JetNation Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 By Glenn Naughton Realizing he was stating the obvious, Jets GM Mike Maccagnan prefaced his recent comments regarding the Jets secondary and their need for quality cornerbacks in making it clear that his thought process is one that permeates throughout the league. “I will say this with cornerbacks — and I don’t think this is anything any other GM wouldn’t say — you can never have enough good ones, so I would be very happy if we had a surplus at that position.” A surplus at a position that was the Achilles heel of the defense last season may not seem plausible on the surface, but in all reality the idea isn’t all that far-fetched when taking a look at the big picture. Maccagnan was speaking this weekend at the NFL combine according to al.com and discussing a time frame for the return of third-year cornerback Dee Milliner who missed all but three games last season as one of two young Jets cornerbacks who suffered season-ending injuries. While still a relative unknown at the pro level, fellow cornerback Dexter McDougle was also shelved for the duration of the 2014 season. By all accounts, the rookie was working his way up the depth-chart prior to tearing his ACL while defending a goal line pass in training camp. Both injuries would prove to be costly, but Milliner’s was devastating. A strong finish to his up and down rookie campaign that earned him defensive rookie of the month over the season’s final four games was cause for optimism. Entering 2014, he was slowed by a high ankle sprain suffered in training camp and didn’t play in the season opener but suited up for the Jets’ week two contest in Green Bay. Milliner would play just 41 of 72 snaps, struggling before his ankle tightened up and he pulled himself out of the game. When all was said and done it was a bad day for Milliner. He was beaten for 137 yards and a touchdown on five catches according to a newsday.com film breakdown. After sitting out weeks three and four due to the ankle injury, the corner returned in San Diego and was one of the Jets’ few bright spots in a 31-0 blowout loss. A lackluster effort on defense didn’t impact Milliner as he held opposing receivers to just nine yards while being credited with two passes defended. However, a torn Achilles at home against Denver that following Sunday would bring his season to an end. Losing Milliner, McDougle and free-agent addition Dimitri Patterson, who was released for going AWOL prior to the start of a pre-season game, wound up being too much for the Jets defense to overcome. In what was a virtual revolving door at the cornerback position, a pair of former undrafted free-agents, Darrin Walls and rookie Marcus Williams, turned out to be the best of the bunch and garnered the majority of the playing time. Both will likely get the opportunity to compete again this season, but whether or not either one earns a starting role remains to be seen. Other than Walls and Williams, safety Antonio Allen, Seahawks and Raiders cast-offs Josh Thomas and Phillip Adams, and former first round pick Kyle Wilson played sporadically throughout the season. Should Milliner and McDougle indeed return and play at a high level, the Jets will very likely have the surplus that Maccagnan referenced. Given the uncertainty of the situation, the GM and new head coach Todd Bowles will have import at least two starting caliber cornerbacks through the draft and free agency if there are any hopes of being competitive in 2015. One popular target in free agency among Jets fans is Seahawks CB Byron Maxwell. Landing the big corner may be easier said than done as his former coordinator in Seattle, Dan Quinn, is now running the show in Atlanta as their new head coach. With that being the case, the Falcons are considered an early favorite to land Maxwell’s services. However, despite a healthy cap situation with roughly $20 million to work with, the Falcons are nowhere near the Jets projected $40-$50 million in spending room. If it comes down to dollars, which if often does, the Jets should have the ability to bring Maxwell in if he is indeed their number one choice. If you believe what the pundits are saying, come draft day the Jets will either reach for cornerback early on, or hope to snag one after the first round if they stay at their current spot, number six overall. CBSsports.com provided a trio of mock drafts showing no cornerbacks being selected before the sixteenth overall selection, but that could all change following Michigan State’s Trae Waynes’ strong showing at the combine. Of course nobody outside of the Jets organization knows what their draft boards look like, but it may come down to the age-old debate of drafting the best player available, or the best player available who fills a need. Along with Waynes, Washington’s Marcus Peters, and Miami (Ohio) Quinten Rollins are some of the top players considered to be worthy of a first round selection. Maccagnan and Bowles are less than three weeks away from the start of building their roster when free agency kicks off on March 10th. The draft will then follow from March 30-Apr 2nd. A key free agent signing or two, paired with a strong pick at cornerback could play a big part in helping the Jets bounce back from a season in which the only place there was a surplus was the loss column. View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashmouth Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I think if there is one position on this team you must fill via FA and not the draft its the CB position. Reason I say that is because I feel we really need at least one sure thing at the position and hope that one of the younger guys step up and fill the second spot. As an example lets say for arguments sake the Jets sign Revis (or Insert any FA CB of your choice here) ...we know then we are solid at one CB position and Williams/Walls/McDougle/Milliner can compete for the second spot... At that point we would be in a very good position if one of them works out well and use the others in nickel/dime packages and solid depth. I do not feel adding another question mark via the draft is a good idea at all not at this stage. I would much rather see us fill LB/WR/G spots via the draft and of course remaining cap money will also go a long way . I did not put Wilson in this mix because I think the guy is a total idiot ...Sure he might grade out well at times but this team needs to start getting smarter not continuing to keep stupid players who do things on the field to hurt the team. Wilson has talent but he still has not learned to look back for the football and that's concerning along with the chance he commits a really dumb penalty at a critical stage in a game we've seen that before and don't need those kinds of players on this team The exciting thing about all this is we have so many options to make this team a lot stronger if we make the right moves and grab a solid stop gap QB this team will easily be an 8+ win team next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I think if there is one position on this team you must fill via FA and not the draft its the CB position. Reason I say that is because I feel we really need at least one sure thing at the position and hope that one of the younger guys step up and fill the second spot. As an example lets say for arguments sake the Jets sign Revis (or Insert any FA CB of your choice here) ...we know then we are solid at one CB position and Williams/Walls/McDougle/Milliner can compete for the second spot... At that point we would be in a very good position if one of them works out well and use the others in nickel/dime packages and solid depth. I do not feel adding another question mark via the draft is a good idea at all not at this stage. I would much rather see us fill LB/WR/G spots via the draft and of course remaining cap money will also go a long way . I did not put Wilson in this mix because I think the guy is a total idiot ...Sure he might grade out well at times but this team needs to start getting smarter not continuing to keep stupid players who do things on the field to hurt the team. Wilson has talent but he still has not learned to look back for the football and that's concerning along with the chance he commits a really dumb penalty at a critical stage in a game we've seen that before and don't need those kinds of players on this team The exciting thing about all this is we have so many options to make this team a lot stronger if we make the right moves and grab a solid stop gap QB this team will easily be an 8+ win team next year. Agreed....taking a CB early is fine with me, but you have to bring in a couple of vets who have shown they can play the position. Can't go with Milliner/McDougle/FA/Rookie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetster Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 If the Jets signed a trio of (Graham or Hughes), Maxwell, and Tory Smith to stretch the field on offense I would have no problem if they took Waynes at 6 & grabbed another stud WR with their high 2nd which would be the 5th pick in the 2nd round. I said before that I doubt they would do it but imagine if DGB dropped to that spot? Decker- Smith -DBG- Kerley at WR Graham or Hughes at OLB Maxwell- Waynes- Williams- Milliner-Carr I could live with that scenario & take a MLB in the 3rd, RB in the 4th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 They ARE signing a FA CB. I think the question is how many are they signing and the philosophy. I imagine they will be in the mix for at least one name FA starter and possibly two. They might actually try to go for two of them, but I think that is less likely if they go after the higher tier guys like Revis or Maxwell. They could get two (or three) second tier guys like Cromartie, Skrine, Brown for less than one top tier guy. They may go 1 FA, plus a pick, but I am betting 1 legit starting FA and another borderline/nickel guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I think if there is one position on this team you must fill via FA and not the draft its the CB position. Reason I say that is because I feel we really need at least one sure thing at the position and hope that one of the younger guys step up and fill the second spot. As an example lets say for arguments sake the Jets sign Revis (or Insert any FA CB of your choice here) ...we know then we are solid at one CB position and Williams/Walls/McDougle/Milliner can compete for the second spot... At that point we would be in a very good position if one of them works out well and use the others in nickel/dime packages and solid depth. I do not feel adding another question mark via the draft is a good idea at all not at this stage. I would much rather see us fill LB/WR/G spots via the draft and of course remaining cap money will also go a long way . I did not put Wilson in this mix because I think the guy is a total idiot ...Sure he might grade out well at times but this team needs to start getting smarter not continuing to keep stupid players who do things on the field to hurt the team. Wilson has talent but he still has not learned to look back for the football and that's concerning along with the chance he commits a really dumb penalty at a critical stage in a game we've seen that before and don't need those kinds of players on this team The exciting thing about all this is we have so many options to make this team a lot stronger if we make the right moves and grab a solid stop gap QB this team will easily be an 8+ win team next year. I agree. The CB position would be my primary focus in free agency. I'd be very aggressive in signing my top guy, and look to bring in another as well. We have two young, albeit injured, CBs on the roster already. Maccagnan has the right attitude to hope they turn out to be a surplus, but this team needs starters and he seems to recognize it. Also, I'd be very surprised if Wilson was with the Jets next year. The #6 pick is just too high for a CB this year. The WR/OLB (or QB?) talent on the board there will be too much to pass up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 We had the best one in the league. I don't particularly like the way he operates, but bringing Revis back would be a no-brainer imo. I'd rather spend on known commodities. We could afford Revis and Maxwell if we wanted to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prime21 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I agree. The CB position would be my primary focus in free agency. I'd be very aggressive in signing my top guy, and look to bring in another as well. We have two young, albeit injured, CBs on the roster already. Maccagnan has the right attitude to hope they turn out to be a surplus, but this team needs starters and he seems to recognize it. Also, I'd be very surprised if Wilson was with the Jets next year. The #6 pick is just too high for a CB this year. The WR/OLB (or QB?) talent on the board there will be too much to pass up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Schroy Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 By Glenn Naughton Realizing he was stating the obvious, Jets GM Mike Maccagnan prefaced his recent comments regarding the Jets secondary and their need for quality cornerbacks in making it clear that his thought process is one that permeates throughout the league. “I will say this with cornerbacks — and I don’t think this is anything any other GM wouldn’t say — you can never have enough good ones, so I would be very happy if we had a surplus at that position.” A surplus at a position that was the Achilles heel of the defense last season may not seem plausible on the surface, but in all reality the idea isn’t all that far-fetched when taking a look at the big picture. Maccagnan was speaking this weekend at the NFL combine according to al.com and discussing a time frame for the return of third-year cornerback Dee Milliner who missed all but three games last season as one of two young Jets cornerbacks who suffered season-ending injuries. While still a relative unknown at the pro level, fellow cornerback Dexter McDougle was also shelved for the duration of the 2014 season. By all accounts, the rookie was working his way up the depth-chart prior to tearing his ACL while defending a goal line pass in training camp. Both injuries would prove to be costly, but Milliner’s was devastating. A strong finish to his up and down rookie campaign that earned him defensive rookie of the month over the season’s final four games was cause for optimism. Entering 2014, he was slowed by a high ankle sprain suffered in training camp and didn’t play in the season opener but suited up for the Jets’ week two contest in Green Bay. Milliner would play just 41 of 72 snaps, struggling before his ankle tightened up and he pulled himself out of the game. When all was said and done it was a bad day for Milliner. He was beaten for 137 yards and a touchdown on five catches according to a newsday.com film breakdown. After sitting out weeks three and four due to the ankle injury, the corner returned in San Diego and was one of the Jets’ few bright spots in a 31-0 blowout loss. A lackluster effort on defense didn’t impact Milliner as he held opposing receivers to just nine yards while being credited with two passes defended. However, a torn Achilles at home against Denver that following Sunday would bring his season to an end. Losing Milliner, McDougle and free-agent addition Dimitri Patterson, who was released for going AWOL prior to the start of a pre-season game, wound up being too much for the Jets defense to overcome. In what was a virtual revolving door at the cornerback position, a pair of former undrafted free-agents, Darrin Walls and rookie Marcus Williams, turned out to be the best of the bunch and garnered the majority of the playing time. Both will likely get the opportunity to compete again this season, but whether or not either one earns a starting role remains to be seen. Other than Walls and Williams, safety Antonio Allen, Seahawks and Raiders cast-offs Josh Thomas and Phillip Adams, and former first round pick Kyle Wilson played sporadically throughout the season. Should Milliner and McDougle indeed return and play at a high level, the Jets will very likely have the surplus that Maccagnan referenced. Given the uncertainty of the situation, the GM and new head coach Todd Bowles will have import at least two starting caliber cornerbacks through the draft and free agency if there are any hopes of being competitive in 2015. One popular target in free agency among Jets fans is Seahawks CB Byron Maxwell. Landing the big corner may be easier said than done as his former coordinator in Seattle, Dan Quinn, is now running the show in Atlanta as their new head coach. With that being the case, the Falcons are considered an early favorite to land Maxwell’s services. However, despite a healthy cap situation with roughly $20 million to work with, the Falcons are nowhere near the Jets projected $40-$50 million in spending room. If it comes down to dollars, which if often does, the Jets should have the ability to bring Maxwell in if he is indeed their number one choice. If you believe what the pundits are saying, come draft day the Jets will either reach for cornerback early on, or hope to snag one after the first round if they stay at their current spot, number six overall. CBSsports.com provided a trio of mock drafts showing no cornerbacks being selected before the sixteenth overall selection, but that could all change following Michigan State’s Trae Waynes’ strong showing at the combine. Of course nobody outside of the Jets organization knows what their draft boards look like, but it may come down to the age-old debate of drafting the best player available, or the best player available who fills a need. Along with Waynes, Washington’s Marcus Peters, and Miami (Ohio) Quinten Rollins are some of the top players considered to be worthy of a first round selection. Maccagnan and Bowles are less than three weeks away from the start of building their roster when free agency kicks off on March 10th. The draft will then follow from March 30-Apr 2nd. A key free agent signing or two, paired with a strong pick at cornerback could play a big part in helping the Jets bounce back from a season in which the only place there was a surplus was the loss column. It's April 30th to May 2nd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YankeeJet22 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I would have no problem if they took Waynes at 6 God, please no. I enjoy your posts Jetster, but no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nj meadowlands Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 a Possible CB Depth Chart next year: Culliver, Cromartie, Milliner, MacDougal, M. Williams, Walls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 We had the best one in the league. I don't particularly like the way he operates, but bringing Revis back would be a no-brainer imo. I'd rather spend on known commodities. We could afford Revis and Maxwell if we wanted to. If we lose out on Maxwell, a reuniting of Revis and Cromartie intrigues me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 If we lose out on Maxwell, a reuniting of Revis and Cromartie intrigues me. Hell yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.