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Will Character Concerns Impact Jets Draft Decisions?


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Mike Maccagnan

By Glenn Naughton

 

Just like any other fans of an NFL team with a new front office in place, the Jets faithful will have to wait until the NFL draft to find out exactly what Gang Green will be prioritizing on their draft board, which is likely all but ready to go at this point.

While talent, skill, and on-field production will play the biggest role in determining a player’s assigned draft grade, it’s the off-field issues that may scare some teams away while others view it as an opportunity to steal a player several slots later than they may have gone if no off-field concerns were present.

With the sixth overall selection in round 1, pick number 5 in round two and the added possibility of trading down to accumulate more picks, the Jets could be one of many teams faced with a risk vs. reward dilemma on more than one occasion.

Should they stand pat at number six, a player who fits one of their most immediate needs and is widely considered to be worth the sixth overall pick is outside linebacker Randy Gregory out of the University of Nebraska.  However, a failed drug test during the NFL combine along with Gregory’s admission of regular marijuana use throughout is college career isn’t going to help his draft stock, but nobody knows just yet exactly  how much it’s going to  hurt it.

Fans and analysts have expressed concerns not about the marijuana use itself, but the poor decision by Gregory to continue using at such a critical time.  With a known drug test in his future that could be worth  millions as a top-10 pick, Gregory chose to continue using.  Some teams will undoubtedly hold that against Gregory as it presents legitimate questions about his commitment to becoming the type of player a team covets with their top selection.

At 6′ 6” 240 lbs, Gregory has been described as a high ceiling/low floor prospect by NFL.com and the it’ll be up to Gang Green’s talent evaluators to decide just how high that ceiling is and if Gregory is worth the risk.

The Gregory dilemma has had some Jets fans flashing back to the 1995 NFL draft when, despite Jets fans chanting his name on draft day, the Jets passed on future hall of famer Warren Sapp in the wake of reports of a failed drug test in favor of Penn State tight end Kyle Brady.

Whether or not the Jets opt to trade down in round one, there are two other players with character concerns who some feel possess top-15 talent that may be there early in round two.  While neither fills a pressing need, could either one be too good to pass up at that point in the draft based on value alone?

Perhaps the most intriguing prospect is one whom the Jets hosted just a few days ago in Washington cornerback Marcus Peters.  Like Gregory, there are those who feel Peters is among the top players at his position and some have gone so far as to say he’s the best overall cornerback in this draft.

However, the knock on Peters is that he’s just not a coachable player.  Suspended by Washington during the season for multiple run-ins with the coaching staff has left a blemish on his draft profile that some scouts have acknowledged led to teams taking him off of their boards completely.  Given head coach Todd Bowles’ reputation as a coach who knows when to turn on the heat and when to back off to get the most out of his players, is Peters an ideal candidate for the Jets to get maximum value in the second round?

Even with the recent additions of Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, a key consideration for the Jets regarding Peters has to be their expectations of Cromarite beyond this season.  Despite having just signed a brand new three-year deal with the Jets, Cromartie’s contract is structured in such a way that he could be let go after this season without any salary cap ramifications.  With the uncertainty lingering over the oft injured, yet talented Dee Milliner and an unproven Dexter McDougle, will Peters’ character concerns scare the Jets off, or will they view this as an opportunity to get maximum value by grabbing a potential top-15 talent in round two?

Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham has an NFL.com scouting report that at times, sounds like more of a rap sheet.

Was dismissed from Missouri program after being subject of burglary and assault investigation by police. He allegedly pushed a female down some stairs during the incident that was investigated. He didn’t face charges from the incident. Was arrested twice for marijuana-related incidents. In January 2014, he was arrested along with two other men after police found a pound of marijuana in their car. No charges were filed. In October 2012, he was arrested along with two teammates after they were allegedly caught smoking marijuana in a campus parking lot. He was suspended for the Vanderbilt game after the arrest.

Even with all of that, the 6’5” receiver is still being pegged by some as a second round pick.   In his most recent mock draft, NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah does indeed have Green-Beckham going to the Jets with the 37th pick overall near the top of round two.  Adding a receiver with a rare combination of size and speed (4.49 40) like this to a wide receiver group that already includes the 6′ 4” Brandon  Marshall and the 6′ 3” Eric Decker has got to be tempting at the very least.

Green-Beckham’s physical tools are said to be elite and his last college season in which he caught 59 passes for  883 yards (15 YPC) and twelve touchdowns support that.  However, while any coaching staff likes the idea of an offense that makes an opponent lose sleep in the days leading up to stepping on the field, will the Jets be worried about losing sleep over what’s possibly going on off of it?

 

 

 

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I would be more worried about a coach choker like Peters than a guy that smokes weed or has some other problems.  Most people seem to like DGB, but uncoachable is not what you want to hear about a guy and that is what they have said about Peters.  Bowles may have the skills to get the best out of a guy like that, but it is not what you are looking for to set a tone as a new coach.  Once you have the locker room on your side you can bring guys like that in, but off the bat?  I'm not sure it is a good idea.  In his favor, man corner probably requires more technique tweaking and less "coaching"  With teams that play mostly man, it is more an individual position.  As much as you get on D, anyway.

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I would be more worried about a coach choker like Peters than a guy that smokes weed or has some other problems. 

Smoking weed is not the issue.

 

 

The issue is his decision-making skills to continue using when he knew he would be tested at the Combine.

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Smoking weed is not the issue.

 

 

The issue is his decision-making skills to continue using when he knew he would be tested at the Combine.

 

I agree. My point is that I would rather take my chances with a kid that may make poor decisions than one that will choke an assistant.  Which one do you think will cause more trouble with the rest of the team?  Character concerns should always be considered, but what got Peters thrown off the team is pretty serious from a football standpoint.  Maybe he really didn't choke the guy - the team denies it.

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I don't want either player.  Weed aside I think Gregory is going to bust.  DGB has had too many problems and sounded like a bit of a dough head in the one interview I saw of him.  If a guy is a huge talent and there are no other alternatives in that position then maybe but both pass rusher and WR are loaded in this draft.  No need to a risk if you ask me.

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New GM, new coach, Mike Goodson, CJ0.6K, Rex's circus.  I don't see them taking any chances on red flag players.  If there is anything that Woody has a right to meddle with it's insuring that his GM/HC don't mess up the brand.  He needs to rebuild the team's image as being a credible NFL franchise vs. the laughingstock joke it has morphed into over the past 5 years

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If we draft Cooper or White at #6, then we won't have to debate the wisdom/lack thereof of drafting DGB in the 2nd (if he's stil there).  There are several talented but troubled players expected to be in the first two rounds. Winston, Gregory, DGB , Peters...   probably many more.

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If we had a choice between DGB and Jalen Strong in the second, I would probably take Strong even though I think DGB is more talented. The way I see it is if there is another option available who is close then you go with the safe pick, If it were between DGB and Coates then I would go with DGB. There is a time on every draft board where the reward outweighs the risk and that is where you need to take these guys with character issues.

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Cimini can actually write decent articles once in a while.  This is a good one about Brady over Sapp in 1995.  It hits home about the risk/reward of selecting character vs. talent in the draft.  

 

To me it also shows that these red flag guys can bottle things up for a while (Sapp is a HOF player) but eventually most are who they are and revert to red flag behavior (Sapp has had a string of troubles since retiring)

 

Here is the link:

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2015/story/_/id/12741261/new-york-jets-altered-nfl-history-drafting-kyle-brady-warren-sapp-1995

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If the Jets select a QB or edge rusher at #6... or if the Jets trade back and get an OT + edge rusher or OT + RB..  and if (a great big "if", I know) DGB is still around at #37, do we take the risk?  Aaron Hernandez notwithstanding (that's for the Pats trolls).

 

Maybe I'm naive, but after reading the Resurrection of DGB article (link posted above) I would likely run to the podium.

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Character problem guys can just torment your organization which is my worry.  Not just the fact that you may lose out on the guy playing but if he is really good and causes problems he can be a long term thorn that you simply don't know what to do with.  See Josh Gordon.

 

It is so dang tough to evaluate these guys as well, seems like no magic formula as to whether they will become changed or not at least during their career.  (A lot of them sooner or later revert, even if it is after their career.)

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I don't want either player.  Weed aside I think Gregory is going to bust.  DGB has had too many problems and sounded like a bit of a dough head in the one interview I saw of him.  If a guy is a huge talent and there are no other alternatives in that position then maybe but both pass rusher and WR are loaded in this draft.  No need to a risk if you ask me.

I don't think Gregory will bust at all; but he would be a big risk for a new regime.  After reading the transcript of the interview with Dupree, he seems like a high character guy and the type that would make more sense for us.   I am more open to DGB because he would be a 2nd rounder or later pick and I think a guy like Marshall could be a good mentor for him.   

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If the Jets select a QB or edge rusher at #6... or if the Jets trade back and get an OT + edge rusher or OT + RB..  and if (a great big "if", I know) DGB is still around at #37, do we take the risk?  Aaron Hernandez notwithstanding (that's for the Pats trolls).

 

Maybe I'm naive, but after reading the Resurrection of DGB article (link posted above) I would likely run to the podium.

Yeah me too.

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If we had a choice between DGB and Jalen Strong in the second, I would probably take Strong even though I think DGB is more talented. The way I see it is if there is another option available who is close then you go with the safe pick, If it were between DGB and Coates then I would go with DGB. There is a time on every draft board where the reward outweighs the risk and that is where you need to take these guys with character issues.

Sorry I gotta go with Beckham.  If we didn't already have Marshall I might agree with you but we do so Strong is redundant.   I know Marshall is going on 31 but he should be good for another 2 - 3 years at a high level.  DGB is bigger, faster and a better athlete than Strong and while is not a refined as a route runner, has a much bigger upside.  Ya gotta roll the dice on that him if he is there at 37.  You are talking Randy Moss type talent.

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What if the Jets were able to land both White and Gordon or White and Duke ? That would certainly turn our offense from ball control to down right frightening. While I still prefer the ball control short passing game / running game its certainly would not hurt to have some really explosive players to give us the element of surprise rather than constantly being predictable. Lord knows Shotty and Sparano were so predictable it was making it hard to watch games

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