With the quarterback and salary cap situation still very much unsettled, Mike Maccagnan’s 2016 NFL Draft strategy should be very interesting.
By Robby Sabo
The NFL is a league in which the NFL Draft not only supplements future personnel, but does an extraordinary amount to alter present success.
For Mike Maccagnan and the New York Jets, many paths can be chosen on Thursday night.
The question on everybody’s mind at the moment surrounds Big Mo, or Muhammad Wilkerson (as you may know him by).
By most accounts, Wilkerson is as good as gone. He’s not happy. Nobody would be after severely outplaying his rookie contract and constantly receiving the “non-star” treatment by the Jets. Whether or not Mikey Mac is able to ship Big Mo out of town prior or during the draft will be question number one.
Question number two revolves around the quarterback position.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, the franchise’s single-season touchdown record holder, is still a free-agent. Many assume he and Mac have a “wink-wink” agreement already in place, as the new deal won’t be signed quick enough once the $15.701 million salary is shed from Big Mo’s franchise tag.
Although some think New York has wandering eyes for Memphis’s Paxton Lynch in the first round.
Others, like NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport, are hearing Gang Green could be targeting a wide receiver in Round 1:
Smokescreen? Well, considering Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are in the fold and one’s contract is completely immovable, it’s doubtful they’ll look to wide-out that early.
So many questions, not one answer.
That is, until we finally get to Thursday night.
Today, we rank the New York Jets 10 most realistic draft options at No. 20:
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11. Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
When it comes to wide receiver in this 2016 prospect crop, it doesn’t get much better than Will Fuller out of Notre Dame.
At 6′ and 186 lbs., Fuller left the Irish a year early to turn pro. He can most definitely be an instant contributor, especially from the slot with his skill-set.
Having said all that, I find it extremely hard to believe the Jets will go wide receiver in Round 1, despite what Ian Rappoport reported on Wednesday.
Mikey Mac loves to throw out words and reports to get the pot stirred. View this report as nothing more than that. We throw a guy like Fuller into the mix, but with the keen understanding the Jets won’t go WR.
10. Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
Myles Jack is the first of many linebacker candidates in the Jets mix.
Aside from second-year guy Lorenzo Mauldin, New York has very little to speak of when it comes to speed edge rushers. However, it’s unlikely the Jets go Jack for one very specific reason.
This defense desperately needs an edge guy in the worst way, however, Jack is more of a WILL in a 4-3 scheme.
There’s no question Maccagnan could draft the versatile linebacker, but he doesn’t fit the Jets most desperate need.
9. Taylor Decker, OL, Ohio State
Taylor Decker is one of many Ohio State prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft.
He’s also going to be a decade-long NFL offensive lineman.
Decker will be a “ace in the hole” type pick for the Jets. Should they run out of options at No. 20 and have nowhere to turn, Decker could easily be snagged and fit a serious need on the offensive line.
At 6’7” and 310 lbs., Decker has been decorated as an incredibly gifted intangibles guy.
8. Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
Noah Spence is the ultimate wild card on this list.
Many believe he’s the best pass rusher in the draft. That’s how physically gifted he is. But will Maccagnan actually pull the trigger on a guy who’s experienced such a checkered past?
Spence found himself in trouble for failing two drug tests. After being permanently banned from the Big Ten for the failed test, he underwent treatment for an addiction to Ecstasy.
Once transferred to his new school, Eastern Kentucky, he’s proved his worth with 13.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in 2015.
7. Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
Could there be two Eli’s in the Big Apple come Friday morning?
It sure is possible.
Aside from Jalen Ramsey and Vernon Hargreaves, Buckeye Eli Apple is the best cornerback in the draft. With Darrelle Revis on one side and uncertainty on the other (thanks to the decline and ultimate cutting of Antonio Cromartie), Apple could fit right in.
At 6’1” and 199 lbs., his 4.40 40-yard dash is more than enough speed to man the sidelines on top-tiered talent.
The question will come down to whether or not Maccagnan goes corner over other, more pressing needs such as edge rusher and the next position we’re about to discuss.
6. Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Are the Jets in love with Paxton Lynch?
That’s the question of the day.
The way this league is going, in how blood-thirsty these NFL organizations are in going after quarterbacks, we’ll eventually get to a point where 20 QBs will be selected in the first round (sarcasm inserted).
In 2016, we know Jared Goff and Carson Wentz are going one-two to the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles.
Next up at the position is Lynch.
Whether or not the Jets are in love with him will unfortunately mean very little because when two QBs go one-two at the top of the draft, the third will likely not last until the No. 20 slot.
The word around the campfire in recent days has Jerry Jones extremely enamored with the Memphis product. So much so, that he’s eagerly looking to trade up from the second round to snag him.
It’s probably a good thing for the Jets in the end as Lynch could be a major project. And besides, why would the Jets want two projects on the roster (Bryce Petty)?
5. Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Prior to 2015, the only big time bookend defensive prospect at Deathy Valley was Shaq Lawson.
Once 2015 concluded, Kevin Dodd had made his presence felt.
Dodd is a player who fits the Jets edge rushing need, but isn’t the fleetest of foot in comparison to some of the other guys.
He played DE at Clemson, which means he’s a little bigger at 277 lbs. This sure can fit the OLB role in a 3-4, but it’s something to note.
His competitive desire is off the charts and compares a lot to Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett.
4. Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
As far as pure speed rushers are concerned, it doesn’t get much better than Georgia’s Leonard Floyd.
The problem, however, is obvious: He’s extremely small.
Not only does that No. 84 make him look like a wide receiver, his 244 lbs. frame will need to be worked on immediately upon arrival into the NFL.
Floyd could, perhaps, be the most boom-or-bust front-7 player in the draft.
New York Giants have been rumored to be linked to Floyd at No. 10.
3. Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
The hottest name (excluding Lynch) surrounding the Jets is Ohio State outside linebacker Darron Lee.
The tough thing to project about Lee is where he fits into an NFL scheme. Can he actually fit on the outside of a 3-4, or is he purely a WILL in a 4-3? Odds are he’s not big enough to be a pure outside guy.
Although he’s a little small for his position, his relentless pursuit of the ball brings on rave reviews.
He’s an extremely talented choice, but tough to fit into Todd Bowles‘s defense.
2. Shaq Lawson, OLB, Clemson
Now is where we really get into the crux of what the New York Jets desperately need.
With Shaq Lawson, edge rushing is natural, and unlike Dodd, he profiles more as a 3-4 OLB.
The problem is, whether or not he’ll be there at No. 20 is a major concern.
Clemson routinely had him line up at the 5-technique (edge), which will appeal tremendously to 3-4 teams (Jets). Not only could he do a solid job rushing the passer, but he projects to be a stud run-stopper.
If Lawson is there at No. 20, it might be tough for Maccagnan to pass.
1. Jack Conklin, OL, Michigan State
Do the Jets really want Paxton Lynch that badly? This is the question.
Perhaps they do. However, even if they do, odds are he’ll be gone by No. 20.
When two quarterbacks go one-two in the draft, like we’ll see this year with Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, rarely does the third guy last that long. The worst part is, even if you try to think about which teams are in the QB market ahead of you, a last-minute trade will throw everything off.
The odds are extremely high that Lynch will be gone thanks to a league that is quarterback driven and thirsty.
This leaves the Jets turning their attention to other most pressing need on the table: The edge pass rusher.
I see Maccagnan looking to build from the inside-out with Jack Conklin from Michigan State, and we rank him No. 1 due to the idea he will be the choice.
It’ll come down to whether or not Maccagnan is in love with any of the edge rushing candidates (Floyd, Lawson).
Due to the success of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware a season ago, the edge rushing business, much like QB, will be high priority.
Because of this, I see Maccagnan looking to build from the inside-out with Jack Conklin from Michigan State, and we rank him No. 1 due to the idea he will be the choice.
Conklin’s a versatile lineman who’s played virtually every position up-front. He’s a 6’6”, 308 lbs. bookend who can serve as a team’s left or right tackle for a decade. Although he’s not a superior athlete, he’s the definition of a “football player” – a scrappy, high motor guy.
The beauty about Conklin is that it’ll allow the Jets to cut Breno Giacomini and shed much needed cap room for Fitzpatrick. This is especially important if Wilkerson is unable to be shipped out of town.