Pryor was arguably BPA for us at that pick. Most didn't have him dropping to our pick. Also, having depth at a position doesn't necessarily mean having a starting quality player that can make big plays. Our other safeties sure can do a pretty good job, but I guess they were going for the hard hitting, turnover causing, flashy safety in Pryor. I'm not saying I disagree with you since it seems that you feel like we should've drafted someone else. We could've used that pick for another position, maybe for the offense or what is now a needed CB. However, I'm still fine with the Pryor pick. It will be nice to have that type of safety on our defense if he pans out.
Safety was absolutely one of our needs heading into the draft. The unit as a whole was certainly a weakness last season. They know exactly what they had in Landry, and that's about it. Productive and versatile, but also maybe only a couple seasons left. Allen showed a few flashes, but didn't start most of the year. It was reasonable to expect that development to continue, but to what end was unknown. ie is he a long term answer at SS. So far so good this camp. Bush barely saw the field last year, and was a bubble player coming into this offseason. He likely ends up a final cut due to the emergence of his competition. The real surprises were Jarrett and Miles. They were both also bubble players to make the roster coming into the offseason. Neither showed much at all last season. Jarrett has really stepped up his game defensively this camp, and can contribute on ST. Miles will make the team as a 4 Core special teams player alone, and is making strides as a depth safety. Someone worth continuing to develop. They had to add a Safety in the first 4 rounds imo, striking where the right player was available according to their board. Pryor ended up being that guy in round 1. If it was the right pick or not for round 1 is really TBD. That's how a position of weakness can quickly become deep. I wouldn't call it a strength just yet though, as i need to see Pryor play first.
I think Pryor and AA will be the long term solution and IMHO a perfect tandem set of safeties, almost interchangeable at both safety positions. Youth, strength and speed. Pryor will demonstrate plenty of closing speed to go along with his hitting. We are one DB away from a long term A++ secondary
Agreed on the Safeties, with Landry being the veteran bridge for those 2. I was warming up to the idea of McDougle getting on field experience playing this year, and being that guy for the future. That's the football breaks though. Now he'll be 2 years removed from playing, a difficult ACL recovery period, and no NFL experience. maybe 2016 we'll start to see returns on him. Doubt we'll re-sign Wilson or Patterson in the offseason. So heading into 2015, CB will yet again be one of our biggest needs. this is the reason i'm onboard with making a trade now (along with Milliner's questionable status for the early season).
I would be down for a trade for the right player. Jonathan joseph isn't He is over 30 and really isn't that great. If they are going to make a trade, either trade for a stud CB with a high overall pick, or trade for a promising young talent for depth for a really low pick. I wouldn't be opposed to drafting another CB in round 1 next year. CBs on the free agent market next year look horrible, Wide receiver on free agent market next year is one of the best in a while! Pick up a #1 WR in FA next year and draft a CB.
Joseph is exactly the type of guy i'd want, but i don't know if Houston willing to deal him. He would be a veteran bridge, just like Landry is at the safety position. He's tough, good at press, a team first guy, and wouldn't cost a lot in trade compensation. I'm not at all concerned about 30, as I'm looking for 2-3 good years from this move, when hopefully McDougle or someone else can take over. also think he's better than any of the FA corners available next year. Only knock I'd have on Joseph is yet another injury history. We need a CB on the field, not on the bike. that's the risk. If we don't make a move, 2014 could be very difficult to watch from the coverage perspective, and i agree we'd end up using a high pick on CB in next years draft.
Agree with you response completely. The injury to McDougle IMHO was far more significant and devastating to the young man and to the Jets than many here might think. Not so much from the perspective of becoming a major factor for 2014, but huge for his football development as a potential #2, and ability to contribute in special package situations immidiately. Unfortunately now, all going well, he will be developing and honing his skills in 2015, two years removed from football, and hopefully be a great contributor in 2016. Jets will not want to take that gamble and reprioritize the 2015 draft. The Jets are now forced to seek immediate quality depth if not a quality starter this year, and depending on how our young group picks up the slack it will force once again a change to our draft priorities in 2015, from targeting the #1 receiver we all covet to a CB once again. This will really suck from my perceptive. Hope its not the case. Many people here don't think a trade is in the cards, but I would not be surprised if one our young NT/ DL gets traded as part of a package if the right CB becomes available (although honestly can"t think as to whom, but perhaps out of Cincinnati, Seattle or SF?)
I just don't think cornerback is as important of a position as many fans do, in an overreaction period to when a team with a strong secondary won the Superbowl. It reminds me of the vast overreaction of the league to draft interior rushers which saw teams draft 4 defensive tackles in the top 15, and 5 overall in the first round after the Buccaneers won the Superbowl with Warren Sapp. That's not to say that cornerback isn't an important position, but it usually doesn't make or break a defense even if it aids a defense. In reality these 'lockdown' corners take away one player from the offense. Really good offenses don't break down if their best receiver isn't having a good day. If a team has a really good corner on your best receiver, throw away from him. Corners don't always follow receivers around the field, so move that receiver around. There are typically progressions and a plethora of receivers to throw to on a given play. In theory we have our number one corner in Milliner albeit possibly out for week one. It's more about how the secondary works as a cohesive unit and having good safeties really helps patch over less than stellar man to man corners. It might be a bad example because the Cowboys put man to man corners and forced them into a Cover 2 defense, but look at how terrible that defense was with putrid safety play. Once a teams pass rush gets neutralized quarterbacks are going to feast on the secondary which is why you want to tie your money up in the front 7. Watch how many Seahawks are going to leave because the front office can't afford to pay their players due to having $24 million tied up in two players and specifically the loads of guaranteed money in Sherman's deal. It's a cap crippler.
