When those starters include the likes of Brian Winters and Geno Smith are we really talking about starting caliber players?
Our starters from that draft include: Sheldon Richardson (Great pick, Pro Bowler, future All-Pro) Dee Milliner (has had one good month, still unproven, injured) Geno Smith (bottom 3 starting QBs in the league) Brian Winters (one of the worst starting OGs in the league) Tommy Bohanon (injured FB)
Milliner still could be good, sure. In 2013, he was pitiful until the last three or four games. Pretty sure Bohanon graded out as one of the league's worst FBs
Richardon was a very good pick even though it left Coples without a position. Millner is a huge question mark. The other three guys ranked near the bottom in the league among starters at their positions because they should be backups at best.
20 years old, 18 picks and a serious rape allegation that was made against him. Depending on how the suit against FSU progresses before the draft it is possible that Winston will go undrafted. Not likely but definitely possible. You have to have balls of steel to take him on the 1 because you are definitely getting fired if he blows up on you.
Mariota's floor is top of the 2nd but I think he will go in the top 10. I expect Chip Kelly to trade up for him if he starts falling. Kelly will plop him down on the bench and play Foles this year and hope he gets a situation like the Brees-Rivers situation in SD circa 2005.
Yeah, my bold prediction was that both Winston and Mariota would be sitting there on the 6 for the Jets.
I think because of that, and other issues, we're gonna miss out on MM....somebody's gonna grab MM before us because of the mistrust of Winston. I don't even like the way Winston throws. Winston is a project...in other words, imo, it would be a bad move to start him right away. If we end up with him I wanna see him sit a year and a half at least, while he's maturing and working on his fundamentals and learning how to be a professional.
I sorta think both the 1st round QBs are a mirage this year. Winston has too many off the field issues and Mariota could be good, but needs work. He screams 2nd rounder to me even though he won't go that far. Its all relative, and I think the media and teams have to "crown" a guy or group of QBs as top 5 or 10 talent even if the overall QB class is weak. It seems like a guy like Ray is a can't miss and could be the pass rusher we've been waiting for what seems like forever. Having a good d-line would further help a guy like him get to the QB. If we get Cro and Milliner comes back fully healthy, that could be all we need on D if we get to the quarterback enough. We draft a QB in the mid rounds and pick up a free agent to battle Geno Smith for the spot. Let the rookie sit and evaluate next year.
Bold prediction: Within three years, we'll look back at this draft as a key reason why the Jets turned it around and ended their championship drought.