Looking back at this draft 2014 may be the best WR class of all time with most of these guys now getting paid. What was John Idzik thinking when he decided not to draft one until the 4th round? Going into it WR was probably the biggest need.
It was a loaded class and for him not to take one or two early was criminal. The guy had 12 picks that he could have used to move up. He was the worst GM we’ve ever had.
Interesting. This has never been discussed. We could have taken the best receiver in the class and it wouldn’t have mattered considering the dog shit we were throwing out there at quarterback. I also don’t blame Idzik on passing on Cooks at the time. We also all wanted a TE in round 2. It’s a whole lot easier to look back in hindsight and say “oh man what an idiot he passed on Devante Adams“ but so did a bunch of other teams. That’s the joy/pain of the draft.
To one posters point he could have easily traded up. Picking 12 players was assamine comsidering there was no way they could all make roster. At the very least he should have traded for picks the following year. I actually don’t think Idzik was as bad as Bradway, but his drafting did really suck
Na. This isn't a case of hindsight being 20/20. We all wanted a WR heading into draft day. And we all knew that class of WR's were the deepest in 20+ years. I personally wanted Sammy Watkins but he went 4th overall to Buffalo. The likes of Mike Evans and Odell Beckham also went before our Jets were on the clock. But to pass on receivers such as Brandon Cooks, Kelvin Benjamin and Marquise Lee with our 1st rounder followed by the passings of Davante Adams, Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry within the 2nd round was a criminal act at the time.
It’s somewhere in the middle. It’s not pure hindsight and it’s not like all of us were sitting here with every receiver pegged as a high-quality pro level guy. I won hundred percent don’t blame him for passing on Cooks, he was an undersized speedy deep threat at the time and you don’t draft a one dimensional receiver in the first round like that. But come on, I remember I have a contingency on this website clamoring for a tight end in the second round. I actually do remember preferring Lee or Landry but I also didn’t kill the pick at the time because it was a need. Yes of course he could have traded up but again this is where hindsight plays in. If he traded up to grab Jordan Matthews at the beginning of the second round we would have been calling it a reach. I’m not excusing his draft as a whole because obviously it was an abomination, but I’m saying we are looking back at this with a little hindsight applied which is never completely fair.
Hard to believe in the 4 years that have followed no one has asked that question before. Anyway the answer is, because hes John Idzik.
Are you saying drafting a TE that can't block in a draft full of talented receivers was a bad idea? who knew
The only TE I talked up heading into the draft was Eric Ebron. Really loved his game coming out of the ACC. Hasn't lived up to expectations in Detroit. But who knows. Just signed a two year deal with Indy for Andrew Luck. Ebron was the TE I put my research into. I wanted a high round WR or Ebron and nothing else. As an ACC fan I wanted Sammy Watkins so bad. A trade up. It doesn't matter .I just wanted him. As an FSU fan was also very high on Kelvin Benjamin. I was anticipating lots of pass catching WRs and also an athletic TE in Ebron. But to draft a Safety that year 1st round was a head scratcher. I wasn't even scared of "Louisville's Defense" being an FSU fan. Then to pass up on many of my favorite WR's? For a TE in Amaro? I thought to myself, who? Idzik was the worst GM I've seen. A financial background who couldn't scout talent even if had 20 draft picks within the same draft to do so. Insane. Macc on the other hand has made a career and a living off of being a talent evaluator. Reason why he's GM today . Idzik, not so much.
i am not going to defend idjik. i am sure he had marching orders, and financial targets were primary. that is why he was hired, to clean out the salary cap mess from the tanny years. see the recent state of the dolphins for reference. there were other people on the scouting staff, and on the coaching staff, and in the room during the draft most of the blame belongs on his boss, you know, the guy who hired him. is it just me, or is the team making progress with mac and christoper johnson, instead, calling the shots?
It does appear that way. Let's see if it continues. Need to upgrade the OL and pass rush next offseason.
it was a pretty stacked class 1st round 7 -evans pro bowler 12 ODB - top 5 WR 20 - cooks - solid number 1 WR 28 - benjamin - had some good years but likely considered a good number 2 WR 2nd round lee - solid starter matthews - bust richardson - bust adams - solid slot WR lattimore - bust landry - top 10 WR robinson - borderline top 10 WR 3rd round huff, montcrief, brown - all busts to decent depth guys 4th round 5 WRs 4 were busts (including 2 jets) but bryant is a beast and at worst a top tier WR2 5th-7th round 13 WRs taken mostly busts except enunwa who has proved to be at least a good WR2 but injuries are killing him In short 5 WRs 1 5 WRs 2 and some decent depth guys
Without idziks 2014 draft it is unlikely we are able to draft Darnold in 2018. We should thank Idzik for his amazing ineptitude as he put us on the path to 5 and 11 last year allowing us to draft Darnold. When we beat Jacksonville again this year we should send him a thank you.
Let’s not anoint Macc just yet, 10 years ago many thought Tanny was doing a great job. Macc already has one almost-Idzik-bad draft under his belt.
