My first couple of picks: 1. Watson or Mahomes (and I'm leaning towards Mahomes the more I think about it). 2. BPA: RB or TE 3. BPA: OL 4. BPA: Pass Rusher 5. BPA: Safety or CB
Even in a great and deep draft for CBs, the 5th round is way too low to take a CB. We need a #1 CB. You're also not going to get an impact pass rusher in the 4th round. More than likely, either position would have to be taken no lower than the 2nd or 3rd round. The reality is that we have pretty much equal needs at pass rushing OLB, #1 CB, TE, ILB, RB and FS, and more than likely, we aren't gonna be able to get even half of them this season. Not getting a 1st round pick who could make an immediate impact would have most of the fanbase in revolt unless Mahomes started day 1. In most situations he's too good a prospect to pass on, but as desperately as they need a QB, he's too risky and the Jets simply have too many needs. If they take him, he doesn't develop immediately and needs to sit for a year, and the Jets are awful, Mac's probably gone and his career as a GM is over. As much as I love Mahomes' potential, I think the Jets' best move sadly is to pass on him and pray that Hack or Petty prove that they can be the QB of the future this season. I don't think the Jets should sign an OLB in FA. There are only a couple of pass-rushing OLBs who are worth a darn who may be available, and I think both are probably overrated and they will want too much money. I'd pass. I think they possibly could sign a CB in FA to be their #1, but they're gonna have to way overpay, and unless they can sign Bouye, he may not be all that. It would be infinitely better to take one early in the draft. This draft is too good at both OLB and CBs to not draft one of each, and I think they have to take one of each in the first 3 rounds. They desperately need to upgrade Ijalana at LT, but unless they are intent on taking Cam Robinson or trying to trade down and get Ramczyk, or take Garcia in the 2nd round, then they are gonna have to sign an LT if they can. There are only a few and I'm not sure that any of them would sign here for any price. We may just be screwed at LT this season. IMO that's on Mac. He should have taken one in the 2015 or 2016 draft. They probably shouldn't take Garcia in the 2nd round, because unless he can start from day one and play at a high level, they'd get killed for taking another project in the 2nd round. If they don't sign a FA CB, then I think a pass rusher and #1 CB will be their clear priorities early in the draft, and then they'd look to address the offense in the 3rd and 4th rounds and lower. They should still be able to get a very good RB in rounds 3-5 and a TE in there too.
This is the kind of strategy that neuters a team. BPA RB or TE? When we have so many needs? Why limit ourselves like that?
There's no point in drafting a pass rusher in the 4th round. If he was any good at pass rushing, he would be 1st round material. Otherwise, you get such HOF material as IK Enemkapali, Trevor Reilly, Trevor Johnson. Agree with No. 1 though. Was looking at some DeShone Kizer film the other day. I think I might prefer him to Mahomes. Mahomes reminds me a little of Manziel in style. Not sure that would translate well to the NFL. Wouldn't mind a Mahomes selection in Rd 3 or so, but not Rd 1.
Mahomes style would work well in a WCO and coincidentally Morton and Bates have WCO backgrounds. While I'm been seeing a lot of Stafford, Carr and Manziel comparisons, the guy I see when I look at Mahomes is Favre. Favre played the majority of his career and had HOF success in the WCO sans his short stints in Atlanta and NY. Note that comp is to Favre the "raw" college prospect with tons of potential out of Southern Mississippi who was drafted in the 2nd round NOT the Favre the record breaking HOF NFL champion. If anyone were to go back and dig up some old 91 scouting reports on Favre, I bet they would read eerily similar to what people are writing about Mahomes now.
If we couldn't trade down, I would because I'm sold and, more importantly, I don't believe he will be there when we pick in the 2nd. At the same time, I would understand if the Jets were fearful and passed at that spot.
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/02/nfl_mock_draft_2017_projecting_jets_picks_in_first.html NFL Mock Draft 2017: Projecting Jets' picks in first 3 rounds, including Leonard Fournette By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Follow on Twitter on February 09, 2017 at 7:00 AM, updated February 09, 2017 at 7:07 AM About three months still remain until the NFL Draft, but now that the Super Bowl is complete, there will be even more mock drafts rolling out, whether you like it or not. SB Nation's Dan Kadar just published a three-round mock draft in which he has the Jets -- finally -- drafting an offensive player in Round 1. And that player is LSU running back Leonard Fournette, who would join Matt Forte and Bilal Powell in the Jets' backfield. Here is how Kadar explains the projection: Fournette in New York can be the focal point of an offense that is generally without direction. He can be for the Jets what Ezekiel Elliott was for the Cowboys, as long as the offensive line in New York gets a little bit better. That's a big "as long as," considering the Jets' issues with age and injuries up front -- from center Nick Mangold to both offensive tackles, Ryan Clady and Breno Giacomini. All three could be cut this offseason. Clady and Giacomini almost certainly are goners. The Jets last drafted an offensive player in Round 1 in 2009 (quarterback Mark Sanchez). Since then, they have taken eight defensive players in the first round. Here is Kadar's top five in this mock draft, to give you a sense of who won't be available (in this scenario) for the Jets at No. 6: 1. Browns: DE Myles Garrett 2. 49ers: QB Mitch Trubisky 3. Bears: QB DeShone Kizer 4. Jaguars: DL Jonathan Allen 5. Titans (via Rams): LSU S Jamal Adams What about the next two rounds for the Jets? Well, in Round 2, Kadar has them talking an edge rusher, Missouri's Charles Harris. And in Round 3, he has them going with Tennessee cornerback Cameron Sutton. Both of those are positions of need for the Jets. They haven't gotten much production from outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin since drafting him in Round 3 in 2014. Outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins, a rookie last year, is still a work in progress as a pass rusher, though he's solid against the run. Even if the Jets retain Darrelle Revis as a No. 2 cornerback or free safety, they'll need to address the corner position, and the selection of Sutton could certainly do that. CBSSports.com rates Harris fifth among defensive end and Sutton 10th among corners, though this is considered a particularly strong and deep cornerback draft class. Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
According to the Mock Draft this story is based on, they could take Cook or Howard as an alternative, which I'm now leaning more towards. And instead of the DE with their 2nd pick, they could get Mahomes. I know that places me in a very small minority, but adding two key pieces like that to the "O" would be huge.
Either you are not in the minority or we are both in there as I would take Cook then Mahomes if they were available at 6 and 39. But not Howard though. Add JuJu Smith-Schuster somehow and we would have our very own triplets to grow together.
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/02/connor_hughes_jets_7-round_mock_draft_10_1.html Following is Connor Hughes' 7-round mock draft for the Jets Following are his picks and rationale behind each pick. 1st Round, Pick 6: Clemson QB Deshaun Watson THE REASONING: There were a ton of players here when the Jets pick came up. Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker, Clemson's Mike Williams, and LSU's Leonard Fournette. All would be good picks ... but I think the Jets pull the trigger on Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. Bryce Petty is more of a backup, and Christian Hackenberg won't be ready until 2018. If the Jets select Watson, start him Week 1, and he shows promise, it can buy both Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan another year. If Hackenberg develops and looks good this preseason and next, the Jets have trade bait. 2nd Round, Pick 7: LSU CB Tre'Davious White THE REASONING: The Jets need to start rebuilding their secondary. Cornerback Desmond King was here, too, but there are some concerns his play will translate to the next level. He has good instincts and coverage ability, but lacks closing speed. White checks all the boxes. He has good size (5-11, 191), and is versatile enough to play both on an island and in the slot. He does have some physicality concerns, though, which may not mix with Todd Bowles' preferred cornerback play style. 3rd Round, Pick 6: LSU C Ethan Pocic THE REASONING: Whether or not Nick Mangold is cut doesn't matter: The Jets need to start thinking of their future at the center position. Pocic has experience playing all across the offensive line. He started games at, literally, every position. He's a bit big for a center (6-6, 307), but with some coaching can be a versatile asset up front. 4th Round, Pick 31: Western Kentucky WR Taywan Taylor (Comp Pick) THE REASONING: There's a good chance the Jets cut Eric Decker or Brandon Marshall. They've got some quality players ready to step up — Quincy Enunwa, Jalin Marshall, Devin Smith — but none is really the game-breaker. That's who Taylor is. He plays primarily in the slot, but has the ability to take any screen 40- or 60-yards for the score. He's also fast — below 4.40 40 fast. The Jets could use a bit of that on offense. 5th Round, Pick 6: Boston College S John Johnson THE REASONING: The Jets have questions at safety. Calvin Pryor regressed last year, and there's no guarantee Marcus Gilchrist will be healthy by Week 1. Rontez Miles and Doug Middleton can't be relied on as starters. Johnson gives the Jets a nice, versatile player to develop. He has good size (6-1, 205), can play both cornerback and safety, and is extremely athletic. 6th Round, Pick 7: Arizona State K Zane Gonzalez THE REASONING: The Jets took a punter last year. Gonzalez makes sense this year. Nick Folk was oddly off last season, and cutting him would free $3 million in cap space. Gonzalez is (arguably) the best kicker in the draft class. He also has a cannon for a leg. He connected on 7 of 9 field goals from 50-plus yards in 2016. 7th Round, Pick 6: Washington Edge Rusher Joe Mathis THE REASONING: Bleacher Report called Joe Mathis the "biggest sleeper pass-rusher in the NFL Draft," which should be music to the Jets' ears. He's 6-2, 255 and had five sacks in six games last year (a foot injury ended his season). He's raw, but could be worth developing. New Jets linebackers coach Kevin Greene would love to work with him.
I think that would be a pretty good draft, but with the exception of Gonzalez, I don't know anything about his 4th -7th round picks. The 5th round seems too late to take a S, however, unless he's just for STs. I can't imagine his developing into anything more than into a STs player, and perhaps back up. What I don't like about the draft is: taking a QB in the 1st round and taking Watson not Mahomes (If they're gonna take a QB, I'd rather it be Mahomes than Watson); not drafting a RB; not drafting an OT; and waiting until the 7th round to take an edge rusher. Also, if White is only a slot CB, that doesn't really help. They need a new #1 CB. That said, there's no way the Jets will be able to address all their positions of need in this draft.
On first reading he seems to "check all the boxes", but as you look at hi choices - and where he makes them - more closely, it leaves a lot to be desired. I certainly don't have a problem taking a QB with their first pick, but I've swung all the way over to Mahomes now, although if he were surprisingly taken before they picked, I would take Watson. I wouldn't take a CB with their 2nd pick. I'd probably take the best pass rusher available, or the best OL, or the best TE. I think that a really good, two-way TE would be a great boost for the offense - more options in the passing game, as well as helping out on the OL. But pass rushers are hard to come by, so if a good one was there in the 2nd round, I'd take him and look for the other two needs in the next couple rounds. Hopefully they can find a S/CB and RB in the later rounds too. As an alternative, I think the Jets take Fournette or Cook at #6, and pray like hell that Mahomes slips to their 2nd pick, but I dont think he will. But if he did, great! The Jets will have revamped their offense in 2 rounds. If not, they've still upgraded it and provided a lot of relief for whoever their QB is this year. This is NOT the approach I would take because as I said, I don't think Mahomes will last to the 2nd round, but I could see Macc "hedging his bets" this way.
I know I'm in the minority but I have had many disagreements with Hughe's post -game and Jets personnel comments. "If Hackenberg develops and looks good this preseason and next, the Jets have trade bait" He says Hackenberg won't be ready by 2018, yet they should use him as trade bait while drafting another QB in the first round this year IF he improves?? Jets will never admit to the mistake of drafting Hackenberg by drafting a QB in the first round in 2017. That would be the reach of all reaches. Ringling Brothers may be out of business but there is another circus still in town if this happens...3 wet behind the ear QB's...wow...
LOL Everyone has panties in a bunch for the number six pick...To me the course of action is to trade down since imo the top ten are nothing to crazy Fournette Watson Mahomes makes no sense WITHOUT A SOLID OL Giacommini Clady Mangold all will be gone....then what? Look at the Cowboys...... drafting Zeke and DAk were logical given the protection (line) they already had! So as I have posted before your BEST defense is a great OFFENSE....something the Jets have to find...fast!! Sorry...but SBs are not won by a couple of CBs.... The luxury of a fine tuned D is NOT ours Go plug your holes in D with some YOUNG FAs (26 year old tops) With a lot of CBs in this draft its dumb to get one at 6 when a quality guy is waiting at Round 4... The first 3 rounds? Trade the heck down (if possible} ..If not take your chances on some OLs TEs ...BUILD THAT LINE
If the Jets are stuck at 6, you want them to take a lineman with question marks or OJ Howard? Now that's LOL worthy!
