What I'm saying is that no one in the draft at any position is a sure thing - that gets proven every year; there are no guarantees. If there were, no one would be questioning if Becton has a future here; there wouldn't even be talk about moving him to the right side. The investment has already been made for the tackles and it's time to invest in other needs while we see how the situation develops at LT and RT.
I'm not sure what your driving at here but "if" the Jets selected Ekwonu with the 4th pick, and he started out playing guard while Fant and Becton played tackle how would he not be getting off the bench? Also. If the two edge rushers are gone and you don't take Ekwonu then who would your pick be if you had to make the call?
What I'm getting at is there are needs and wants. The Jets need players all over the field, on both sides of the ball - they want to fill out the OL. Ekwonu is no more of an injury proof sure thing than Becton was - he comes with no guarantee at any position. It is time to address those other needs while it becomes more clear what the OL situation is. Someone in another thread called Ekwonu an insurance policy, kind of like adding another deadbolt to your front door while you have an open jamb where your back door should be.
The single worst disaster of a position for the Jets this season was right guard until they acquire LDT and he at least stabilized it. I don't even think you can quantify how much damage that position did to the team overall and our fair haired young QB in specific (didn't help Mike White either). Also as bad as that was the Jets were (in my opinion) that far to the lucky side on how well George Fant came through as the 2nd string left tackle. If the Jets hadn't acquired Moses and/or Fant had failed to rise to the occasion to the degree he did the Jets would have been looking at a Darnold-esque complete offensive breakdown where the QB simply had no chance. But again if the two big edge guys are gone and you don't take Ikey (and presumably Neal) then who would you be in favor of? It is not apparent to me there are that many other good choices. I think in a sense Ekwonu might have a little bit of being the best house in the poor neighborhood thing going in his favor.
We're always second guessing those things that haven't worked out well but you're taking it to another level in second guessing the OL moves that were an improvement. As I said, the team needs to spread the wealth around a bit and the OL is in decent shape and can be polished up next year; it's not like a run to the Lombardi is on track for this year. As far as your hypothetical question, I watched most of the Notre Dame games this past year and would have no problem taking Hamilton, but as I've said in the past, I'd try to trade back 3 - 4 spots if there was reason to believe he'd still be there.
Interesting to see that Evan Neal showed up at the combine weighing in at 336lbs, thats 24lbs less than he weighted when he entered the Alabama program in 2019 https://tdalabamamag.com/2022/03/03...421101641&mc_cid=ae54cda0fd&mc_eid=38e457cb06 Looks like he means to put on a show at the Bama Pro Day on 30th March
Cross looks like the real deal. I could see that be LaFluers flavour for a OT. i don’t want them to use another first on the OL but if we did I could see Cross as the guy. I’d rather roll with: Becton - AVT - FA Jensen/McGovern - LDT - Fant Resign Moses Draft a G/C in the 4th/5th rounds
I tend to agree, he was avg. at best on the right side, but very good on the left. I'm moving Becton to the right side. Run right, pull AVT...profit.
