https://nypost.com/2020/04/13/nfl-draft-how-the-jets-fared-in-2019-and-looking-ahead/ Jets general manager Joe Douglas will get to conduct his first draft in a little more than a week. He has eight picks to improve the team. But as Jets fans know, the draft can be tricky. Before we get to the 2020 NFL Draft, let’s take a look back at the Jets’ 2019 draft and how former GM Mike Maccagnan’s final class fared in their rookie seasons: First round, No. 3 overall pick — DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama Here is the thing: Williams did not play poorly, but he was not the dominant force that teams hope they are drafting with a top-3 pick. Williams played well against the run and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams praised his versatility in playing multiple positions along the defensive line. Williams played in 13 games. He had 28 tackles, four for a loss. He had 2.5 sacks, six quarterback hits and a fumble recovery. He was slowed by an ankle injury early in the season. Williams is just 22 years old, so it is way too soon to make any pronouncements on how he will turn out. What will define Williams, though, is how others drafted behind him do. Many fans wanted the Jets to take edge-rusher Josh Allen instead of Williams. He had 10.5 sacks as a rookie. If Allen becomes a dominant edge-rusher, it will be tough for Williams to stack up. There is also the issue of Williams’ arrest last month at LaGuardia Airport for trying to board a plane with a gun. All indications are this was a mistake made by a young man who did not understand the law and not a red flag about his character. He will have to pay a price in the courts, though, once they reopen and the NFL likely will come down on him, too. Third round, No. 68 overall pick — OLB Jachai Polite, Florida There are bad draft choices and then there are horrendous draft choices. Polite was the latter. The Jets knew he had character concerns at Florida, but felt they were getting a first-round talent in the third round, so they took the risk. Polite racked up more than $100,000 in fines, according to sources, in four months with the team. He was part of the roster cutdown after training camp. He spent most of last season on the Rams practice squad and they signed him to a futures deal at the end of the season. Fourth round, No. 121 overall — TE Trevon Wesco, West VirginiaOne of the benefits of Chris Herndon being limited to one game in 2019 was it gave Wesco some increased playing time. He was the only rookie to play in all 16 games. While his chances to touch the ball were limited (one rush, two catches), he made the most of them, picking up two critical first downs in the win over the Giants. Wesco also was used as a fullback, a role the Jets should use more in 2020. Fifth round, No. 157 overall — LB Blake Cashman, MinnesotaWith injuries to C.J. Mosley and Avery Williamson, Cashman got some playing time early in the season. He suffered a shoulder injury of his own, which ended his year after seven games. Still, Cashman showed promise both on defense and special teams.
Sixth round, No. 196 overall — CB Bless Austin, Rutgers Austin did not participate in training camp or the first half of the season as he recovered from a knee injury suffered in college. He ended up starting six games in the second half of the season, though, and showed a lot of potential. He should get a chance to compete for a starting spot in training camp this year. Undrafted free agent — DE Kyle Phillips, Tennessee Phillips was not a draft pick but deserves to be included here because he had the best rookie season for the Jets. He played both inside and outside along the line. Phillips had 1.5 sacks, 39 tackles, seven for a loss and six quarterback hits. He should be a big part of the defensive line rotation in 2020. my bad!
Macc may be the worst GM in NFL history, when you consider these awful drafts and the fact he was given TWO free agency splurges, and look at how bad the team is. It's unfathomable.
Every NFL pundit , talent evaluator and GM knows that a First Round Selection must and should be an immediate impact player The sorry fact that a UDFA had a better season for our Defense should be enough to send that waste of a pick Q Williams packing or at least shop for some Trade Value asap
Looks like Mac was getting better as drafts went on. 2 for 20 in his first 3 drafts, then 9 for 12 in the last 2?
Q will never be a wasted pick (like Polite Achaie). The discussion will always be: Controlling the center of the field versus pressure off the edge. In 2019 the Jets were #1 at controlling the center of the line, and Q was a big part of that. Jets stuffed more 3rd and short and 4th and short plays than any other team. Those stops count as turnovers. While stuffing the run on 4th and 1 late in a game, sealing the win, will never get the highlight attention as a strip sack from the edge, it's just as important in terms of wins and losses. But yes, we STILL need outside pressure, but that does not mean Q up the middle was a worthless pick. When we got our Clowney, there will be nowhere for Offenses to run. Championship!
I can see it now. Maccagnan's still the GM and the Jets are on the clock. 2 of the top 4 OT's and 1 of the top 2 WR's is still available, but Derrick Brown is too good to pass up. Oh, I was just having a bad nightmare.
Stuffing the center of the line is something about a dozen 300 pound Phone Booths from rounds 2 and 3 of the draft can do. Again, hardly a dominant player at all QW had 2.5 sacks ...big whoop
I give him a low grade. Quinnen Williams was a poor pick even if he becomes a strong player. The team had glaring crucial needs, such as O-line and WR and NOT interior d-line. The pick made no sense.
Like I said in other posts, Q will be Jason Ferguson. He should be a solid overall DT for a long time....but he wont change games. Solid DT's can be had in the 2, 3 and 4th rounds. He lacks the explosion, strength and tenacity to be Warren Sapp, Aaron Donald or Fletcher Cox. Macc made the pick of least criticism so he wouldn't get killed. Every move he made during his tenure was the move that he felt he needed to make to impress pundits and make himself look intelligent. It's almost like he took the average of the NFL network and ESPN pundits draft rankings and used it as his draft board. A great GM operates from a position of leadership and drives the team forward, using creativity to make smart trades and talent eval to hit on the right picks. He was a great guy apparently, but not a good GM. The last solid GM/drafter this team had (not including Douglas yet) was Mangini/Tanny. Mangini really had a good feel for getting the right players for the most part and putting them in good positions. Ownership got him killed though and forced stupid decisions on him. The best thing the Johnson's could do is give the keys to Douglas, Elhai, Savage and Hogan and let them have full authority--tell them that you will support them 100% financially and operationally in their plan for whatever they need. Those four are more than capable of fielding a solid team.
It would be tempting to do a 2 and 4 for Q--I'm not being sarcastic. Maybe even a high 2-- We do not need him. Shepherd, Fatukasi, Phillips and McClendon are more than adequate for that role. At this point, Bell and Q should be the first players to be traded for ammo. Use the saved money to sign Jamal. Draft a replacement RB this year.
So you guys would like a team full of B and B- players 'because we had a hole to fill at that time'? Pass on Warren Sapp because we REALLY needed to plug a hole at TE? You can't control when top talent guys will become available. Adams, Darnold, Quinnen, etc. First round should ALWAYS be used to grab pure talent that's just not around in later rounds. Plug holes in rounds 3,4,5,6,7. Draft pure talent in rounds 1 and 2, even if it doesn't plug a hole of need. Teams change so fast that having pure talent here and there is NEVER a bad thing.
Polite was a terrible gamble, and that gamble backfired big time. Was a really solid draft otherwise though, especially considering no 2nd rounder as was given up for Darnold (worth it).. Austin and Phillips super deep were great examples of uncovering talent.
You don’t chase needs with the 3rd overall pick. No GM worth a damn would subscribe to that strategy.
Maccagnan was not good at trading back for some reason. A lot of analysts pointed out that he wasn't well connected around the league, more of a film junky who kept to himself and was considered a good scout. This doesn't always make for a good GM. LAst year was an ideal year to get a highest and best offer for that pick. The GM should be well connected around the league and have a good pulse of fair trade values and working the league for mutually beneficial trades. That's why I think Mayock has been good in this area, super well connected. Good news is Joe D is extremely well connected and respected around the league. He will have these important conversations. Also can't hurt having people like Savage, Alexander, Greg Williams and Hogan in the building--these guys are very well known and respected. Just like in any other industry--you do business with people you are familiar with and like.
