpiling picks for the future.
The Jets will get less in a trade if they call, rather than letting other teams call them. If the Jets have doubts about Geno and they really like a QB and he's there at #18, they need to grab him, not trade down.
I haven't heard anything about next year's draft. Some drafts are notoriously poor and shallow. I'd have to know for certain that next year was going to be a good draft, to trade a pick this year for one next year. If some team blows the Jets away with an offer, and they know that next year will be a good draft too, then fine; otherwise, I'd rather stay put and use the pick this year.
Every year is a keystone year in terms of the draft. If a GM presides over a few weak drafts in a row and he isn't fired it means the organization has issues that extend well beyond the GM's competency. I like what the Jets did last year although I do not like every pick. I'd have preferred a true guard over a conversion from tackle if the price was going to be a 3rd round pick. I'd have preferred not to use a 6th round pick on a guy the Jets could likely have gotten as a UDFA. I think both picks were reaches although both may pan out in the end. If the Jets have a similar quality draft this year spread over 12 picks the team will move forwards and the plan will be intact. That's what I'm hoping for. I like the fact that the draft is deep at WR, LB and on the OL. I think that bodes well for the Jets. I like the fact that there will be a good depth chart QB out there in the 4th round.
I don't think that's true at all and couldn't possibly disagree any more strongly. Every team is in a different situation. They have differing needs and expectations. For a team like Seattle, SF, or NE they may be looking to upgrade depth or perhaps one starting position. One draft is not that critical for them as their team is already in place. With Seattle, they just have to manage the cap so that they can keep their key players in place and maybe trade out some of the other players. Some drafts are also weaker and more shallow than others, and may not have much at positions of need for some teams, so expectations are a lot lower. This is a very deep and strong draft at a number of key positions for the Jets. Next year may not be at all. For a team like the Jets that is in transition, that still has a bunch of holes both in the starting lineup and depth, and who has a bonanza of picks (12), this is their keystone draft. Last year was important and so will be next year, but neither will be anywhere near as important as this year, both in terms of quantity of picks or quality of talent available at positions of need.
