We all know that Brick is getting older and his play is declining. He has a $14.1 million cap hit for the 2016 season. Giacomini is mediocre at best. Thus I think OT needs to be a huge priority in this draft and probably next year's draft as well. Ideally, the Jets will be able to get Brick to take a pay cut of $5 - $7 million, start for one more season, and then have the OT they draft and groom this season take over in 2017. It would be even better if that OT could replace Giacomini at RT in the starting lineup and then switch over to the left side next year so he has some playing experience in the NFL. I haven't been able to follow college football very closely this year, so I have no idea who might be possible OT prospects for the Jets at pick #20 or in the second round. I'm not a fan of trading up, especially for an OL, and with all the holes the Jets still have, questionable depth, and only 6 draft picks, I can't see their trading up to get one. Based on the reading I've done, Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley are the best two OTs and will go early in round one. Thus, I'm hoping that some of you guys who have scouted the college ranks and know the players better can help lead the way with prospects and information on OTs whom the Jets should consider (if any). I think it would be great if we can pin this thread or a thread on OT prospects and use it through the draft. The Star Ledger identified Alabama's Shon Coleman, Michigan State's Jack Conklin, and OSU's Taylor Decker as three OTs the Jets should consider. Are they all LT prospects, or do you see one or more of them projecting solely as a RT or even to OG? I see that several sites have them listed as low first round draft picks. What are your thoughts on these three? Are there others you like better who are flying under the radar as of right now? Any small school prospects? I see a couple of OTs that are projected to go in the 2nd round: Germaln Ifedi of Texas A&M and Jason Spriggs of Indiana. A couple of others who could go in the second round are Jerald Hawkins of LSU and and John Theus of Georgia. How about them? One poster likes Joe Haeg of N. Dakota St. He's projected as a 3rd - 4th round prospect. Could he develop into a starter, or is he strictly backup material. At least he comes with a winning mentality, with N. Dakota St. being national champions for 5 years straight. Aside from Tunsil and Stanley, are all these guys backups or RTs? Are we out of luck in finding Brick's replacement and will have to wait until next year?
WW85's mock of sprigs may be the best choice outside the top two. Most of the other "top" OT prospects this year seem to really lack the agility to stay at LT this year. Decker is much more a RT at this level and I don't see Conklin having the skills to stay outside in the NFL, but he will be a hell of an interior lineman. Shon Coleman, I just don't see the skills that have earned him late first early second talk. Way too still and poor pad level. Remember that Brick had the knock of lacking power coming into the NFL and to a point that has always stuck with him, but he has been a good blindside protector.
Unless Ronnie falls to us I don't want a OT drafted in the 1st round. I'm also pretty sure I read somewhere Mac said he doesn't like to take OL in the higher rounds... If we gamble and pick up a raw project player with all the tools and try to develop him in the later rounds I'm ok with that.
Thanks. I trust WW85's plugging Spriggs, just wondered what others thought about the OTs. Wasn't Coleman pretty consistently beaten last night by Clemson's DEs? If so, I wouldn't have any interest in him. Sounds like that unless the Jets like and can get Spriggs, it will be next year before we can get Brick's replacement. Do you think Decker would be an upgrade over Giacomini and worth taking, or would we be better off just taking an ILB/OLB at #20?
Unless we can move up for one of the top two tackles (unlikely to drop far enough) I am not sure the other guys can handle left tackle in the pros. Might be better off renegotiating Brick and focusing on linebackers in the draft.
It'd be too much to count on a rookie to play LT, so as others have pointed out, somehow lessening D'Brick's contract, probably through restructure, is ideal. But cutting Breno would save about $4.5m and I'd feel okay with a rookie there I think. But given the state of that position, bringing in an OT within the first 3 rounds seems like a must at this point to me
Projecting what Mac will do is always interesting. But considering his smarts vs a number of previous Gms I am not at all worried. The most obvious consideration is the guy is pure BPA and he won't give away the farm on one prospect Mac prob is getting ready to wheel and deal in FA using the draft as bait to get us the best FA , eg in 2015 B Marshall plus a 5th rounder lmao...this should be classic
I'm not in love with decker, but he should be a serviceable RT in the NFL. That said I'm not looking for serviceable at pick 20. It really depends on who falls... There is talk of Jaylon Smith taking a huge drop due to injury, if he's there and the docs ok it he would be a steal. Elliot must be considered if we are not able to bring back Ivory. No RB is not a high valued position, but I think he is capable of playing a huge role right away. I love his vision and ability to burst through small creases for positive yardage. I really don't see Ragland or a Myles Jack making it to us. I have my worries about Leonard Floyd's ability to fill out his thin frame, but am excited at his potential. Noah Spence is a edge rusher with serious upside if you believe he's over come his demons. A couple second rounders I'm loving watching so far are Jordan Jenkins from Georgia and Tyler Boyd of Pitt. Jenkins looks the part of a 34 OLB and has been productive in the SEC. It's no secret that Gaily likes tall receivers. Kerley is all but gone and Boyd may not hit all the physical benchmarks people want but his route running and work ethic are well developed for his position. He put up very good numbers despite being Pitts only offensive weapon to speak of.
I am familiar with the other tackles but I'm much more familiar with Taylor Decker. With that said.. I wouldnt feel very confident if we draft him, he is a bull, brutally strong but that's it really. He isnt an athlete, so him playing LT is out of the question for me. He really struggled against athletic defensive lineman his entire college career. Pass protection was very shotty at OSU and that will be even more evident in the NFL. IMO I would pass on him in all honesty. He really wouldn't be much of an upgrade over what we already have at RT. IMO If he can drastically improve his pass protection and the way he moves along the line, he could be a really good pro, but I don't think he will.
Thanks. I was hoping that you'd respond about Decker. I know it probably wasn't easy for you to speak negatively about an OSU player, but I figured you'd tell the truth about him.
A few Comments: After Tunsil, there are really no Elite LTs in this draft. Some teams might pass on Tunsil, domestic violence charge, but he was defending his mother from his Step-Father. He admitted he was wrong and shouldn't have become violent. It shouldn't be a big deal. Top 5 Pick!!! Stanley reminds me of Brick coming out, technically very sound, smart and athletic, but can get pushed around. Should develop, with time, into a solid, not spectacular NFL LT. Decker isn't an NFL LT, he's perfect for the right side. I think he's overrated playing on a good OSU Line. Not many people have talked about Spriggs, player I really like. He seems to be more of a natural LT, good athlete for his size and strength. I like his experience at LT for Indiana. Shon Coleman is a possibility at LT, in the future, he looked real good playing for the Tigers, glad he declared. Super intelligent player on and off the field......has masters degree. Beat Cancer.....I remember ESPN doing a story on him a few years ago. I would have no issue drafting him at #20. Let's face it, the Jets don't have a better option at LT than Brick, so they have to rework his deal until we can get a player to plug in. No one the Jets will draft will be ready to play LT right away.
If we limit the new money to Brick at $7-8 mil per year and guarantee him for 2-3 years I think we could manage the cap hit without being unfair to him. While we could ride out one more year of his current contract we can not give him $14 mil of salary the following year. Something has to give.
I wish all OSU players success but that's not a realistic option with so many players going over to the NFL. Being a homer when talking about the draft only makes people look silly and I wouldn't be a very credible poster defending every OSU player that's ever played, its just not feasible. I'm a Jets fan, so once they cross that line, I'm even more critical because I want the Jets to draft the best possible prospects. So I'm this case, they definitely can do better than Decker at 20. IMO lol
i believe Brick's salary is only around 9M this year. there is 5M in sunk money, which is the prorated amount of past bonuses/restructures we have done with him. that amount counts against our cap whether we keep him or cut him. so the 7M salary in 2016 you propose is a reasonable amount, but only saves us about 2M cap space.
interesting article mentioning Jerald Hawkins as a possibility at the 20 nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/01/nfl_mock_draft_2016_should_jets_start_rebuilding_a.html 2 years RT experience at LSU, and last year at LT. projecting him as an immediate RT in the NFL, with the possibility of moving to LT in the future. i have to watch some tape on Hawkins, but that is exactly the type of player i'm looking for. Will be keeping an eye out.
$2 mil this year If we do nothing Brick's salary next year is $14 mil plus about $750 k between roster and workout bonuses, not to mention the pro-rated bonuses he received in prior years. So while my suggestion barely moves the needle this year it cuts next year's new money in half.
