The 2017 NFL draft is in the books, and the handwringing that came with what the Jets would do has gone by the wayside. Many had expected (even feared) that the Jets would use one of their draft picks on a quarterback, namely their first round selection.
Fortunately for the Jets, the Chicago Bears decided to jump on the dynamite and traded up one slot to select North Carolina enigma Mitchell Trubisky with the Number Two pick in the draft. One can imagine the kind of hit they Bears have taken on Social Media.
As for New York, they played it safe in a lot of respects, and filled out positions of need. That is really all one can ask of General Manager Mike Maccagnan. The Jets have what many consider to be one of the worst rosters in the National Football League. They have holes in the secondary, offensive line, running back, wide receiver, tight end, kicker, and, of course, quarterback; to be honest, they couldn't fill them all in this draft.
The drafting of Jamal Adams with the sixth pick was an absolute steal. Many people thought that Adams would be long gone before the Jets would be on the clock, but thanks to the Bears and Niners shuffling the deck, Adams dropped to the Jets at six.
This is a guy who many say has a high motor, gets after the football and has true leadership skills. If that holds true the Jets have themselves a very special player. The Jets secondary has been in tatters the past two seasons, and they lack a hard hitting safety. Adams give the Jets that hard hitting dimension they so desperately missed.
In the second round, New York addressed the safety position again when they selected Florida's Marcus Maye with the 39th pick. Maye had a great season in 2015 for the Gators when he had 82 tackles, two picks and six pass breakups. Last year he missed four games due to broken arm. So he is a bit of an enigma in that respect. Yet, he was a highly touted recruit when he went to Florida. The selection of Maye speaks to the Jets unhappiness with Marcus Gilchrist and Calvin Pryor. Neither player has really lived up to the expectations. Perhaps the selection of Maye is a shot across the bow at both players to pick it up this summer or else.
In the third round the Jets traded down nine spots with the Vikings. Minnesota wound up selecting Ohio State center Pat Elflen, while New York settled on wide receiver ArDarius Stewart. The Jets really could have used a center, or even an offensive lineman here, considering the position is so weak. Stewart could turn into something, but considering the Jets recent drafts at the wide receiver position (Devin Smith for example) let's wait and see how this turns out.
The rest of the draft was nothing but gambles by Maccagnan, he traded back four times, and collected a total of six picks in the fifth and sixth rounds. Tight end Jordan Leggett gives New York a needed pass catching tight end, but there were higher graded players at the position that they did miss out on. NFL.com also says Leggett is a guy who can be a lazy player, who needs to have his motor turned on. Not a great analysis. The Jets also selected two corners late in the draft. While that does address a need, the Jets could have drafted a top corner earlier. These two guys look like projects.
Overall Grade: C+. The Jets addressed a major concern, safety with the drafting of Adams and Maye. The rest of the draft is a crapshoot (as all drafts are). At least the Jets didn't draft a quarterback, which means they are trusting both Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg to figure it out this year and prove the Jets have the quarterback of the future on the roster already.
Fortunately for the Jets, the Chicago Bears decided to jump on the dynamite and traded up one slot to select North Carolina enigma Mitchell Trubisky with the Number Two pick in the draft. One can imagine the kind of hit they Bears have taken on Social Media.
As for New York, they played it safe in a lot of respects, and filled out positions of need. That is really all one can ask of General Manager Mike Maccagnan. The Jets have what many consider to be one of the worst rosters in the National Football League. They have holes in the secondary, offensive line, running back, wide receiver, tight end, kicker, and, of course, quarterback; to be honest, they couldn't fill them all in this draft.The drafting of Jamal Adams with the sixth pick was an absolute steal. Many people thought that Adams would be long gone before the Jets would be on the clock, but thanks to the Bears and Niners shuffling the deck, Adams dropped to the Jets at six.
This is a guy who many say has a high motor, gets after the football and has true leadership skills. If that holds true the Jets have themselves a very special player. The Jets secondary has been in tatters the past two seasons, and they lack a hard hitting safety. Adams give the Jets that hard hitting dimension they so desperately missed.
In the second round, New York addressed the safety position again when they selected Florida's Marcus Maye with the 39th pick. Maye had a great season in 2015 for the Gators when he had 82 tackles, two picks and six pass breakups. Last year he missed four games due to broken arm. So he is a bit of an enigma in that respect. Yet, he was a highly touted recruit when he went to Florida. The selection of Maye speaks to the Jets unhappiness with Marcus Gilchrist and Calvin Pryor. Neither player has really lived up to the expectations. Perhaps the selection of Maye is a shot across the bow at both players to pick it up this summer or else.
In the third round the Jets traded down nine spots with the Vikings. Minnesota wound up selecting Ohio State center Pat Elflen, while New York settled on wide receiver ArDarius Stewart. The Jets really could have used a center, or even an offensive lineman here, considering the position is so weak. Stewart could turn into something, but considering the Jets recent drafts at the wide receiver position (Devin Smith for example) let's wait and see how this turns out.
The rest of the draft was nothing but gambles by Maccagnan, he traded back four times, and collected a total of six picks in the fifth and sixth rounds. Tight end Jordan Leggett gives New York a needed pass catching tight end, but there were higher graded players at the position that they did miss out on. NFL.com also says Leggett is a guy who can be a lazy player, who needs to have his motor turned on. Not a great analysis. The Jets also selected two corners late in the draft. While that does address a need, the Jets could have drafted a top corner earlier. These two guys look like projects.
Overall Grade: C+. The Jets addressed a major concern, safety with the drafting of Adams and Maye. The rest of the draft is a crapshoot (as all drafts are). At least the Jets didn't draft a quarterback, which means they are trusting both Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg to figure it out this year and prove the Jets have the quarterback of the future on the roster already.
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