March 10, 2008 Home > The Way We Hear It ~ ~ ~ NY Jets March 7, 2008 Free agent acquisitions alter Jets draft strategy Word out of New York is that the Jets? frenzied activity in free agency has shaken up their outlook on the upcoming draft. At season?s end, it appeared that the offensive and defensive lines were in need of the biggest overhaul. But after landing OG Alan Faneca, OT Damien Woody and NT Kris Jenkins (acquired in a trade with the Panthers), the lines are less-pressing concerns. The acquisitions are expected to have a particularly large impact on their first-round pick, No. 6 overall. We continue to hear that trading down is the Jets? preferred action, but should they not find a willing partner, Arkansas RB Darren McFadden appears to be the leader for the spot, though off-field concerns could drop him. Another strong possibility is Ohio State OLB Vernon Gholston, who could replace Bryan Thomas and play on the opposite side of recently signed UFA OLB Calvin Pace. The irony in the situation is that all three were defensive ends in college. But Pace has adapted better to 3-4 outside linebacker than Thomas, and the league consensus is that Gholston projects better on the second level than as a down lineman. > http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/default.htm
These little blurbs offer zero insight into anything the Jets are thinking. The paragraph basically says that the team wants to trade down but if they cant they may take McFadden- They dont cite anything, this is all based on the opinion of some individual writer at ProFootballWeekly. The whole blurb tells us absolutely nothing.
after the jesse chatman signing i don't think there's any way the jets draft a running back in the first round. not that chatman is earl campbell but they still have plenty invested in tom jones.
Everyone's quick to just dismiss Thomas- isn't the guy's cap # quite prohibitive where we have no choice but to keep him on the team for the next few years?
Exactly. Jet fans are frightened of taking an offensive skill player in the first round. They insisted Vincce Young, jay Cutler, Adrian peterson, Matt leinart, and Marshawn Lynch wouldd all be busts in recent drafts. When you factor in "college spotlight syndrome"(I.E. Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart, Adrian peterson and now Mcfadden) and whacky Mike Mayock evaluation you get people OBSESSING over nitpicky aspects to a specific player..this is what you get. They also refuse to acknowledge the notion of taking the best player available and that depending on one specific player to be available when on the clock is ridiculous.
Fortunately the fans don't make the pick. (although I'm not sure if that is good or bad...especially when I read Tannenbaum saying they thought they were set at certain positions last year)
I could live with McFadden. But I would prefer Gholston or a trade down. What I am focused on more is the 2nd, there are some extremely talented Olinemen in the 2nd round this year. I want to get a young RT to develop. That is where my focus is this year. At least for me the 1st round is an afterthought, I have a feeling our 2nd rounder is going to have a much greater impact.
Despite every post by tomdeb criticizing the FO for giving Thomas a "25 million dollar contract," BT was given only $9mm in guarantees on a 5-year deal. A number that now pales in comparison to Paces $22mm in guarantees. The total value of the contract is $25mm, but (assuming rotoworld's info is correct) Tannebaum front-loaded it big-time. Thomas received $6.7mm in salary in 2007, and then has salaries of $1.7mm (2008), $1.9mm (2009), $2.5mm (2010), $3.2mm (2011). If the cap number reported in another thread is correct ($4.5mm) the Jets could still cut Thomas before June 1. The remaining pro-rated portion of his guarantees is $7.2mm ($9mm / 5 years-life of contract x 4 remaining years). Prior to June 1st, the accelerated $7.2mm can be split between two seasons, so the Jets would carry $3.6mm of dead cap money attributed to Thomas in 2008 and 2009. More realistically, the Jets will let Thomas play out this season and see if the additions on defense can motivate/help him. Then next offseason, cutting prior to June 1st would force the Jets only to carry $2.7mm in dead money in 2009 and 2010.
If we do draft McFadden I just hope any excitement I feel isn't squished by naysayers and prophesies of doom.
Oh I have no problem if someone PREFERS one player over an over. We all have opinions and we all see things differently.I happen to agree w/ the young RT thing by the way(although i do like Bender long term). It's just these people that refuse to entertain the idea of possibly taking a high end skill player, simply out of fear of past draft busts...and will disacknowledge the entire concept of taking the best player available to further their agenda.
And will then turn around and blast the Jets if the said player goes on the be a star for another team.
