Adding a franchise LT and a stud WR are a beginning. Even if they don't work out. clearly that was JD's intention.
IDK if JT O'Sullivan, Tim Jenkins, and Chris Simms had Darnold that high. I do know that Simms had Allen rated the highest in that draft. These are all guys who say Wilson is the best in the draft (even above Lawrence).
Article on Tray Lance pro day: (if link doesn't work I'll delete post) Dolphins should have plenty of trade suitors after Trey Lance’s impressive Pro Day (msn.com)
I get what you're saying about Penny, and I too was very frustrated that we had no deep passing game, but as I remember that only happened after he was hurt. In any case, I do think Wilson has a much stronger arm than Penny ever did. As for "dink and dunk" being the reason for Wilson's high Comp %, that's not true - he's actually the most accurate on the deep balls you say you want to see. From the tape I've seen, this stat tracks with what I've seen of him. Does he have a Mahomes/Allen-level arm? No, but how many do? And in Allen's case, it's nothing short of a miracle that he's improved his accuracy as much as he has, and I believe a lot of that is because Buffalo has designed their scheme to help him, and added great receivers as well. Mahomes should have been drafted #1 in 2017 IMO so the "drafting him earlier" doesn't enter into the discussion for me. I didn't respond thinking that any of this would change your mind, but I did want to respectfully answer your post in the spirit of discussion.
Tearing down the team doesn’t mean JD would have also had to trade away every pick and not drafted anyone last year. The fact that he drafted well doesn’t change the fact that there was no foundation last year he was building upon. The quality of the players doesn’t change the overall qualification — his actions do. JD’s actions are identical whether the players he drafts suck or turn out great, so the player itself isn’t the qualifier.
I just want to say, this is why I've always appreciated and respected your posts: you're very willing to acknowledge things that don't necessarily agree with your preferences.
It's possible that the bold is true, but you continue to not account for the very real possibility that the team we need to trade with to get our QB has to agree to trade, and that's certainly not a given. Let's say that Lawrence was the only real surefire QB this year (you and others may actually think this anyway), do you really think the Jags a would trade the #1 for ANY amount? I'm not saying that if Douglas doesn't think any of the QBs this year aren't what he's looking for he should take one any just because. But there are at least 5 QBs with potential this year, and unless he trades for Watson (or Wilson) I just don't see him passing on a QB completely.
Or it could be Sam Darnold. This is why there is a HUGE difference between the #2 and the #3 pick, and why the #2 pick is worth at least two lower first round picks. Now that last bit would seem to support your idea that trading back is the best thing to do this year, and maybe it is, but there is a big risk involved in that if Douglas wants a QB, and I believe he does (unless he's planning on getting Watson or R. Wilson). I'm not a GM nor have I ever spoken with one, but I don't think a GM makes a list of QBs and says, "Well, if I can't get QB-A, I'll be ok with QB-B, or if I can't get QB-B, I'll be ok with QB-C..."). A GM MAY have a backup plan where if he doesn't get his first choice he might consider a second one, but I think that's uncommon. And QB is THE most impactful position on a football team and it's not even close. You can have great players in other positions but without a damn good QB, you're not going to consistently win. And look how long we've been without a damn good QB. It's not like you can decide to focus on building up the team and then when you decide you're ready you just pluck your FQB off the tree. Moreover, a FQB will conservatively be effective for at least a decade, and probably more like 15 years or more. Once you get one, you're set. Meanwhile that stud TE or WR or RB you drafted instead is out the league in 5-6 years, so where's the "value" there? Again, if JD really doesn't think any of these QBs can be his FQB of course he shouldn't take one just to take one, but I think he realizes the extremely rare circumstances he's in this year with a #2 pick and at least 5 potential FQBs coming out.
Hey, this is an interesting and well said take. I agree with most of what you said, I just think the spot doesn't matter if you truly believe Zach Wilson is your franchise QB. Ideally the Jets would trade down and roll with Sam in 2021, I just don't get the feeling that will happen. They could still trade down, trade Sam, and have a different QB in 2021 besides Wilson or Darnold. I also think Joe Douglas has an eye for talent, so if he can trade down and still pick a QB like Lance or Jones, he will. The next month and a half will be very exciting for Jets fans. More excitement than we have had in quite awhile!
His motion is wonky. He can sling it though. I just think Wilson and Fields are more polished with less question marks. The fact that we can't even raise the questions because Lance hasn't played in a year is enough of a red flag for me.
If this makes the Lance hype go up then the value of top 5 trades continues to increase. Good news for us if we trade. This draft is getting more and more unusual and hard to predict. There are a lot of teams that really want a young new QB and there are a lot of young QBs on the board. One thing is for sure, teams are going to want their specific guy and will be facing a lot of competition to get him. Bidding wars are becoming more likely and we are in the most secure and valuable position to trade with. At #2 we may be able to play several teams against each other for a huge haul while still staying top 10. Predicting what player goes when is getting more murky, not less. The heat is turning up on other GMs while our position continues to improve. Atlanta is the biggest question mark. If we knew what they wanted then our position would become much stronger and easier to manipulate. Things are so up in the air that all mocks are out the window. There is going to be some wacky things happening in round 1.
Thanks! Very nice throws! Of course no pressure and perfect conditions, but still, he hit them the way he was supposed to.
I agree. And this is why I think Douglas needs to identify the guy he wants and take him at #2. If he thinks a QB can be his FQB, then whether he takes him at #2 or #10 doesn't make a difference. But if he gambles that his guy will be there at #10 after he trades back once or twice, he might get burned. Hell he might even get burned if he trades back to #4! That said, I trust Douglas to know what he's doing and to have a much better idea of what other teams might be doing than anyone here or in the media does, so if he decides to gamble I guess I'll given him some leeway. The thing is though that if he does gamble and loses, he'll never admit that the guy he wanted was taken from him and he'll say "I'm thrilled that we got so-and-so!" even if he isn't.
Do you believe that the choice of QB whether Darnold, the prospects or even Watson or Wilson is Douglas' to make? I don't. Yes, he'll have some input, but I gotta believe that it's 90% Saleh's choice. He is the one who'll have to live or die with the pick. If it was me, there would be no way I would take the coaching job unless I got to make the call at QB.
Douglas will live or die by the choice as well. If he takes a rookie he will give that rookie about 3 years like most do. They will both be in on the decision but it will ultimately be Douglas's call. JD is the GM he does the draft.
