Rebuilding the Jets franchise

There are many ways to rebuild a franchise: through the draft, through FA acquisitions, through trades, through player development...the list goes on and on. Here is my take on how the Jets should rebuild the franchise into a conference power.

As we decided earlier, the Jets team needs include: CB, DE, FS, ILB, WR, all-around RB, QB heir, and OL/DL depth.

Let me begin with FA acquisitions. The Jets have brought in a TON of talent this offseason (Faneca, Pace, Woody, etc) but there are two guys that are still out there for the taking that I think would benefit the Jets team.

1) Chris Henry, WR. Measurables: 6'4, 200 lbs, 25 years old, 4.4 40.
The following was taken from a draft site after he graduated WVU :
Strengths: He possesses excellent size, he is fast enough to stretch defenses and he is a threat to make plays in the vertical passing game. Henry shows good leaping ability, he has the height to win most jump balls and he is a threat in the red zone. He possesses good body control and he will adjust to the ball while it's in the air. Henry shows good burst after the catch, he has the change-of-direction skills to make the first defender miss and he is capable of turning the short gain into the big play. He plays with a mean streak and he looks to throw blocks downfield.

What most of you know about Chris Henry are his legal troubles. It is important to keep in mind that half of the Cincinnati team has had legal troubles, and a change of scenery combined with a tight leash could turn this young WR's career around. Henry is a tall wideout at 6'4 who was considered a Randy Moss type of talent before his legal troubles kept him off the field. The Jets and Favre could really use a tall, fast, sure-handed WR like Henry. The Jets would be able to sign him close to the league minimum since he is suspended for the first 4 games of this upcoming season, and if he falls into trouble again he could just be cut, but I doubt he will since it would likely lead to an indefinite suspension from the league. This acquisition does not necessarily eliminate the WR need, but it does pretty much shore up the WR core.

2) Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, DE. Measurables: 6'5, 265 lbs, 29 years old.
While 29 years old, AG-B is only heading into his 4th NFL season. One of the Jets biggest weaknesses is the DE position, and while this doesn't eradicate the weakness it certainly helps by adding an experienced DE who has only known the 3-4 DE positions during his NFL career with the Raiders, Chargers and Dolphins. I have a lot less to say on AG-B than I do on Chris Henry. He would be a cheap acquisition (league vet minimum) since he was undrafted and has been a "journeyman". Oh, and his first and last name together mean "Great big man come save me" (his great-great-grand father was over 7 feet tall and was the peace keeper in his village in Nigeria). This acquisition changes the need of DL depth to just NT depth.

After those two acquisitions, it is time for trades.
1) Musa Smith and a 2009 7th rounder to the Broncos for a 2009 5th.
The Jets backfield has some expendable characters, one in particular being Musa Smith, a power back that was acquired from the Ravens. The Jets picked up rookie Jehuu Caulcrick who will serve as a short-yardage power back, which makes Smith the most expendable back the Jets have (Chatman being a close 2nd). The Broncos just lost Ryan Torain whose role was to bring the power in between the tackles. The only RBs they have left are Selvin Young and rookie Anthony Alridge, two speedsters. The Broncos could use Smith a lot more than the Jets could, and the Jets could use Smith to move up a few rounds in the draft.
2) Chris Baker and a 4th in 2009 to the Bengals for a 3rd in 2009.
Baker has been whining ever since the Jets drafted Dustin Keller, and with newly acquired Bubba Franks' relationship with Favre, Baker is the most expendable TE on the team, as well as an unneeded unhappy camper. The Bengals have a dynamic passing game, but one of their weaknesses is the lack of a TE. Baker is a good TE and could make an impact on the Bengals, and when coupled with a 4th in 09 would warrant a 3rd in 2009. I want to trade for a 3rd in 2009 because I see the Jets losing a 3rd to the Packers since I think Favre will take all of the snaps during the season but the Jets falling just shy of the playoffs.
3) **After the season is over** Kellen Clemens, Brad Smith and a 2010 3rd to the Bears for a 2009 2nd.
Clemens is not the long-term answer as quarterback and with Ratliff taking snaps with the second team now Clemens is nothing more than a 3rd string QB to the Jets. There are also some decent veteran QBs slated to be UFAs in 2009 that I would rather have then Clemens, including Kyle Boller, Chris Simms, J.P. Losman, and ex-Jets Pat Ramsey and Brooks Bollinger. The Bears will end this season just as they started it in one respect: two QBs that are not the answer in Chicago. Grossman will likely be gone and even if Orton secures the starting QB spot, the Bears will be in need of an experienced backup. Clemens can probably beat out Orton and Grossman if he stays for the starting QB job their as well. Brad Smith became very expendable after the acquisition of Chris Henry. Smith has potential as a WR but has not and in my opinion will not realize it in New York. The Bears receiver include: the old Marty Booker, the average Brandon Lloyd, and the unproven Devin Hester and rookie Earl Bennet. The rest are either bad or unheralded rookies. The Bears could use Smith at WR who could be the replacement for soon to be retired 6'2 Marty Booker. A package of Clemens, Smith and a future 3rd should be enough to get the Bears 2009 2nd.

Predicted season outcome: 9-7 just missing the playoffs.

Now the Jets have the following draft picks: 1, 2, 2(Chicago), 3(Cincinnati), 5, 5(Broncos), 6 and the following team needs: CB, DE, FS, ILB, all-around RB, OL depth, NT depth, and QB heir. *Everyone drafted will be drafted in their projected round. If not in projected round, I will make a comment about it*

2009 Draft
1) Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State.
Measurables: 6'0, 200 lbs, 4.4 40. Jenkins is the best corner in college football. He is big, strong and fast and excels in both man and zone coverage. It is likely he would have been the first corner taken in the 08 draft had he not elected to go back to Ohio State for his senior season. Jenkins can provide an immediate impact at corner and start from day one. If he is off the board, although I doubt it in the early-mid 1st round, look for this pick to be Vontae Davis of Illinois. At this point I give Jenkins the edge over Davis. This pick makes CB Justin Miller expendable, but I like him as a nickel back on the Jets D. Also, now CB Dwight Lowery can make the move to FS where I believe he can be a very good player. Lowery just does not have the top end speed that is needed to be a good corner in the NFL. **However, if for some reason Lowery proves me wrong and proves himself as a starting NFL CB, than this pick will become 6'4 230 lbs 4.3 40-running FS Taylor Mays out of USC.** Either way, two of the team needs (CB and FS) are now taken care of with one pick.

2a) Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU.
Measurables: 6'5, 295 lbs, 4.8 40. Many of you believe Jackson to be a 1st round pick, some even a top 15 guy, but I think he will be taken in the 2nd round. NFLDraftScout has him rated as a 3rd round prospect but I think he will go higher just based on his measurables. Jackson has underperformed at LSU, and it will be hard for him to have a breakout senior campaign with Dorsey gone. Despite not having stupendous seasons Jackson is still a premier talent and a perfect candidate for the 3-4 DE position. His numbers also suffer from teams running the ball away from him. Jackson will be a perfect fit in the Jets 3-4 D and will be able to start before his rookie season ends if not right away. This pick takes care of the DE need.

2b) Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida.
Measurables: 6'3, 245 lbs, 4.65 40. With Mauluga, Laurinaitis, Beckwith and Ellerbe all entering the 2009 draft, Spikes, if he chooses to enter early which is the 90% nod right now, will probably be a 2nd rounder. While he is not overly fast for an ILB, Spikes is extremely physical and hits like a ton of bricks. He is good in coverage and plays with a mean streak as well. I like Spikes a lot as a 3-4 ILB, and it should not take him long to take the starting spot over Eric Barton. The addition of Spikes will make the Jets LB core one of, if not the, best in the NFL with Gholston, Pace, Harris and Spikes. This pick eliminates the ILB need.

 

3) Derrick Williams, WR/KR, Penn State.
Measurables: 6'0, 196 lbs, 4.3 40. As a PSU fan, I am confident that Williams will be available in the 3rd round of the 2009 draft. I believe Williams to be a dynamic player worthy of a 1st round selection, just as I did for Dan Connor and Justin King last year (4th rounders projected to be 1st rounders) and Paul Posluszny two years ago (2nd rounder projected as a 1st). For some reason, with the exception of Tamba Hali and Levi Brown, my Nittany Lions have been slipping in the draft. I also think Williams' will suffer from the re-introduction of the spread offense in Happy Valley. While he did have a breakout freshman season in this offense, I think the problems at QB and an offense that won't highlight deep balls to the speedster will drop him in the draft a round or two. Williams brings speed, hands and true playmaking ability to the table. Also, if Leon Washington leaves New York to procure a bigger role in a different offense, the Jets will also need a kick returner, which D-Will can serve as. The drafting of Williams would give the Jets one of the better WR cores in the league as well with Coles, Cotchery, Henry, Clowney, Stuckey and Williams. He is also the future replacement for the Jets' current speedster Coles. This pick 100% eliminates the WR need.

5a) Paul Fanaika, OG, Arizona State.
Measurables: 6'6, 336 lbs, 5.3 40. Fanaika, if you haven't noticed, is a huge dude who started all 13 games last year at right guard. Also is a versatile lineman who is capable of playing other positions on the line (mainly RT). Earned Most Improved Offensive Player Award for the Sun Devils last year. Fanaika would provide great depth along the Jets offensive line, primarily at RG. Also earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors. This pick helps but does not eliminate the OL depth need.

5b) Ramon Foster, OT, Tennessee.
Measurables: 6'5, 325 lbs, 5.2 40. Foster is another big, versatile lineman. Started at RT every game his junior season and will start at RT for his senior season. Has also started at LG earlier in his collegiate career. Helped keep Erik Ainge on his feet while starting on college football's best line (only 4 sacks allowed all season). What I love most about him? He broke his thumb in pre-game warm-ups against Vanderbilt. What did he do? He taped it up and played every down. My boy. With this pick, OL depth as a need is taken care of

6) Sammie Lee Hill, DT, Stillman.
Measurables: 6'4, 330 lbs, 5.1 40. SLH provides nice depth at the NT position and I believe he is strong enough (certainly big enough) to be a NT in the Jets 3-4 defense. He had 4.5 sacks, 4 FF, 1 FR, and 1 INT last year at Stillman. What I like most about SLH? His character - he helped pull a man from a burning house last summer. SLH brings great character and great depth at a position of need to the Jets. This pick takes care of NT depth.

That concludes the Jets' 2008 NFL Draft.

After the draft, the only Jets team needs left are: all-around RB and QB heir.

2010 NFL Season: Jets finish 10-6, make playoffs, lose in first round of playoffs.

There is one dilemma for the Jets in the offseason here: Kicker Mike Nugent becomes an UFA. Do the Jets resign him or let him go? That will be determined by Nugent's play in 2009. I think he finally gets things together and the Jets resign him to a 6 year deal.

FA Acquisitions
The Jets spent a lot, and I mean a LOT, of money on FA acquisitions last year, so they stay conservative and go only after one or two guys, none of which being big name guys. There is only one guy I would like to see the Jets get from the 2009 UFA pool.
1) Kyle Boller, QB. Measurables: 6'3, 220 lbs, ? 40.
Boller will likely not be resigned by the Ravens who have Troy Smith and franchise QB Joe Flacco. Boller has a cannon arm and in case of injury can step in and be able to make all of the throws. He will be a legitimate backup for Favre and the Jets.

The Jets 2010 draft picks include 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 with the following team needs: QB heir, all-around RB, TE depth and, depending on Nugent's status with the team, a kicker.

**Trades
2nd and 4th to a team with a top 5 2nd round pick.
5th and 6th to a team for a late 4th.

2010 NFL Draft
1) Tim Tebow, QB, Florida.
Measurables: 6'3, 238 lbs, 4.55 40.
You might be surprised that I think Tebow will be available in the mid-bottom of the 1st round in the 2010 draft but take a moment to hear me out. By the 2010 draft (2 years from now almost) what teams will need a QB? Not the Dolphins (Henne), Ravens (Flacco), Falcons (Ryan) or any other team in the NFL you've heard about recently. The teams that might be looking for a QB are: The Colts (Manning heir), Bears (will probably draft a QB in 2009 draft like Painter or Caldwell), Saints (Brees heir), Bucs (probably not since they have 1,000 and drafted Josh Johnson), Panthers (Delhomme heir), Chiefs (likely to draft a QB in 2009 draft), 49ers (If Alex Smith does not flourish in 2009 they will likely draft his replacement in the 09 draft) and Pats (Brady heir). Teams like the Pats, Colts, Panthers, and Saints will likely go farther in the playoffs in 2010 than the Jets, assuming as I am that they all make it, so they will not be picking before the Jets. And even if a team before the Jets wants to draft a QB, it will likely be Georgia's standout slinger Matthew Stafford. Tebow is the better fit in NY anyhow, as OC Brian Schottenheimer runs a semi-spread offense. Tebow is the first sophomore to win the Heisman in history and is a talented dual-threat QB with a big arm. People are divided on whether or not he will be a good QB in the NFL, but what you can't deny about Tebow is that he is a bona fide play maker. He can sit one year under Brett if Brett is still around in 2011, and if not, he can sit under Kyle Boller until he is ready to take over the reigns of the offense. This takes care of the QB heir need

2) C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson.
Measurables: 5'11, 193 lbs, 4.4 40. I believe Spiller will stick around until his senior season since he will be sharing the load with two other RBs in 2009 (senior James Davis and hyped 5-star freshman Jamie Harper). Spiller is the lightning in Clemson's "thunder and lightning" backfield of Davis and Spiller. He is super fast, playing faster than his 4.4 40 would make you think. He has good hands out of the backfield and spent all offseason improving his blocking, thus making him an all-around back. Spiller is projected to be a 1-2 round pick in 2010, behind Wells and Keiland William of LSU. I believe Wells will come out in 2009 making Spiller a likely 1st round prospect, but he may stay like Jenkins, Boone and Laurinatis in the event of Ohio State not winning the National Championship in 2009. If Spiller seems like a lock for the first round, then I would add in a 2011 draft pick to move up into the first to get him. I like Beanie Wells better than Spiller, but Wells will likely be off the board early in the 1st in either the 2009 or 2010 draft, and Spiller is an electrifying talent at RB who would fit in perfectly in Schott's semi-spread offense. Thomas Jones becomes expendable with this pick.This takes care of the all-around RB need

4) Andrew Quarless, TE, Penn State.
Measurables: 6'5, 252 lbs, 4.6 40. I had to throw in another PSU player here. Quarless is a good all-around TE but will fall to the 5th because of a drop off in production from PSU TEs and because of his off-field issues (suspended from team momentarily for underage drinking) will fall to the mid-late rounds despite his talent. Since underage drinking is his only off-field issue there is no long-term problem since once he turns 21, drinking will be legal...and who doesn't underage drink in college? He just got caught. Quarless is good depth behind Keller and will be a good #2 TE after Franks leaves the NFL. This takes care of the TE depth need

7) A depth pick wherever depth is needed. If Nugent is not brought back, then this becomes BPA at Kicker, maybe Hunter Lawrence from Texas. This takes care of the K need

2011 season expected outcome: 13-3 and SB Champs with Favre, 10-6 and division champs without Favre.

I do not know much about 2011 prospects and it is too early to look there, but the one need for sure will be LG to replace Faneca with the other possibly being a replacement for DE Shaun Ellis, so look for the 1st and 2nd rounders to be used on those two positions.

Well, that concludes my thread. I hope you all enjoyed my work. If you have any comments just post them here and I will respond. :jets:

 

Oh, and the Jets go on to win the Super Bowl for the next 10 years following the 2011 season.:beer:

 

I know Henry has been in trouble but he is going to get a chance to start fresh somewhere and it might as well be in New York. If he gets in trouble again then he can just get cut. Like I said though, I doubt he runs into trouble again if he plays in a city other than Cincy since he knows its his last chance.

Also, what is wrong with the 2010 draft?

I made this post to show what I would do if I were GM, that's all, and how I would fill the Jets' team needs over the next couple of years.

 

I know its early to look forward, I too am looking forward to the 2008 season, but I'm just giving you a taste of the moves the Jets will make when I'm GM down the road...