We're getting into draft theory here...but personally... I think people get too caught up w. absolutes one way or the other w. the draft. It isn't value or need all the time every time. It's by all accounts a balancing act.What I will say is that a team as bad as the Jets were prior to this past weekend...you aren't worried about need. Basically everything is a need. So you prioritize value combined w. guys who fit a specific prototype of traits to be building blocks. There's something to be said for sticking to your board and not reaching to fill a need.If a team has a good blueprint of what type of players they are looking for(not position...but style of player) & are good at stacking the board..this is the best method for long term success. You get an influx of talent that fits your roster. It may not be flashy..it isn't gonna fill every need at every time. But the team leaves that draft knowing they got the best haul for what fits their team & given the circumstances. That said...there are pivotal positions that can be hard to come by...if opportunity knocks..this is where understanding the big board helps....you pick & choose your spots where you need to pounce. Personally...there wasn't any point in this past draft where I felt the Jets needed to pounce.
We weren't that deep. I would be shocked to see Jalin Marshall make the roster next season, Decker may or may not be on this team, and Devin Smith will be out a year. That's 2-3 WR's right there that may need to be replaced. The o-line class was very weak. During the draft Mike Mayock even said that in years past many more OL were taken. Although I don't subscribe to the idea that a team can always pick based on BPA, I do think that the Jets roster is so bad that ultimately we need good football players, no matter what position.
Admittedly I thought it was a no brained to draft a CB in rounds to or three. Two things though. We did that, we would still have people complaining that we focused too much on defense, we invested too much in the secondary, blah, blah, etc. This is a rebuilding team, there was going to be things not done in this draft that someone didn't agree with. That just comes with a rebuilding team. The other thing is that there were reports that we were trying to trade with the Packers at the top of the second. Sometimes the price just isn't worth the trade, it seems Mac understands this concept. I approve. You can't give away too much when your rebuilding. We didn't get the trade. King was taken. I'm sure they liked Jonea at our pick but I'm sure they pushed him down the board because of the injury. They are looking for immediate help while still looking towards the future. I get your points. Overall I'm happy with the way Mac navigated this draft.
Appreciate your thoughts, but the jets were certainly deeper at WR before the draft than OL. Also given the fact that a team plays 5 OL per snap v. 2-3 WRs per snap should also be considered. My point is the jets roster is so weak you could throw a dart at the map and find a position of need. Doubling up on safeties AND WRs in the first 4 rounds (and CBs in round 6), in my opinion, was unwise. With as poor an OL as the jets have now, some of those 9 picks should have addressed OL. And I agree with you that Jalin Marshall, Peake and Decker should all be a little nervous NOW that the jets drafted WRs in round 3-4. No way the jets cut Robbie, Quincy, or either of the 2017 draft picks at WR. I thought the jets should have stayed away for WR at the draft as I thought Decker, Quincy, Robbie , Peake, Jalin, and the guy they signed from the 49ers were adequate. Even if the jets want to cut Decker, 1 WR AT MOST was all that was needed to be drafted. But Mike Mac is on record as saying he does not like drafting OL in the first 4 rounds (and he hasn't in three years with the jets), and the results on the field speak for themselves.
I don't disagree. Him addressing the safeties is fine, Gilchrist just got cut, Adams and Maye are not your run of the mill safeties. They are interchangeable, and when you strengthen the safety position you only help the rest of the DB's, including the CB's. OL is a concern, but I understood why we didn't go that rout. I would be shocked if we didn't go ahead and address that next offseason. Personally, I would have liked to add an EDGE rusher, Tim Williams comes to mind since he slid considerably, but he had a lot of character concerns.
I agree on Williams--was hoping jets would take him round 3 but he got selected just a few picks before jets on the clock.
So the other NFL teams (all or almost all of them) are wrong for taking at least one OL in 2017? The jets had 10 picks, traded one away for a 2018 pick, and still used none of their nine picks on the position where the offense needs/plays the most players on every snap (OL). Mike Mac's reluctance to draft OL is not a 2017 problem only. In both 2015 and 2016 he only drafted 1 in each draft and both in the 5th round. I respect your opinion, but two 5th round picks on the OL in three consecutive drafts suggest to me that Mike Mac should rethink his priorities. Not holding my breath, though-- Not a big deal, feel free to respond if you'd like--you can have the last word.
For those that thought the Maye pick was overkill, better take a close look at the Jet secondary roster and go watch some 2016 game film. This team had the worst secondary imaginable and was so bad that there were times when one thought the opponent had 12 men on the field. They just cut Gilchrist , and besides Pryor, who else do they have worth trusting in the safety position? Prediction: very shortly , the Jets may very well have near the best safety tandem in the NFL. Some growing pains expected but barring disabling injuries, it's just a matter of when, not if.
I've taken some time to digest this past draft after making some initial snap judgments. I'm still not happy that they took two S back to back, and didn't get a good pass rusher (yes, they took one in the 5th round, but I wouldn't call him a strong pick). I'm resigned to the fact that they didn't like any of QBs, but IMO I think they made a mistake - time will tell - but it's water under the bridge. I'm also concerned that they didn't get a decent RB since I think Forte is about done, and Powell isn't a feature back. Upgrading the running - and also passing - options would really help whoever the QB is. And again, "O" seems like the red-headed stepchild on this team, despite how abysmal a unit it is. All that said, I do believe that Macc has a philosophy and a plan and is sticking to it, so I like that, even if I don't entirely agree with it. I have to acknowledge that he's a professional, with years of experience, and access to all relevant data, so I can take potshots - and will continue to do so - but in the end, he's probably going to be right more often than I am. I have to believe that he's committed to making the Jets a winner, at least until he proves himself incapable, and he he's a long way from that judgment. Bowles is a who;e 'nother story, but that's not what this thread is about.
It isn't reaching. Reaching is where you take a player at a position of need who is rated much lower than the other players at your pick, solely because of need. What I'm talking about is either trading down for a player so that you get him where he would be a good value and not a reach, or trading up for a player in the 2nd or 3rd round that is a better player or a better value than what you could get at your pick. IMO THAT is how you address need, not by reaching for a player.
You're right that someone was going to complain about this draft regardless of what positions/players were taken. I also agree that one doesn't want to overpay to move up. Mac showed that he was willing to trade down, however. IMO if he had identified a CB or OLB that the Jets wanted, he could have traded down and gotten him.
edit: sorry. Of course just having fun, but I am trying to resist making sarcastic remarks unless I have actually something to add. Thanks, Walt.
Exactly. I suspect this is what MAC was explaining. You take BPA but you think the BPA who fills a need is gonna get picked before your pick, you try to trade up.
