Tannenbaum, Idzik, and Maccagnan’s Draft Ideologies

With this being Joe Douglas’ first official draft as GM, I wanted to look at our past 3 GM’s and what they have gathered in the draft, with a little breakdown. It is important to note I did not include players names for a reason, as this focus was not on talent evaluation, but instead focusing on positional team building. There will be times I indicate a positive selection for a player that turned out poorly, or vice versa, however this is about the plan vs individual player results.

A. Mike Tannenbaum, 2006-2012
2006 (Eric Mangini)
1. OT
1. IOL
2. QB
3. ILB
3. S
4. WR
4. RB
5. TE
6. CB
7. DT

Quick Analysis: Good start to team building.
-Trenches early +
-Can never draft too many QB’s +
-Add depth in the gut of the defense +
-Skill positions in the mid rounds +
-Special teams contributors late +
-Lots of picks +

2007 (Eric Mangini)
1. CB
2. ILB
6. IOL
7. WR

Quick Analysis: Not enough picks.
-Good value areas for CB and ILB +
-Way too few picks - -
-No depth maintenance -
-Little/No trench maintenance -
-No skill position maintenance -

2008 (Eric Mangini)
1. Edge
1. TE
4. CB
5. QB
6. WR
7. OT

Quick Analysis: Too little too late.
-Good value area for Edge +
-Mediocre value area for TE -
-Not enough picks -
-Can never draft too many QB’s +
-Little/No trench maintenance -
-No skill position maintenance -

2009 (Rex Ryan)
1. QB
3. RB
6. IOL

Quick Analysis: Way too few picks.
-Franchise QB attempt +
-Good QB value area +
-Good RB value area +
-Way way too few picks - -
-No depth maintenance -
-No Trench maintenance -
-Little/No skill position maintenance -
-No defensive maintenance -

2010 (Rex Ryan)
1. CB
2. OT
4. RB
5. RB

Quick Analysis: Seeing a pattern? Too few picks.
-All good positional value areas ++
-Way too few picks - -
-Little/No trench maintenance -
-No special teams contributors -
-No depth maintenance -

2011 (Rex Ryan)
1. DT
3. DT
4. RB
5. WR
7. QB
7. WR

Quick Analysis: Need more picks for depth recuperation.
-Adding trench depth +
-Can never draft too many QB’s +
-Mid round skill positions +
-No O-Line maintenance -
-Overall not enough depth maintenance for previous lack of picks -

2012 (Rex Ryan)
1. Edge
2. WR
3. ILB
6. S
6. RB
6. IOL
7. S
7. WR

Quick Analysis: Too many late round picks.
-Good positional value areas +
-Too many late round picks -
-Special teams maintenance +
-Little/No middle round picks -

Mike Tannenbaum Summary:
-By far his largest drafting issue was the lack of picks, particularly in the middle rounds. These picks add depth and competition. Even good GM’s do not have 100% hit rates on picks, and a lack of picks sets any GM up for failure.

B. John Idzik, 2013-2014
2013 (Rex Ryan)
1. CB
1. DT
2. QB
3. IOL
5. IOL
6. OT
7. RB

Quick Analysis: Trenches as the foundation.
-Can never draft too many QB’s +
-Good trench depth +
-No skill position depth -
-Good CB value area +

2014 (Rex Ryan)
1. S
2. TE
3. CB
4. WR
4. WR
4. IOL
5. ILB
6. CB
6. WR
6. Edge
6. QB
7. Edge

Quick Analysis: Too many late round picks.
-Mediocre positional value - -
-Too many late round picks -
-Good depth maintenance +
-Skill positions in middle rounds +
-Can never draft too many QB’s +

John Idzik Summary: As far as a plan, it makes sense. While 12 players will never make a team, especially 5 in the last two rounds, this is hardly a firing offense, so obviously major failure in execution is the issue far more than poor planning, especially with a tenure extending through only two seasons.

C. Mike Maccagnan, 2015-2019
2015 (Todd Bowles)
1. DT
2. WR
3. Edge
4. QB
5. IOL
7. DT

Quick Analysis: Begin building your team at key positions, however lack of clear corps investment.
-Can never draft too many QB’s +
-Good trench depth +
-Little/No skill position depth -
-Would like to have more picks for 1st draft -

2016 (Todd Bowles)
1. ILB
2. QB
3. Edge
4. CB
5. OT
7. P
7. WR

Quick Analysis: Where is the offensive line?
-Mediocre ILB value area -
-No offensive line investment -
-Can never draft too many QB’s +
-Special teams contributors in late rounds +

2017 (Todd Bowles)
1. S
2. S
3. WR
4. WR
5. TE
5. Edge
6. RB
6. CB
6. CB

Quick Analysis: Heavy on the safeties.
-Heavy on S early -
-Middle rounds skill position +
-Poor edge positional value -
-Special teams contributors late +
-Good depth maintenance +
-No offensive line investment -

2018 (Todd Bowles)
1. QB
3. DT
4. TE
6. CB
6. DT
6. RB

Quick Analysis: Franchise QB gamble.
-Franchise QB attempt +
-Trench maintenance +
-No offensive line investment -

2019 (Adam Gase)
1. DT
3. Edge
3. OT
4. TE
5. ILB
6. CB

Quick Analasys: No franchise QB support.
-No offensive line investment -
-No offensive skill investment -

Mike Maccagnan Summary: Early drafts focused on defense first, with offensive skill positions coming in middle rounds. The time never seemed to come for premier offensive investment, which became particularly vital after the selection of a franchise QB. From the outside, it seems the early plan was to build the middle of the defense with early picks (DT, ILB, S) but the plan began to lose direction over time.