Guys… cmon now. Wayne Hunter almost single handedly crashed and burned the Jets out of the playoffs with how bad he was in 2011. He’s one of the few examples you can use of why you CAN’T have absolutely horrendous tackle play.
At this point, the Jets backups at tackle are no worse than Jones. And considering Lawson is all but gone next year and the fact that WMD can help the team this year, I feel it was the right move. WMD is going to be special. You can see it already.
This is exactly what I was going to say. Jones isn't even starting for Pittsburgh right now. It might've been nice to have him as a high-level development prospect considering our uncertainty at both OT spots going forward but he can't even beat out Dan Moore at LT who was PFF's 77th rated OT last year. WMD on the other hand has looked pretty good so far in the PS. I was skeptical of the pick at the time but I've come around on it, granted it's a VERY small sample size against mostly inferior competition. You can never have enough pass rush in this league now.
I like McDonald and he has looked good. But I also like Huff, Johnson, Lawson, etc… at tackle we have no one
While I really wanted JD to take a Tackle with the first pick, the simple fact was that there was no one that good available, unlike the year before when he took Sauce instead of a consensus "can't miss" tackle. While Gardner has exceeded even the high expectations placed on him coming out, sometimes you have to make a hard choice about your highest need is. Then, as now, that need was securing a stud Tackle. Having made that choice then didn't mean that he would have a chance to take a great tackle this year. To his credit Douglas didn't force it and try to "make up" by grabbing a lesser player. With Becton seeming to show he can become at least above average if not great, that miss might not be as big. But Douglas still needs to upgrade the OL with better, and more durable, talent.
Gardner has been a home run. He has to be Douglas's best pick. He has hall of fame written all over him. Couple that with Reed and we have one of the best pair of corners in a passing league.
I'm not saying Sauce was a bad pick, just that sometimes you have to choose between two things you really really want. Having made that choice last year doesn't mean Joe got a chance to have a "do over" and grab a great tackle this year. Just like when Macc decided he didn't need a QB as badly as a "HOF" Safety and the next year felt forced to take Darnold who clearly wasn't close to Mahomes. That's how the draft works. Rather than try to force a "do over" and just take the best Tackle available this year, Douglas went with the BPA, which was the right choice IMO.
Mac was a fucking idiot. He thought he was good at QB because he drafted Hackenberg. Talk about delusional.
You never know though… Maybe he decides to stay on a reworked deal, maybe he leaves, maybe he balls out now that he’s two years out from his Achilles injury… Lot’s of unknowns Personally I love having a bunch of solid to very good to possibly great edge rushers…it’s the single most disruptive piece of the defense…and maybe I’ve got PTSD after literally decades of not drafting DE’s, but I am not going to complain about having a plethora of edge rushers…you can argue that after QB, it’s the most important position on the team
One of the problems with corners is usually that they are inconsistent year to year. Jalen Ramsey is a good example. By name recognition he’s good every year but that really hasn’t been the case. Ikem Ekwonu has supposedly been great for the Panthers. I have a friend that will agree with you to no end that the Jets should’ve opted for a franchise LT rather than a franchise CB that year. For me, it’s tomato/tomato. You can lose games at both spots and win games at both spots. Left tackle just feels easier to make the case for because it’s apart of protecting your most valuable asset.
I loved Ekwonu coming out. He struggled early in camp too, these people would be celebrating that like they are with Broderick Jones There's really nothing better than a beast LT. I mean I guess QB of course but that's it. Recently I watched a segment on the best offensive lines in the NFL and the teams they had listed were also some of the best teams in the league, no surprise. as for Sauce he may get the Revis treatment this year. Hard for me to see a sophomore slump if the ball never goes in his direction
Diana Russini The Jets are hoping to get LT Duane Brown back this week. The veteran is undergoing tests today and if cleared, he’ll be removed from the PUP list, per team sources. The Jets should know more tomorrow.
Hopefully the staff just let him get to 100% and knew that as a vet, he could stay in shape and only need 3 weeks to get ramped up
Another “bonus” to that situation is Turner and Mitchell got a ton of reps against 1’s this offseason. Obviously they both struggled mightily but maybe that could help in the event either of them have to fill in for a few weeks.
