If he doesn't pan out over the next year or so, but the team around him is built to win, then maybe they acquire a legit starter (like the Rams last year and Broncos this year) and go for it. Hopefully not the case though
The way you beat elite quarterbacks is to keep them sitting on the bench. Once they're on the field, you're not going to stop them, but can only hope to slow them down. To be successful in the AFC, we need a strong offense that doesn't just score points, but that consistently grinds out 5 yards at a time to limit the opponent's offensive snaps. That means a dominant offensive line. Not just good or even very good, but "Tom Brady, go lie down and take a nap 'cuz we're going to be out here a while" good. I love Becton/AVT/Fant/Tomlinson, but I would still pick another offensive lineman in the first round because we need to be even better than that if we're going to grind out yards. I also love the fact that we signed a couple of strong TEs, which helps grind out yards too. I would love to see us draft Tyler Algeier. He doesn't have an elite top gear, but he is a phenominal grind-it-out power runner and who could also be a great lead blocker for MC. He is projected to go later in the draft, but he would have an extra high value in an offense that needs to do what we need to do to keep our opponents' elite QBs sitting down. It may be counter-intuitive, but the best way to consistently beat elite AFC QBs is with a dominant offensive line of our own. (And yes, use the other 1st round pick on a great Edge, because that helps too.)
The need for elite units are exactly why even Hutch might fall to #4. Jax could still draft OT to protect their prize QB, open up the run game for their 1sr rd RB and give time for there top paid WR - turn a good unit to great/ zag instead of zig. There will be starting quality EDGE in the 2nd and again next year. Detroit needs every position. On the D, they have a lot of draft capital invested in the 2ndary and might want to double down on a hometown hero to have a scary good backfield for years to come and turn a good unit to great/ zag instead of zig. There will be starting quality EDGE in the 2nd and again next year. Houston have 2 top 15 picks this year and need every position. They are said to like Walker’s long limbs. Hutch has little TRex arms. There is a world where Hutch drops to 4.
It's not about looking at what other teams have and making moves to surpass them. It's about consistently looking at your own team and making it better. If JD worries about the Jets alone he will ultimately win it all. I personally believe card stacking yourself against other teams is the wrong approach.
You stole my post! Truth is until you can put Zach Wilson's name on that list we're going to struggle to compete. We can't compete with the bad teams right now so let's get to that point before we worry about the elite teams
This draft has really good options at edge, WR, RB, TE, and CB. There is no excuse to not add playmakers to this team through the draft. I expect a home run from JD. Expect is the wrong word. It's the Jets after all. I'm praying for a home run Is more acceptable.
by the time Joe is done rebuilding through the draft, they'll all be retired, so don't worry about it.
Excellent post! Thanks. I bolded your first sentence because it is the key sentence. Unfortunately, a number of Jets fans (both here and on Twitter) are under the delusion that we need to build a great D to stop those QBs, as if we could. No one stops a great QB. As you said, all we can do is try to slow him down a little, keep him off the field, and score ourselves almost every time we have the ball. Long, clock-eating drives will keep opposing QBs glued to the sideline/bench and they can't hurt us from there. That is precisely why the very idea of drafting one WR and using the rest of the draft on D is a horrible idea and not the way to go. To begin with, we only have 4 WRs including Mims, so we need at least 2 more WRs. We need better OL depth. We need another RB to pair with Carter. We can't really rely on Coleman, as he can't stay healthy, and Johnson can't be trusted. Also with this very strong and deep TE class, it would be almost criminal to not draft another TE in the 4th or 5th round. Injuries happen, and if the unthinkable happens and one of Uzomah or Conklin get hurt, we need a quality backup that can step in and the Jets continue to run 12 formations. We don't need or want Griffin or Wesco playing. IMO 5 of the 9 draft picks should go to the offense, and maybe 6. Build that strong offense that will all but guarantee that Zach will develop, and that can keep opposing QBs off the field.
Don't make the mistake of thinking the Jets are the Bengals. We're still several years away from being relevant in the AFCE or the AFC in general. JD has a plan, but it might take his entire contract to see it thru. 2023-24 season should be just about right.
The Bengals were incredibly balanced on offense, they had a QB with 4,800 yards passing, 2 receivers that went over 1000 yards receiving and a RB that had 1200 yards rushing. Until JD builds a team that can achieve that type of balance they will stay a bottom dwelling team.
The quickest way to get competitive is to win the TO battle. Zach did a great job towards the end of the season in not turning the ball over. Can he continue to do that while also making more plays ? many, many good points in multiple responses in this thread. We will need several of those points to be realized to enable us win that TO battle, but playing smart efficient football will make us competitive. any nfl team that goes +2 should win 75% of those games.
And that is precisely why the majority of draft picks in this draft should still go to the offense. Get the offense pretty much set this year, then they can use the next couple of drafts to fix the D. It also makes sense to do this from a practical standpoint, as it takes a while for an offense to come together, get everyone on the same page, having a cohesive OL unit, and having WRs, TEs and RBs in sync with the QB, whereas the D doesn't require the same level of coordination. Each player there has his assignment, and he just has to follow through and not freelance.
I believe Robert Saleh himself said something similar to Joe Douglas, which is why they came up with this offense-first strategy last year and this year. Saleh is confident in himself to coach whichever 11 guys he has to the best of their ability on defense. That is why he and Douglas have tried everything they can to give LaFleur the best players possible on offense. Obviously the plan did not quite work last year, as the defense was atrocious, but they also lost Saleh's key piece in Carl Lawson before the season ever began. I think fans should be happy the Jets have focused on the offense so much recently, as they clearly neglected that side of the ball for a decade.
I totally agree with your post in theory. however, last season the opposite occurred. Teams kept us off the field for long stretches, and when Zach finally got a chance he was either rusty or rushing to catch-up. what would change in that regard no matter how good our O could reasonably expect to be w a second year developing QB ? so, IMHO, we have to have equal growth and progression on both sides of the ball to become successful.
Allen and Jackson are not elite, they’re just good solid QB’s. Watson and Mahomes are going to have trouble maintaining great talent around them due to cap issues. The situation may look hopeless but for a team with a good young prospect it is not. The Fins have a decent shot at contending despite all the QB talent and to a lesser extent the Pats and Raiders also.
Can't agree about Allen. He's been elite the last two years and who knows what happens if his team won the OT coin toss at KC. We have to deal with him for the foreseeable future and it'll be annoying because he can beat a team in so many ways.
