The Jets finally completed their long-awaited, franchise-altering trade for Aaron Rodgers on Monday, but it’s also NFL Draft week.
And with the draft approaching, we are taking a look back at Joe Douglas’ first three drafts as general manager.
In this week’s newsletter, we take a look at Douglas’ most recent draft, in 2022.
This was a massive draft for the Jets because they had two picks in the top 10 and four in the top 40 after the trades of Jamal Adams and Sam Darnold in the two previous years.
It felt entering this draft that it could be a defining moment for the Jets.
This is my outlook on draft picks: First-round and second-round picks should be immediate starters or major contributors. Third-round picks should play special teams as rookies and become starters by Year 2 or 3. The fourth round and later is a total crapshoot.
I don’t want to give out letter grades for each pick. It is too soon for some of them. Let’s do pass/fail grades for their careers so far.
Here is a look at the Jets’ 2022 draft:
CB Sauce Gardner, first round, No. 4 overall
This pick could not look better for the Jets. If you redrafted the 2022 draft today, Gardner would go No. 1.
Gardner was excellent in every way as a rookie, right from the start. He made a few mistakes, but never really looked like a rookie. Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and was first-team All-Pro as a rookie. He should be one of the cornerstones of the Jets defense for years to come.
Pass/fail: PASS
WR Garrett Wilson, first round, No. 10 overall
What Gardner meant to the defense almost immediately, Wilson meant to the offense.
Despite inconsistent quarterback play (to put it nicely), Wilson managed 83 catches for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. Wilson should only get better with Rodgers at quarterback, and can become a consistent force.
Pass/fail: PASS
DE Jermaine Johnson, first round, No. 26 overall
The Jets moved up to get Johnson. Though he was overshadowed by his fellow first-round picks, Johnson showed potential as a rookie. He had 2 ½ sacks in a limited role (34 percent of the defensive snaps). Johnson was impressive against the run, too.
The Jets should find a way to get him more playing time this season.
Pass/fail: PASS
RB Breece Hall, second round, No. 36 overall
Hall was on his way to competing with Wilson for Rookie of the Year honors before he tore the ACL in his left knee during the Week 7 game in Denver. Hall was a big-play threat every time he touched the ball, and gave the Jets offense a dynamic it clearly lacked after his injury.
The Jets hope Hall is ready for the start of this season, though it may take him awhile to regain his old form.
Pass/fail: PASS
TE Jeremy Ruckert, third round, No. 101 overall
Ruckert did not see much action on offense as a rookie. He was on the field for 46 offensive snaps (8 percent), and caught one pass for eight yards. He showed his blocking ability in the season finale against the Dolphins.
Ruckert was a contributor on special teams, which is what I look for from a third-round pick as a rookie. As time goes on, Ruckert needs to have a bigger role on offense for this pick to be a success, but he did enough as a rookie for me to give this pick a passing grade.
Pass/fail: PASS
OT Max Mitchell, fourth round, No. 111 overall
There were no expectations for Mitchell to play as a rookie, but injuries led to him making five starts for the Jets at right tackle. He held up well in the role and surprised the coaching staff.
A knee injury and blood clots cost him most of the season. He is expected to be healthy for the upcoming year, and should be the team’s primary backup tackle.
Pass/fail: PASS
DE Micheal Clemons, fourth round, No. 117 overall
Clemons had a bigger role than expected as a rookie. After a really strong training camp/preseason, the coaches used Clemons as part of the defensive line rotation. He played 29 percent of the defensive snaps and had 2 ½ sacks.
Clemons is big enough that he can slide inside, something the Jets might do more of this season with less depth on the interior than they had last year.
Pass/fail: PASS
Overall assessment: This draft class lands Douglas on the honor roll. He nailed it with Gardner, Wilson and Hall, and there is a lot of potential with the other picks.
Douglas needed a big draft after two uninspiring hauls in his first two classes. He delivered. This class could be transformational for the Jets when we look back in 10 years.
Want to catch a game? The Jets schedule with links to buy tickets can be found here.
The Rodgers effect
Front of the agenda
There is no question the Jets need to address the offensive line in this week’s draft.
If you look at the roster, the Jets have fewer holes to fill this year, but the holes they have are glaring. And none are bigger than the offensive line.
Right now, the Jets have one offensive lineman you feel really good about — Alijah Vera-Tucker — and he is coming off surgery.
The rest of the group has questions. Mekhi Becton has not played in two years. Duane Brown is going to be 38 by Week 1, and is coming off shoulder surgery. Laken Tomlinson did not play well in his first year as a Jet. Mitchell was OK as a rookie, but is not a starter. The Jets just re-signed Connor McGovern at center, but McGovern has been inconsistent in his time with the Jets and remained a free agent in late April for a reason.
Having Rodgers won’t matter if the Jets can’t protect him.
Douglas needs to find some help on the line in this draft.
Stat’s so
There always has been a lot of attention on the Jets’ inability to find a long-term answer at quarterback, but the team also has struggled to find one in recent years at running back.
The Jets have had a different leading rusher in each of the past seven seasons — since Chris Ivory led the team for three straight seasons from 2013-15. Here is a look at the list since then:
2016: Matt Forte — 218 attempts, 813 yards, 7 TDs
2017: Bilal Powell — 178 attempts, 772 yards, 5 TDs
2018: Isaiah Crowell — 143 attempts, 685 yards, 6 TDs
2019: Le’Veon Bell — 245 attempts, 789 yards, 3 TDs
2020: Frank Gore — 187 attempts, 653 yards, 2 TDs
2021: Michael Carter — 147 attempts, 639 yards, 4 TDs
2022: Breece Hall — 80 attempts, 463 yards, 4 TDs
Source: Pro Football Reference
Credit: Source link
