I've been mostly pleased with his performance since being signed. Plenty of offensive lineman who find a home later on in their career. I'm semi-interested in seeing what he can do at center. He was the Rimington trophy winner after all
Elflein has been below average for most of his career, as he went from starter to backup with Minny. I haven't focused on him, but I've been seeing positive comments about him in the media and on Twitter, so I think he should be retained. I think he's probably better as a backup rather than a starter, but why not let him compete for a starting job? Even if the Jets sign Thuney or Scherff or draft a Wyatt Davis or Trey Smith, Clark and Elflein could compete for the other starting job unless Douglas both signs one of Thuney/Scherff and drafts one of Davis/Smith. Even then, we'd have two solid backups at OG and have good depth.
If Jets want to keep him as backup it’s fine, but watching him be a weak link on that line is what I’m basing my opinion on. He struggled to maintain the pocket stable for Darnold, every time they dropped back to pass. Maybe that’s why Becton was beat by Garret a couple of times because he was trying to pull double duty with helping Elflein to maintain pocket integrity so he couldn’t get his feet moving fast enough to makeup for Garrets speed. My opinion is Elflein needs to be replaced with a better guard.
I agree, but he's not the worst we've had there. I really hope JD improves every single spot on the OL (except LT of course).
I’m ok with McGovern at center for now, he has been good. Honestly the poor guard play puts the oline in bad situations. I would prioritize replacement of 2 guards and RT, obviously it can’t be done in one season however that’s what I would do.
McGovern is ok but a little small to take on the more powerful interior guys straight up. I don’t mind him staying but that needs to be taken into account.
He’s the same size as Nick Mangold, 6’4, 300lbs, I know he’s not as good as Mangold but his size is not the problem at this point. He doesn’t have the quickness and feet that Mangold had but he can hold the fort down for a while if needed.
If team could somehow manuever the cap long term to retain them all,team could rebuild entire OL w 3 very good prospects & still have picks to add weapons & CB/edge. not oppossed to Sewell at 2 assuming their is a financial strategy in mind in order to retain he & Becton in 5 yrs.Sewell played RT in HS & Becton flipped between R/L throughout college.Theyll figure it out.But its nasty,its potentially all time special & its a foundation to build around. Both Trey Smith & Creed Humphrey are very good interior options on late day 1/early 2. Jake Curhan has started 3 yrs at RT for Cal,has quick nasty hands & really nice initial surge off the snap.If he bends well enough he could be a very good guard in a yr or so.
Strange because he looks small but you’re right. He measures out a little bigger but I also feel like Mangold filled out some in the NFL, and surely had better technique. He looks shorter than Darnold in-game and Darnold is 6’3”
If we stay at 2 it comes down to 3 players. Fields, Sewell and Rousseau period. Any other prospect isn’t realistic! Fields - I’ve been very critical of his play vs stiff competition(Indiana/NW) and he needs to improve from being a one read athletic QB. On a positive note he’s definitely a winner with good size athleticism and a strong arm. Sewell - He sat out this season and that’s really the only knock on him. Quick feet with powerful hands and incredible awareness. Rousseau - Sat out the season because he knows he’s a top 5 pick in any draft. Incredible first step with a variety of inside and outside moves. If I had to put money on it I’d say Sewell but Rousseau could sky rocket with a amazing pro day and combine
While this is true, I think I hate this argument since let's be honest, every position has examples of superstars that were not first round picks. The top teams have hit it big with multiple non-first rounders, regardless of position.
I’m not giving you examples of superstars, I’m saying you don’t need 5 first round picks to have a good offensive line, and smart teams generally do not invest first round picks in back to back years at the same position.
If 1 prospect didn’t work out and there is another one with it? Yes. I mean smart teams don’t generally don’t screw up prospects the way Darnold was but at this point that’s irrelevant, it’s already done.
Green Bay used their 1st and 2nd round picks on DBs in 2017 (Kevin King and Josh Jones) and 2018 (Jaire Alexander and Joshua Jackson), then used another 1st rounder in 2019 on Darnell Savage. They also doubled up at DB in 2015 and using a 2014 1st rounder on Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Pittsburgh used three straight 1st rounders on LBs (Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier and Bud Dupree), then made it 4 in 5 years with TJ Watt. San Francisco used three straight first rounders on the D-Line (Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas) from 15-17. Then took two more with Bosa in 19 and Javon Kinlaw. New England used both of their 2012 1st rounders on LBs in Chandler Jones and Hightower. Obviously a long time ago, but they did back-to-back 1st rounders on Ty Warren and Wilfork, and 3 in 4 years with Seymour. Seattle took OT's in back to back years with Russell Okung and James Carpenter. Tennesse went back-to-back linemen with Chance Warmack and Taylor Lewan, then made it 3 in 4 with Conklin. Dallas did something similar with Tyron Smith in 2011, then Travis Frederick and Zack Martin in 13 and 14.
No, but smart teams usually do everything they can to ensure that the QB they drafted in the top 3 develops and succeeds. The Jets haven't been a "smart" team in decades, if ever since the days of Weeb Ewbank.
