Cimini: Why Baker Mayfield is the right QB for the Jets

[flgreen]

Why Baker Mayfield is the right quarterback for the Jets

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  Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

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For three years, Mike Maccagnan avoided long-term commitment at quarterback -- no first-round draft picks and no multiyear veteran contracts. It was the NFL version of speed dating.

Now in his fourth year as New York Jets general manager, Maccagnan is ready to settle down.

With a blind date.

He doesn't know which quarterbacks will be available with the third pick in Thursday night's NFL draft, but he's prepared to hitch his reputation -- and the future of the franchise -- to the best quarterback available.

If Baker Mayfield is available, he should be that guy.

 

Baker Mayfield's accuracy would make him a good fit for the Jets' West Coast offense. Richard Rowe/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Mayfield is a winner who dominated at the highest level in college. He's an ultra-competitive playmaker who made it not once but twice as a walk-on -- at Texas Tech and Oklahoma. His arm is strong enough and, unlike recent Jets draft picks, he can throw with uncanny accuracy. His moxie chafes people -- mainly opponents -- but his brash attitude is exactly what the Jets need.

When you've been beaten down for nearly 50 years, it takes a unique personality to lead your team out of the abyss. Mayfield has that "it" factor.

"He's the king of talking stuff and backing it up," an AFC scout said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

 

 

Mayfield is undersized at 6-feet-⅝, but the game is changing and quarterbacks no longer need to be 6-foot-4 pocket passers. Passing attacks are spreading out, quarterbacks are working out of the shotgun, and run-pass options are becoming popular. Mayfield played in that system at Oklahoma, but he's also capable of fitting into the Jets' West Coast offense, according to scouts. The system is predicated on quick, accurate throws, which suits him perfectly.

 

The concern with Mayfield is whether his ego would run amok in the New York spotlight. The scout acknowledged, "He'll eat that up; it'll be right up his alley. His head will blow up and he'll be Mr. Broadway Baker, for better or worse."

Mayfield's flag-planting, crotch-grabbing histrionics won't fly in the NFL, but the Jets don't seem overly concerned. They met with him multiple times during the pre-draft process and came away impressed -- and that includes CEO Christopher Johnson. Publicly, Maccagnan has praised Mayfield's intangibles. Quarterback Josh McCown, a fellow Texan, is a pro's pro and could help tame the wild colt.

There's one caveat: If USC's Sam Darnold somehow slips to the Jets at No. 3, he should be the choice -- and probably would be. He's not as pro-ready as Mayfield, but his upside is higher because of his size, athletic ability and innate skill as a passer. His was hampered last season by turnovers and happy feet, but he was lights out in 2016 with a better supporting cast.

Chances are the Jets' decision will come down to Mayfield versus UCLA's Josh Rosen, a conventional pocket passer with flawless mechanics. But Rosen takes a lot of hits and already has suffered two concussions. You've probably heard the talk about his personality, how it rubs people the wrong way. I've been told of two separate occasions in which he upset people with words and actions in football situations.

It takes a special quarterback to thrive in New York, and some scouts wonder whether Rosen has the physical durability and mental toughness to endure the crucible of Gotham. Adversity comes with the job, especially when you play for the Jets. There's a lot to like about Rosen, but he hasn't demonstrated the ability to carry a program the way Mayfield did at Oklahoma.

 

Wyoming's Josh Allen also could be available at No. 3, but Allen's risk-reward should frighten teams in the top five. He has the highest ceiling of any quarterback, but his accuracy issues are real. With a pick this high, the Jets need to minimize risk, not create it. Unless it's an elaborate smokescreen, they don't appear to have a strong interest in Allen.

There's no sure thing in this draft. As one NFC scout said, "All of these guys have really, really good things, but each guy has a handful of negatives. The guy who was probably the biggest slam dunk -- Darnold -- raised questions with his performance [last season]."

For the Jets, it's a necessary gamble. And the right choice is Mayfield.

[peebag]

Kids, just say no to "Baker the Faker"

[chrisfaceoff]

Cimini pulling out all the stops to not be bulletin board material so he can get the interviews in the season.

[FidelioJet]

If tomorrow night around 9:00 Baker Mayfield is the QB for the NYJ's I'll be excited.

Not my first choice - but he's going to be exciting and definitely has the ability to thrive in the NFL....

[mrcoops]

Cimini proving that even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Mayfield is the right pick.

[flgreen]

Got a feeling he's going to be gone when the Jets pick.  Jets can never have nice things. 

[FidelioJet]

5 minutes ago, flgreen said:

Got a feeling he's going to be gone when the Jets pick.  Jets can never have nice things. 

Honestly, I think Mayfield is the one lock to be there.

Any of the other 3 could be gone - I just don't see a scenario where Baker goes 1 or 2.

[Joe the Breadman]

5 minutes ago, flgreen said:

Got a feeling he's going to be gone when the Jets pick.  Jets can never have nice things. 

This is my fear as well. For me the doomsday scenario is Darnold and Mayfield going in the first 2 picks.

I'm prepared for and expect the Jets to select Rosen if the above goes down.

[Untouchable]

“The game is changing”

Yep, just like 4 years ago when these dicks were touting guys like Kaepernick and RGIII as the “new breed” of QB who were going to change the way we look at the position.

How’s that been working out?

Macc should be castrated if he takes Mayfield over Darnold/Rosen.

[Vudu]

Mayfield is going to

Be better than all

Of them but fanboys are in love with measurables. We’re probably going to end up with a bust

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

 

[Miss Lonelyhearts]

ULTRA COMPETITIVE. ULTRA. MOXIE. SO MUCH IT CHAFES. CROTCH GRABBING HISTRIONICS.

[flgreen]

21 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

Honestly, I think Mayfield is the one lock to be there.

Any of the other 3 could be gone - I just don't see a scenario where Baker goes 1 or 2.

Probably just smoke, but there has been some buzz that the Browns are considering him, or that the Bills may come down to 2.   Myself , I really don't have a clue.  Seems to me common sense says 1) Darnold 2) Allen 3) Mayfield

[Jamax99]

Hope Baker goes #1   if Rosen is on the board , he must be the pick.    Rosen is the best pure passer in draft!   If we take Mayfield and Rosen ends up with Buffalo or New England i will be sick.  Rosen reminds me alot of Peyton mannning. On the field. 

[Beerfish]

Even cimini has bought into this tripe.  The fall will be hard and fast so Mayfiled  supporters you better start writing up the excuses, no weaponzzzzz. bad online, bad coaching

[IndianaJet]

Well - the two most vocal media critics (Mehta and Cimini) have now endorsed Baker to the Jets.

1) If he is drafted by the Jets and turns out to be a complete bust - I don't want to see articles from these two trashing the Jets in the future for taking him.

2) Maybe these guys really do have a good inside source. They both love to be right and have both gone out on a limb here in the last few days.

[Jetsplayer21]

39 minutes ago, Joe the Breadman said:

This is my fear as well. For me the doomsday scenario is Darnold and Mayfield going in the first 2 picks.

I'm prepared for and expect the Jets to select Rosen if the above goes down.

I wouldn’t be surprised in Barkley is #3 on jets list. Mac will brag they got the best player in the draft ?

[nycdan]

I cannot explain this rationally but I am toxically against Mayfield to the Jets.  I recognize how good his play was in Oklahoma.  I see the stats.  I saw many of the plays.  He can absolutely spin it and he does seem to have good touch and good ball-safety instincts.  Check.

But some part of me recoils at the idea that we draft him with Rosen or Darnold still on the board.  At this point I've given up trying to figure it out.  Seeing Mehta and Cimini endorse Mayfield only strengthens my resolve.  For me it's Rosen - Darnold/Allen - Mayfield.  

If we draft him, I'll sort my sh*t out and get on the bus, but I'm hoping I don't have to.  

[greenwave81]

I cannot explain this rationally but I am toxically against Mayfield to the Jets.  I recognize how good his play was in Oklahoma.  I see the stats.  I saw many of the plays.  He can absolutely spin it and he does seem to have good touch and good ball-safety instincts.  Check.
But some part of me recoils at the idea that we draft him with Rosen or Darnold still on the board.  At this point I've given up trying to figure it out.  Seeing Mehta and Cimini endorse Mayfield only strengthens my resolve.  For me it's Rosen - Darnold/Allen - Mayfield.  
If we draft him, I'll sort my sh*t out and get on the bus, but I'm hoping I don't have to.  

This. Well said!

[Bruce Harper]

By the way, I am so damn sick of the cliche that "Allen has the highest ceiling."  Because he has the strongest arm and best 40 time?  He has not shown anything to suggest that he could be really good, though, so why do people keep saying that?

If we get Darnold or Mayfield, I will be very excited.  I have watched all of his tape and I think Mayfield's talents will translate.  A little less excited about Rosen due to injuries and personality, but I could live with him as well.  Please no Allen, though.

[C Mart]

Cimini getting his knifes sharpened should the Jets pick Rosen. 

 

[Freemanm]

I just know we're getting a top QB in the draft tomorrow night, so I'm excited. I just hope Toilet Bowles knows what to do with him. 

[nycdan]

4 minutes ago, Freemanm said:

I just know we're getting a top QB in the draft tomorrow night, so I'm excited. I just hope Toilet Bowles knows what to do with him. 

He does.  He already ordered special training equipment:

[SMC]

I mentioned this elsewhere, but I'm amazed how some in the media and stat geeks are putting so much weight on production against amateurs. No other pro team sports does that in their prospect evaluation.

You draft Mayfield because of his arm strength, release, ability to process information quickly, and pocket awareness, not because of his completion percentage against amateurs and certainly not because of his moxy.

[Warfish]

2 minutes ago, SMC said:

I mentioned this elsewhere, but I'm amazed how some in the media and stat geeks are putting so much weight on production against amateurs. No other pro team sports does that in their prospect evaluation.

You draft Mayfield because of his arm strength, release, ability to process information quickly, and pocket awareness, not because of his completion percentage against amateurs and certainly not because of his moxy.

So what you're saying is that you'd draft Jeff George over all these prospects if he were in this draft class?

[rangerous]

i want the qb to have some fire.  i never got that sense from sanchez or geno or fitz.  mccown brings some fire but is limited in ability.  the last jet qb who did was chad.  if baker or rosen or darnold has the fire then he should be the guy everything else being equal.

[greenwichjetfan]

1 hour ago, nycdan said:

I cannot explain this rationally but I am toxically against Mayfield to the Jets.  I recognize how good his play was in Oklahoma.  I see the stats.  I saw many of the plays.  He can absolutely spin it and he does seem to have good touch and good ball-safety instincts.  Check.

But some part of me recoils at the idea that we draft him with Rosen or Darnold still on the board.  At this point I've given up trying to figure it out.  Seeing Mehta and Cimini endorse Mayfield only strengthens my resolve.  For me it's Rosen - Darnold/Allen - Mayfield.  

If we draft him, I'll sort my sh*t out and get on the bus, but I'm hoping I don't have to.  

For my own benefit, if the end result is that we do not get Rosen, it needs to be because he was picked 1 or 2. At that point, I'll fully back Baker. But god help me if Rosen is still available and we don't take him. I don't know what'll happen to me.

[Greensleeves]

This Cimini article is completely self serving. The media in NYC would love to have Mayfield because it would make their lives easier. No matter that Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold are more talented. The only way I can see the Jets with Mayfield is if Rosen and Darnold are off the board. 

[Greensleeves]

1 minute ago, greenwichjetfan said:

For my own benefit, if the end result is that we do not get Rosen, it needs to be because he was picked 1 or 2. At that point, I'll fully back Baker. But god help me if Rosen is still available and we don't take him. I don't know what'll happen to me.

We wrote basically the same thing at the same time. 

[maury77]

6 minutes ago, Greensleeves said:

This Cimini article is completely self serving. The media in NYC would love to have Mayfield because it would make their lives easier. No matter that Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold are more talented. The only way I can see the Jets with Mayfield is if Rosen and Darnold are off the board. 

1

I continue to believe that this is what is driving the Mayfield to the Jets narrative. This and Bowles saying nice things about Mayfield at the combine. 

[Larz]

It's a trap!

[ComfortablyNumb]

So what you're saying is that you'd draft Jeff George over all these prospects if he were in this draft class?

No, Jamarcus Russell


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[C Mart]

1 hour ago, SMC said:

I mentioned this elsewhere, but I'm amazed how some in the media and stat geeks are putting so much weight on production against amateurs. No other pro team sports does that in their prospect evaluation.

You draft Mayfield because of his arm strength, release, ability to process information quickly, and pocket awareness, not because of his completion percentage against amateurs and certainly not because of his moxy.

that was also Simms take..he only watches the QB. Just judge the player. He also mentions how important it is the match between the QB & OC

[Villain The Foe]

3 hours ago, flgreen said:

Got a feeling he's going to be gone when the Jets pick.  Jets can never have nice things. 

I agree. The more I I feel that Mayfield is the right pick the more I feel that the 3rd pick wasn't high enough. The Browns or Giants could draft him. To be so close, yet so far. lol. 

[SMC]

1 hour ago, Warfish said:

So what you're saying is that you'd draft Jeff George over all these prospects if he were in this draft class?

No, because George couldn't process information quickly.

There are physical attributes and skills that translate to QB success on the field. Those are more important than stats against amateurs.

This is the most important position in the sport. Teams should invest in coaching it up.

[Villain The Foe]

3 hours ago, Untouchable said:

“The game is changing”

Yep, just like 4 years ago when these dicks were touting guys like Kaepernick and RGIII as the “new breed” of QB who were going to change the way we look at the position.

How’s that been working out?

Macc should be castrated if he takes Mayfield over Darnold/Rosen.

Quite well actually. The spread offense is running the league. Zone read option is everywhere and "RPO's" is the lingo we've been hearing the latest. Deshaun Watson is possibly the most anticipated QB in the NFL, a back up just went toe-to-toe with Goliath and won the Super Bowl in what was the highest producing offense, highest producing points in SB history.....all spread, zone read's and misdirections. Cam Newton was the MVP of the league just a couple years back and got his team to the dance with his option offense that utilises alot of the run/pass concepts that Kaep and RGknee were known for. 
 

Speaking of 4 years ago, during the last 6 SB's 5 have been represented by a team running a spread offense of some kind....which includes Kaep and the 49er's. 

Hard to act like it hasn't been working out when it's being represented in Super Bowl after Super Bowl after Super Bowl. The QB's who run those type of offenses who've been in the Super Bowl are. 

Colin Kaepernick (2013)

Russell Wilson (2014/2015)

Cam Newton (2016)

Nick Foles (2018)

 I would include Brady given that he does run a spread offense, but he converted to the system in 2011, the guys above have been playing in this system their entire professional career, most of them since college. 

 

It's working out VERY well, you're simply choosing what to acknowledge and what not to. Your Favorite quarterback is probably running a form of spread. Of the top 5 QB's in this years draft, 3 of them can run the spread option/RPO (Jackson, Mayfield Allen). Carson Wentz, runs this scheme in Philly. 

Your position on your feelings on taking Mayfield over Darnold/Rosen is yours to have and I can def respect that, but the system that guys like Kaep and RG3 ran has been added to and is literally running the NFL. What folks thought was "gimmick" coaches are now realizing actually works in the pros. Folks talk about Mayfield throwing to wide open players, well....Cam is as well given spread concepts such as the 4x1 formation.