Mike Maccagnan struck early with deals for Ryan Clady and Brian Winters, however, depth means everything in the NFL, especially on the O-line.
Welcome to the 2017 NFL Offseason! The time of year where New York Jets’ fans put the bitterness of the past season behind them and optimistically look forward to the NFL Draft and free agency.Who are we trying to kid? It’s the time of year where we criticize everything about the past season, examine every player move that didn’t pan out and start beating up the general manager for the “busts” he selected in the draft.
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Woody Johnson had preached “patience” and “building through the draft” in his end of the season press conference, earlier in the offseason. It will be interesting to see how much patience Johnson will have with his general manager.
Nonetheless, ESNY wants to provide the Jets fan to all the options Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles will have during the 2017 edition of “make my team better.”
Over the next several weeks, Elite Sports will be providing comprehensive coverage of the events leading up to the NFL Draft.
In this week’s edition, we’ll look at the best choice at offensive line in each round of the draft. There may be names you know, and names you don’t. The Jets will be fortunate to grab one of these players during what will be a large part of the rebuild that will occur within the organization.
Round 1: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
It doesn’t appear that there is a blue-chip offensive tackle that is worthy of a top-ten pick this year. If the Jets do have their sights set on solidifying the O-line, Maccagnan may be forced to trade out of the number six pick to the dismay of Jets fans.
It should take a “king’s ransom” for the Jets to consider trading out of the pick, similar to what the Cleveland Browns received for essentially trading the rights to Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones.
Trading out of the pick may leave Gang Green missing out on a generational talent such as Mike Williams or Leonard Fournette.
Hypothetically speaking, the Jets may make the decision to trade back to select Wisconsin offensive tackle, Ryan Ramczyk. The All-American is battling a hip injury that may see his draft stock drop to the latter part of the first round.
Like many linemen to come out of Wisconsin, Ramczyk can help bolster the run game. The Badgers finished the college season ranked 26th in rushing.
For a team like the Jets, who have historically preferred a ground and pound type offense, adding Ramczyk could get the team back to their roots. Todd Bowles and new offensive coordinator, John Morton, could use their first pick to build a strong running game and focus on upgrading the defense with the middle picks of the NFL Draft.
Alternative Pick: Trade back to select Alabama OT, Cam Robinson
Round 2: Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
This offseason got off to a fast start for Mike Maccagnan, who locked up right guard, Brian Winters to a four-year contract extension.
The oft-injured lineman has yet to finish a complete season, yet showed enough consistency prior to his season-ending injury in Week 15 to garner a new deal.
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Teamed with James Carpenter for a majority of the season, the tandem played well and developed a rapport that could translate into consistency on the O-line. The rest of line is certainly questionable, with decisions looming for Nick Mangold and Ryan Clady. Brandon Shell showed some prowess and may have solidified his standing as the right tackle of the future.
With many questions unanswered, the Jets could use their second round pick to select Western Kentucky’s, Forrest Lamp. Lamp a four-year starter at left tackle for the Hilltoppers has projected as a guard at the next level.
This was evident at the Senior Bowl where Lamp did not impress at tackle, but once moved inside to guard showed a dominance when matched up even the superior pass rushers, such as Clemson’s Carlos Watkins.
Due to the health of Brian Winters and inexperience of James Carpenter, Lamp may be a prospect that the Jets would find hard to pass on in the second round.
Alternative Pick: Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana
Round 3: Pat Elflein, C, Ohio State
Over the last decade, Nick Mangold has built a resume for being one of, if not, the best center in the National Football League. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro.
At age 33, however, Mangold is at a crossroads in his career. A full rebuild for the New York Jets would waste the few years that Mangold may have left to play this game. The Jets could release Nick and allow him to go to a contender to obtain that elusive Lombardi Trophy, he so well deserves.
There is an alternative, though. Mangold could play one more year with the team that drafted him and retire as one of the most beloved Jets players of all time. In doing so, he could mentor an understudy at the center position.
Who better to be Mangold’s understudy then-current Ohio State Buckeye center, Pat Elflein?
Elflein is as versatile of a lineman as there is in this year’s draft. With three-years of experience at guard, Pat moved to center for the 2016 NCAA College Football season en route to being named an All-American and Rimington Trophy winner — the award for the best center in the country.
If the last decade has told us anything, Ohio State is a great place to start when in search of a cornerstone center.
Alternative Pick: Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy
Rounds 4 & 5: Julie’n Davenport, OT, Bucknell and Adam Bisnowaty, OT, Pitt
If you are not familiar with Bucknell University, it is located in a small town in central Pennsylvania. Not a household name in the world of college football, their basketball team has made some noise during March Madness, defeating a No. 3 Kansas squad in 2005.
If you dust off the record books or use a search engine to look back on Bucknell’s football history, you will find a proud, once prominent college football powerhouse.
In 1935, the Bison won the first ever Orange Bowl, shutting out the Miami Hurricanes, 26-0. The Lewisburg, Pennsylvania University also is home to Pro Football Hall of Famer, Clarke Hinkle, who was inducted in 1971.
Perhaps the next great Jets player could be Bucknell Offensive Tackle, Julie’n Davenport. Davenport has the right size and speed to play left tackle in the NFL. To do so, he will need to become more physically imposing, as he has been pinned as a “finesse” player, a label that would get him pushed around in the NFL.
In the fifth round, Maccagnan could benefit from studying the offensive line of the Pitt Panthers. Adam Bisnowaty and Dorian Johnson helped the Panthers and running backs, James Conner and Quadree Henderson to a top-25 rushing attack in 2016.
Alternative Picks: Dorian Johnson, OG, Pitt and Erik Magnusson, OT, Michigan
Rounds 6 & 7: Zach Banner, OT, USC and Jordan Morgan, OG, Kutztown
If Gang Green is looking for a massive anchor to develop into the next D’Brickashaw Ferguson, they won’t find one bigger than Zach Banner. The 6-foot-8, 350 pound-plus, USC Left Tackle is the son of former NFL player, Lincoln Kennedy.
As an imposing of figure as there may be in this year’s draft, Banner also brings a leadership quality that is rare to find. While providing protection to Sam Darnold in the Rose Bowl, Banner helped a Trojans offense that would put up 52 points in a stellar come from behind win against Penn State.
Banner’s combine could shoot him up draft boards based on the potential and pedigree he comes from, but if Banner should happen to slide for whatever reason, the Jets should pounce, as his ceiling has no limits.
It seems like year after year, seventh round picks and undrafted players are becoming major components to building a team. The small school player can become the diamond in the rough, as well. Kutztown’s Jordan Morgan could be both.
Morgan was named the best offensive lineman in Division II, and his game is similar to another PSAC Offensive Guard turned NFL All-Pro, New Orleans Saints’ Jahri Evans.