At this point, I think keeping Darnold until the draft is JDs plan. It gives him the most flexibility he can stay at two and draft a QB and then either trade Darnold or keep him to compete or let the rookie sit for a year he can trade down from two and keep Darnold or use him in any trade scenario either way he maintains options...other teams will not know if JD will draft a QB, keep Darnold, etc. it’s just flexibility if instead he trades Darnold now, then he’s pretty much locked into using the two for a QB or else maybe trading down but only a few spots it’s fascinating to watch this play out
Haha, I thought the same thing. If I were a GM these days I'd play the Schefter and LaCanfora's of this world to the hilt for leverage.
I'm guessing JD wouldn't need a smokescreen to drive interest in the #2 pick as I think there'd be plenty of interest in it from QB needy teams. I think any smokescreen needed would be the opposite in that they'd throw possible signals of entertaining packages for both the #2 pick and for Darnold....messaging that the Jets are locked in to the #2 pick would only further depress a depressed asset (Darnold) and for the life of me can't see any benefit to playing it that way...I think this is very likely the complete truth and that they haven't seen anything remotely good yet in terms of offers for Darnold...again, total guessing on all of this from my end.
Keeping Darnold can up the trade package for #2 on draft day. He has a fall back plan and let someone blow them out of the water with an offer to not take a QB. It's a bit telegraphed if we deal him for a 4th rounder that we're going into the draft needing a quarterback. Great take man.
Yeah, it's fascinating for sure. The best part is, there's no do-or-die aspect to the whole scenario, as we've encountered in the past. None of the outcomes/choices are catastrophic (assuming Douglas is at the very least competent, which I think he is well in excess of). The Jets are currently a bad team that is set up very well to become good in the future.
It's pretty clear at this point that JD has no interest in over-weighting 2021 vs 2022 or 2023. Belichik on the other hand has put his thumb on the scale heavily towards 2021 at the cost of 2022 and 2023. It'll be interesting to track results and see who knew what they were doing in the end.
I think the only catastrophic move would be simultaneously not trading down from #2 and not picking a QB in the first round. My preference is drafting Wilson at #2 and spending the other early picks on offense but I could talk myself into trading down for a haul and drafting a different QB in the first round. I agree we're set up very well to become good in the near future. We have a young team, lots of cap space and a ton of premium picks in the next 2 drafts. Furthermore, it looks like we're finally building for the long term instead of constantly selling out for the immediate future.
I think it's true to some extent that both Joe and Saleh like Sam. I think the organisation as a whole loves the kid. He's a great kid and does have potential. Do they think he'll Excell?... probably not. Do they think he's could be a decent player like Jimmy G? Yes. So we have a decent QB who we hope could still grow if we had to keep him, and I think we keep him until the draft or someone gives us a great offer. This means that we focus on FA and the draft. Go to the pro days, have the zoom meetings, chat with agents and coaches and do another 5 weeks of solid digging around these top prospects. Then on draft day we take the one we love. What if we like 1 QB better than Sam and we trade Sam, then something bad happens with the player or medicals etc before the draft. We would then have to take a plan C option and not be able to trade down and keep Sam for another day. Watson is a dream, but he's well out the conversation. This is all about the draft, and I think Joe would rather have Sam now and go into the draft flexible and say get a third later, than grab a second now and lose that flexibility. Sent from my M2007J20CG using Tapatalk
At this point I would be greatly disappointed with anyone other than Wilson with our first pick in this draft. We don't know the future, but as far as prospects go, it looks like there are clear top 2 QBs in Lawrence and Wilson who are ahead of everyone else (pending Wilson's measurements and physical). There are some people like Simms and Jenkins who think Zach is even better, but given the size, Zach's injury history, not having a great season while injured a year before, Lawrence's 3 year of production as well as marketability, Lawrence is a safer bet at #1. Zach is not falling below #2 though. At #3, there is quite a bit of a debate among respected QB evaluators. Fields, Mac, and now Mond entered the conversation there. Lance is also possible at QB3. So, to me it is very simple: keep the #2, run to the podium to pick up Wilson, and focus on the rest of the draft.
I think Justin Fields is easily the second best QB In this draft. From production, to skill, to tangibles. Easily In my opinion. If we take Wilson. I will support It. However. I do not believe he is the next big thing. I don't think he has proven anything significant because of his cake schedule. I'm not In love with his overall play at QB either. His injury history is definitely a concern and his frame makes that an even bigger concern moving up to the NFL. If we miss. AGAIN. I will lose my fucking mind. Especially if Fields becomes amazing In the NFL, we had the ability and option to make someone like him, OURS, but passed him up for someone else. I can't handle that. We could've had Mahommes. We could've had Watson. When the fuck do we get this thing right?
The odds are stacked heavily against us as Jets fans, but it would be amazing if we ended up with Wilson at #2 and he becomes the best QB in the draft
I agree with your take on Wilson, I'm not entirely sold on him. I've been saying that for a while, but the Alabama game really concerned me with Fields. I just do not see him becoming a fqb. That may solely just be on my opinion, which I have been wrong MANY times before, but his abilities concern me. This is agonizing to think about. This our chance. We can't screw this up again
I really hope we don't waste this golden opportunity to fleece some desperate team in a trade down. We could really set ourselves up very well for years if we do it right.