One thing that would really make a big difference is having a Master Plan of what the franchise should look like, what their identity is. The teams that are successful and usually draft well do so because they have this blueprint, and they draft players that fit within what they're trying to do. The Jets have not had an identity - other than SOJ - since Werblin, Weeb, and Namath. Until they fix that, they're just running around with their pants on fire.
They haven't had that plan because with the exception of Kotite and Parcells, they've had novice HCs and GMs. All those guys were too busy trying to figure out how to win, and had no clue how to come up with a master plan. With an owner who is clueless and no experienced football man to run the team, that's what happens. I think Mac has a plan already. The question is if Woody will let Mac run the show, and put Bowles under his command (as he should). If he does, then I think Mac will implement his plan. If not, we'll be starting from scratch again in a year or two. You can bet on it.
There is no way you are going to convince me that Sanchez, who QB'd this team to consecutive AFC title games was a worse pick than Kyle Wilson. Not a chance in hell.
Look no further than the drafting to show why this team has struggled so badly. And other's thoughts about having a blueprint & an identity are spot on as well. Jets never have a master plan going into a draft & never going in looking to build a team. All they do is try to plug holes & collect talent. It doesn't work.
Trading up isn't so bad "IF" you trade up for an impact player without giving up an entire draft full of picks. An impact player that plays for 10 years outweighs a few extra draft picks at the back end of the draft. Tanny traded up for mediocre players at best. The question is was he misled by Bradway and the scouting staff to believe the players were impact players or was Tanny just a car salesman trying to show he could wheel and deal? Moving up for Sanchez in a poor QB draft was inexcusable for a guy who even his college coach said wasn't ready. Moving up for slow ass Shonn Greene was a disaster. Moving up to take a TE that isn't considered a stud and Dustin Keller wasn't considered that good was a joke. The fact that Bradway took a kicker in the 2nd round in 2005 should have told Tanny pump the brakes on anything Bradway said.
This list explains why we are in the situation we're in. You cannot repair a team that has drafted terribly within the span of 2 years. You cannot spend in free agency with the hopes of being perennial super bowl contenders.
Trading up hurts a team regardless of how good the player is they trade up to get, because it prevents them from filling another hole, upgrading another position, or getting solid depth at another position. That's if they just burn one pick to move up. If they burn multiple picks, then that damage is multiplied by the number of picks. It's ok to trade up once for a special player, but then one needs to trade down in the following draft or two to recoup that pick or picks, and then not trade up again for at least 4-5 years. Tanny traded up practically every year, and I think made only one minor trade down, if that. That and the bad tradeups he made are how our cupboard wound up being bare.
In isolation as a one time thing moving up doesn't hurt. I think you're too stung by the the constant Tanny moving up parties each year. Moving up constantly like he did is a killer but as a one time move to complete a roster for an impact player I think is fine. This team doesn't have anywhere near a complete roster so they'd be fools to move up this year. If Mac can plug holes with FA and in the draft (either staying put or moving down to accumulate picks that he in turn makes smart decisions with) this year, fill more holes in next years FA period, land a top pick in the 2018 draft and get their QB then I wouldn't be opposed to moving up in '19 if it meant getting a stud LT to pair with the QB. That solidifies the most important position on the OL for years. Then again, its the Jets, they aren't known for going offense early in the draft.
