This is the first of most likely my many mock off-seasons, I always have fun doing these. Anyway, I see these mock off-seasons that have us signing all these big name guys, and that is not how our franchise works (sadly). So this is the perfect/realistic off-season, yet very optomistic as well, #1. 1. Signings OG - Justin Smiley: This is our "big" signing. I don't think he is happy in SF, and would be a great addition to our offensive line, providing a very solid LG. Also, he is young at only 25 (26 next year). CB - Randall Gay: A restricted free agent we looked at this off-season, Mangini really likes him and he would fit very well in this defense. He is the #3/4 CB on the Pats roster right now, and on our roster he would have a shot at being the #2. He would love to come back to his ex-coach. Also, he already has 2 picks this season in limited time. NT - Ethan Kelley: Somebody who hasn't been talked about a lot. He was drafted as a NT for the Pats in the 7th round in '03. He has since learned under the greatest NT of all time, Ted Washington, in Cleveland. Only 27 years old, and is 6-2, 340 lbs. Absolutely perfect. DE/LB Travis Laboy: 6-3, 260 lbs. on the Titans. Would be what we signed David Bowens to be this here, although this guy should pan out. A very good pass rusher who I think could strive in this type of defense. TE - Kris Wilson: The backup TE to the great Tony Gonzalez in KC. Would do great as our #2 TE, or even battle out Chris Baker and become our #1 TE. A great reciever, and developing pass blocker. 26 years old, drafted in the 2nd round out of Pitt in 2004; Would fit in very well here. 2. Non-re-signings/ Releases TE Sean Ryan LB Cody Spencer FB Stacy Tutt QB Marques Tuiasasopo Cb Hank Poteat SS Erik Coleman (Has not been very good for the past few seasons, time to give the new guys a chance) LB Matt Chatham (although he is not a free agent) WR Justin McCariens (although he is not a free agent) 3. Re-signings FB Darian Barnes - 1 year deal FS Abram Elam - 1 year deal LB Brad Kassell - 2 year deal OL Wade Smith - 2 year deal OT Adrian Jones - 2 year deal LB Victor Hobson - 3 year deal (good thing about this off-season is we don't have anyone really big coming off the books) 4. Trades Trade Jonathon Vilma to Detroit Lions for 2nd Round Pick (thinking of around #14 in second round) Trade our First Round Pick (predicting #5) to the Houston Texans for their First Round Pick (predicting #8) and their Third Round Pick (I believe if McFadden is there, the Texans would be VERY interested to get a dynamic RB, especially after the whole Bush situation which has not turned out in their favor) 5. Draft 1(8) - DE/OLB | Quentin Groves | Auburn: The pefect playmaker at OLB for this 3-4 defense. He is litterally exactly what we are looking for. We already have 3 defensive ends (Ellis, Coleman, Robertson) so Chris Long is not the pick here, although I do like him as well. 2(4) - WR | Limas Sweed | Texas: Although WR is by no means our biggest need, I feel we should get a big tall WR for now and for the future. We need an endzone threat besides Coles, as well as a great #3 wide reciever, in order to give the young Clemens as many options as possible. We don't have that WR and we dont have a big WR threat right now (meaning tall - Sweed is 6-5). I think Sweed would fit very well in the slot, as well as the heir to Coles, who plans to retire in 2-3 years. 2(14) - OT | Barry Richardson | Clemson: We need a big RT who is a great with the run. Will challenge Clement for the starting role, but most likely be his heir for the 2009 season. 3(5) - OLB | Ezra Butler | Nevada: 6-2, 250 lbs. with amazing speed. A small school kid who will rise up into the late 2nd/early 3rd. I know it is the 2nd 3-4 OLB we will have chosen, but it is a position that we have to adress, and we now have fully adressed it. In my plan, we are going to be revamping this system. This will give us plenty of options and mixing and matching, which is exactly what we need. Could be the ying to Quentin Groves yang. 3(8) - DE| Keilen Dykes | West Virginia: 6-5, 300 lbs. and STRONG, perfect for a 3-4 DE. He has all the skills and although will be a project, a great choice right here. 4(5) - S | Quintin Demps | U.T.E.P: I think he will go around here, although he might go higher forcing us to take him in the 3rd, and take a different DE here. But this is a guy I LOVE for the position. He is a ballhawk who has speed and who can hit a bit, and that is exactly what we need to counter Kerry Rhodes. Coleman is not a ballhawk, which means we have to leave Rhodes out to cover in the middle of the field, instead of pressing him up against the line and blitzing like we did last year. Demps and Smith can fight it out for this position, but I really like what Demps has got. 5(5) - NT | Frank Morton | Tulane: 6-2, 330+ lbs., and a great run-stopper; a perfect NT who we can groom and challenge with Kelley. Not much more to say about him. I won't do the rest of the draft, just because I spent too much time doing these explanations. 6. 2008 Depth Chart QB: Kellen Clemens | Chad Pennington | Brad Smith RB: Thomas Jones | Leon Washington | Danny Ware WR1: Laveranues Coles | Limas Sweed | Chansi Stuckey WR2: Jerricho Cotchery | Brad Smith | Wallace Wright FB: Darian Barnes | Joe Kowalewski TE: Chris Baker | Kris Wilson | James Dearth LT: D'Brickashaw Ferguson | Adrian Jones LG: Justin Smiley | Jacob Bender C: Nick Mangold | Wade Smith RG: Brandon Moore | Adrien Clarke RT: Anthony Clement | Barry Richardson LE: Shaun Ellis | Dewayne Robertson | Keilen Dykes NT: Ethan Kelley | Frank Morton | Sione Pouha RE: Kenyon Coleman | C.J. Mosley LOLB: Bryan Thomas | David Bowns | Ezra Butler LILB: Victor Hobson | Brad Kassell RILB: David Harris | Eric Barton ROLB: Quentin Groves | Travis Laboy CB1: Darrelle Revis | Randall Gay | David Barrett CB2: Andre Dyson | Justin Miller FS: Erik Smith | Quintin Demps | Abram Elam SS: Kerry Rhodes | Rashad Washington K: Mike Nugent P: Ben Graham KR: Justin Miller | Leon Washington SS: Darrelle Revis | Leon Washington
Wow, VERY in depth and accurate analysis. This is the type of stuff we should be discussing on this site. A few words from me. ~ You don't see Chansi developing into much? I would think we should pick up a big DE in the second round of the draft if there is one. ~ If Pennington starting, he isn't at the Jets. ~ Three year deal to Hobson? ~ I really like getting two NTs ~ With that, shouldn't Pouha be gone?
~ I see Chansi as potentially a good #4 (possibly a #3 in 2-3 years), and same with Smith, but we need a true #3, and a tall one. And like I said, we have Ellis, Coleman and Robertson, a DE is not necessary. We do still get one in round 3 though... ~ Pennington wasn't starting, he was backing up Clemens ~ Too much? Too little? I think 3 years is perfect because he has been very good for us, but he is out of position. Moving to ILB (where he is more suited) would do wonders for him and our defense. ~ Same. ~ Pouha's contract doesn't run out until next year anyway, so might as well keep him. He supposedly does really well in training camp and practices, so maybe he could compete to start. Also, it is always good to have depth, especially at the most important position in our 3-4 defense.
Yeah, there was a typo there. I meant to say that if Pennington isn't starting, he's not going to be on the roster. I think Hobson should have a 2 year deal, he's not that great. If the rest of our team picks up, he could fit in well though. Two years is a good amount of time to judge him, before we lose him, or resign him. Pouha was way overhyped by Mangini this year. This isn't a dig at you, but if he's so good, why isn't he playing?
I just don't know what we are gonna do with Pennington. I think it would be good to keep him just as a veteran presence for Clemens. I don't know, maybe we could get a 3rd or 4th for him, but I think a better idea would be to keep him as a reliable backup and then decide what to do with him at the trading line next year or the off-season the following year because Clemens is just so unproven (and still will be going into next season). 2 year is fine, either way. 3 years is just a suggestion. Well might as well keep him just for depth. I am not saying he is anything great, or even good, but even if he is just plain old average, (which is exactly what he seems to be) it is good for depth so might as well keep him and not take the cap hit of releasing 1 year early (even though it would be relativley small).
why does everybody wanna trade Vilma, to the Lions especially is there a rumor going around.I dont know maybe im biased Vilma plays for the jets and went to U so he gets a lot of points with me. But the fact that me livin in miami and all i dont really get to see the jets as much as everybody else on this forum, so i dont get to see Vilma play in the 3-4, is he really that bad i dont know i hope he stays.
I must say, this mock off-season was very well planned and quite in depth. I do have a few issues with it. 1. If you're trading down the rights to Darren McFadden, you have to get more than pick #8 and a 3rd rounder. I realize Houston doesn't have their 2nd rounder (Matt Schaub trade), but if trading down only gets me a 3rd rounder, I'd rather take McFadden and see if I can get a 4th rounder for Thomas Jones. I could be wrong, but I think you might be able to get Groves a little bit later than pick #8. 2. Not a big fan of a WR that early. To be fair you took care of the other major needs in FA and round 1 with Groves. 3. I don't have the cap numbers in front of me, but in light of all the free agents signings your adding, is it realistic for both Ellis and Robertson to stay on the team. Robertson would be making an ungodly amount of money for a third 3-4 DE. I think it's very likely that one of the two is gone if they can sign a NT and then use a pick on a DE in the draft. I like Robertson, but I don't know if it's realistic to keep him in that role at this price. 4. If your trading Vilma (have no issue with), I'd probably like/want to add an ILB in the draft.
1. Signings OG - Jake Scott: lots of FAs on Indy's OL; they can't sign everyone. CB - Randall Gay: Jets finish the deal a year later. NT/DT - Randy Starks: 3-4 experience in college, strong, quick, versatile and very young. DE/OLB - Calvin Pace: Like Bryan Thomas, the 3-4 might save his career. TE - Ben Troupe: Under utilized or underacheiver? We will see. 2. Non-resignings QB Marques Tuiasasopo: the journey continues for the journeyman QB. SS Erik Coleman: only cause Mangini does not like him for some reason. LB Victor Hobson: better fit playing inside somewhere else. OT Adrian Clarke: he can start for some teams. LB Brad Kassell: has been a disappointment. TE Sean Ryan: make room for Troupe. 3. Releases CB David Barrett: contract to talent ratio is not very good. WR Justin McCariens: another Badway signing that must move on. 4. Resignees FB Darian Barnes - 2 year deal OL Wade Smith - 1 year deal S Rashad Washington - 3 year deal 5. Trades Jonathan Vilma to the Detroit Lions for their 2nd round pick (assuming #54). DeWayne Robertson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their 1st round pick. Chad Pennington to the Kansas City Chiefs for their 4th round pick (assuming #119) Trade our 1st round pick (assuming #4 and McFadden is available) to the Dallas Cowboys for their 2 1st round picks (assuming #17 and #30). 5. Draft 1(#17) - DE/OLB | Vernon Gholston | Ohio St: Finally a pass rusher. Maybe a bit high for him right now but by season's end and the combine this will not be such a reach. Should have a easiest transition to the OLB position out of the top 3 guys because Ohio St lines him up everywhere and has some experience dropping into coverage. 1(30) - OT | Ryan Clady | Boise St: get them while they're hot. I think there is going to be a run for OTs in this draft so you better grab one before they are gone. Clancy has experience at both right and left tackle and paved the way for Ian Johnson. 2(35) - WR | Early Doucet| LSU: it's a 3 WR league now. If you want to separate from the pack you need a slot guy that going tocreate match-up problems. 2(54) - S | Quintin Demps | U.T.E.P: I don't think Demps will make it to day 2; he might not last to round 3 so I'd grab him here. 3(67) - QB | Chad Henne | Michigan : Chad for Chad. 4(105) - DE | Keilen Dykes | West Virginia: Again we agree on the player but not the round. 4(119) - ILB | Ben Moffitt | South Florida: This will be Barton's replacement at some point. 5(137) - CB | Leodis McKelvin| Troy St: underrated corner and lethal return man. 6(198) - OG | Andrew Radovich | USC: we need talent, depth and competition at the guard spots. 7. 2008 Depth Chart to start the season QB: Kellen Clemens | Chad Henne | Brad Smith RB: Thomas Jones | Leon Washington | Danny Ware WR1: Laveranues Coles | Early Doucet| Chansi Stuckey WR2: Jerricho Cotchery | Brad Smith | Wallace Wright FB: Darian Barnes | Stacy Tutt TE: Ben Troupe | Chris Baker | James Dearth | Joe Kowalewski LT: D'Brickashaw Ferguson | Ryan Clady LG: Jake Scott | Adrien Clarke | Jacob Bender C: Nick Mangold | Wade Smith RG: Brandon Moore | Andrew Radovich RT: Anthony Clement | Ryan Clady | Jacob Bender LDE: Shaun Ellis | Eric Hicks NT: Randy Starks | Sione Pouha RDE: Kenyon Coleman | Keilen Dykes LOLB: Bryan Thomas | David Bowens LILB: Eric Barton | Ben Moffitt RILB: David Harris | Cody Spencer | Ben Moffitt ROLB: Calvin Pace | Vernon Gholston CB1: Darrelle Revis | Randall Gay | Leodis McKelvin CB2: Andre Dyson | Justin Miller FS: Quintin Demps | Erik Smith SS: Kerry Rhodes | Rashad Washington K: Mike Nugent P: Ben Graham KR: Justin Miller | Leodis McKelvin | Leon Washington PR: Leodis McKelvin | Leon Washington
I like it. I completely agree with the Sweed pick. Take a look around the NFL and see what most teams are missing these days: a red-zone threat. Look how well Moss, Plax, Housh are all doing. Granted Housh is evidence that offense doesn't win games alone, but look at the other two teams. They've got those red-zone threats and are winning games big.
Housh isn't any bigger than Cotchery. Moss and Plaxico are the exceptions, not the rule. To put Sweed in the same class as those two is unfair IMO. Also the fact that his season was cut short by injury (albiet not a leg injury), has to be a bit of a concern as well.
1. Well we are only trading down 4 slots, and I do believe the Groves will go top 10 after all is said and done (NFL Combine will help a lot). So I think at the time of the draft, this won't look as silly because Groves stock will rise to top 10 level. And since we are only trading down 4 slots, a 3rd round pick is actually what would be expected to get back if you look at the draft charts and such. 2. I am a fan of getting a WR that early to be an endzone threat. Agree to disagree I guess. 3. We are going to have a good amount (not great though) of cap room this off-season. None of those signings are big signings and Wilson, Laboy and Kelley, and probably Randall Gay as well, will not be getting a substantial amount of money (nothing over 2.5 million per year). So it should not affect us that much. And I think because of Robertson's contract, as well as his lack of production, it will be near impossible to trade him, so might as well stick with him and have some depth. 4. I was thinking about Rodrick Johnson out of Oklahoma State in the 3rd or 4th round instead of Ezra Butler, but I have such a man crush on Butler that I really wanted him. We still have Barton to backup for another year, so we do still have good depth there.
No, he is not in the class of Moss and Plaxico, but you cannot tell me that a big tall WR is not and endzone threat. I see Sweed as a lesser Plaxico. How I really see him as like in Cincy with Chris Henry (not crazy though). Henry got 9 TD's last year in limited time. Sweed could do that for us. Right now Coles is the only one getting TD's. If we had a big tall WR out there it would change the whole defensive scheme for the other team because they would have to cover this big WR and not only focus on Coles anymore. It would spread our offense out A TON! And as for the injury, it is a bit of a concern which is why he will fall to round 2.
I would say that our number priority in the draft should be a true NT. You can't stop the run without reliable men up front.
There aren't any true NT in the first 3-4 rounds of the draft, so that can't happen. I got a true NT in free agency anyway, as well as in the 5th round.
1. I thought history has shown that in general, you usually have to "over pay" based on the chart to trade up. Also, I was looking at some recent draft trades that involved picks in the 5-10 range of the draft. In 04, CLE had to give up a 2nd rounder to go from 7 to 6 (probably an extreme on that end). In 02, KC gave up a 3rd and 6th rounder to go from 8 to 6. In 01, Seattle traded a 3rd and 7th for a 6th to go from 9 to 7. Personally a third isn't enough for me to trade down four spots, but we'll just agree to disagree. 2. I wouldn't mind a tall WR, but I want to see more of what Brad Smith can do before investing a top 35-40 pick on a WR. Of course if there are questions about Coles' future (health/age) then it is a lot easier to sell me on it. 3. I think you are underestimating the price of these free agents. With the amount the salary cap has gone up, the salaries have and will continue to go up. Proof in that is the contract Kenyon Coleman got this spring (4 mil per and a $6 mil bonus). After what Derrick Dockery and Kris Dielman got in free agency last year, I'd be stunned if Smiley didn't cost at least $6 million per. To sign the five guys you mentioned as well as re-signing Hobson, I think you're looking at a minimum of $20 mil in cap room that will be needed (plus another $6-7 mil for picks). For these reasons, I seriously question whether you can afford Robertson and Ellis. Sadly I agree with you about the likely trade value of Robertson. 4. I understand where your coming from. I also look at Barton (age) and Kassell (talent) as stop gaps at best. Going back to my point in #3, Barton might need to be a cap casualty, especially if you want to keep both Ellis and Robertson.
Lots of work from everybody and well done. Here's my little contribution: New GM: Bill Cowher New Head Coach: Dick LeBeau (a 3-4 DC who actually has experience running a good 3-4 defense, familiarity and friendship with Cowher a plus.) New Defensive Coordinator: John Mitchell (the current asst HC/defensive line coach at Pittsburgh, could be asst HC/DC with the Jets.) All other staff remain in place for at least a season for smooth transition. Non-comprehensive list of ideal free agent signings: A good left guard to fill that hole. A good right tackle to fill that hole. This would leave Mangold and D'Brick as the young developing talent and add in two good vets. Moore gets one more season to see if having a good right tackle lets him firm up again. Non-comprehensive list of ideal drafts: A NT on day one. A QB on day one. A DE on day one. Day two picks being the best player available on the pick with trade-downs where fits are bad to build some depth. Players cut during offseason: Justin McCareins (easy target but deservedly so) David Barrett (age starting to show and he was a #2 in his heyday) Chad Pennington (sorry, he's a QB controversy waiting to happen because he's not as old as Vinny and he won't help the Jets win much unless the whole team makes a quantum leap, at which point he becomes a limiter again) Victor Hobson (not a good 3-4 or 4-3 LB as he's pretty conclusively proven at this point, trade him if they can but there won't be many takers) Erik Coleman (has digressed every year since his rookie season, no longer anything like an impact player, trade or cut) Adrien Clarke (not an NFL caliber guard) Anthony Clements (groom a younger guy to replace him) Adrian Jones (if he cannot get on the field now he never will be able to) Players to trade in offseason: Jonathan Vilma (yes, somebody will bite on him for a day one pick, probably a third rounder) Dewayne Robertson (ditto) Andre Dyson (has value and is aging, clearly not a core player on this team nor likely to be one, Jets will have to find a CB to replace him opposite Revis. I bet they can do this on the second day of the draft, see Cowher's record on finding passable CB's for this) Laveranues Coles (very good receiver with value, time to capitalize on that in the post-Chad era, Brad Smith should get first shot at his job, we all think of Smith as the Kordell Stewart/Antwan Randel-El of the Jets but he could just as easily be the Hines Ward, you can look it up) Thomas Jones (should be traded for good value to an immediate contender but probably impossible to do that and cut Chad so this is just a wish, feel free to scoff but he'll be the same age Curtis was when he broke down before the Jets see their big season) Overall picture: complete regime change for COMPETENT proven management, we have anything but at the moment.
Not a chance WR is our second roud pick. That will go to someone along the line (offensive or defensive) assuming it wasn't already addressed in round 1. Like the Groves pick and Smiley signing a ton though.
only wrs i want is manningham or desean, maybe limas or bowman if they somehow falls to the 3rd but thats it.
Okam and Shirley in rounds 1 and 4. Both are listed as 6'5" and 320. And with Okam, he projects anywhere between 13 and top of the second. If the former is true, we maybe trade down a few spots and pick something up....especially if McFadden is on the board when we pick. IF the latter, we can pick up one of the top DE/OLB's and still grab two big time NT's because Shirley has had 2 incidents at Fresno, but by all accounts he's a monster, so you take a flyer in the 4th.
