The Jets’ draft-day steal that nobody is talking about

[Patriot Killa]

Mehta: The Jets’ draft-day steal that nobody is talking about

The Jets quietly pulled off a trade on the final day of the draft that might prove to be a downright steal.

Sam Darnold's arrival rightfully grabbed the headlines, but Mike Maccagnan made another low-risk, high-reward deal to address one of his biggest remaining needs. Six weeks after the Jets made a blockbuster trade with the Colts to position themselves to land a potential franchise quarterback, the teams made another swap on Day 3 of the draft that barely registered a blip on the trade-o-meter.

But it might turn into gold for Gang Green.

Maccagnan gave up a seventh-round pick (No. 235) for defensive end Henry Anderson, prompting most of the us to shrug our shoulders and move on.

Upon closer inspection, this was such a smart trade for the Jets.

There's minimal downside. If Anderson, who will be asked to help replace Muhammad Wilkerson, flops, so what? The Jets wasted a seventh-round pick? Believe me, Maccagnan will soldier on.

The upside is significant. Anderson, who will turn 27 this summer, likely will be better than anyone the Jets would have taken at the 235th overall pick. He could immediately help a defensive line that lacks difference makers other than Leonard Williams.

With no viable pressure from the outside linebackers, Todd Bowles will need Anderson and third-round pick Nathan Shepherd to generate consistent heat on the quarterback. The Jets basically got nothing out of Wilkerson last season.

The good news: Anderson, a former third-round pick from Stanford, has shown promise in 29 career games (19 starts) in his first three seasons.

The bad news: He's missed 19 games due to injury, including a laryngeal fracture that shelved him for the final seven last season.

New Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' change from a 3-4 to 4-3 scheme paved the way for the deal. Anderson, who played in a 3-4 defense in college and his first three seasons in Indy, lost 15-20 pounds from his 300-pound frame this offseason to better fit a 4-3 scheme. He'll evidently need to hit the buffet line now to gain it back.

The 6-6 Anderson started the first nine games as a rookie before suffering a season-ending torn ACL. He played 11 games in 2016 and nine last year before being placed on season-ending injured reserve for the second time in his career. Anderson, who has 43 career tackles and three career sacks, has flashed an ability to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. He'll have additional motivation to stay healthy and produce before hitting the free agent market after this season too.

Bowles, who employs multiple fronts, should be able to move Anderson around along the line. The Jets deserve credit for making a move that just might pay off in a significant way.

[HawkeyeJet]

I feel like a fair number of people have talked about it, Manish.

[pointman]

10 minutes ago, HawkeyeJet said:

I feel like a fair number of people have talked about it, Manish.

To be fair though, Manish doesn't really follow football so.

[k-met57]

colts fans were pissed we got him for nothing. it sounds like he was mostly a victim of their change in defensive philosophy. 

[Lupz27]

1 hour ago, HawkeyeJet said:

I feel like a fair number of people have talked about it, Manish.

This was just another Manish using another excuse to take another shot at Mo Wilk, even with him gone he has to keep harping in him probably to puff his chest for I told you so’s.

[Maxman]

Hugh Douglas was young and a better player, but this kind of reminds me of that. New scheme, so we are just going to dump a decent player. See ya.

[Saul Goodman]

Thought that this was about my boy Parry Nickerson...

[Thai Jet]

48 minutes ago, k-met57 said:

colts fans were pissed we got him for nothing. it sounds like he was mostly a victim of their change in defensive philosophy. 

Yup they went from a 3-4 to a 4-3. He even starting losing weight so he'd be a better fit for there 4-3 end spot.

[jetstream23]

We have to assume he'll be healthy.  If that's the case then this was highway robbery.  I wouldn't be surprised if Anderson is on the field for upwards of 60 or 70% of our defensive snaps.  The MOST important thing in my mind is that he's experienced.  He's played well against NFL competition in a 3-4 alignment so he'll jump right in.  I'd bet $100 our starting DLine in Week 1 is Leo Williams - McClendon - Anderson.

[Patriot Killa]

4 hours ago, jetstream23 said:

We have to assume he'll be healthy.  If that's the case then this was highway robbery.  I wouldn't be surprised if Anderson is on the field for upwards of 60 or 70% of our defensive snaps.  The MOST important thing in my mind is that he's experienced.  He's played well against NFL competition in a 3-4 alignment so he'll jump right in.  I'd bet $100 our starting DLine in Week 1 is Leo Williams - McClendon - Anderson.

And we will have a good rotation of Foley, Shepherd and Xavier Cooper.

Looking forward to the D-line this year.

[Fantasy Island]

He is going to be AWESOME!!!!!!

[BurnleyJet]

2 hours ago, Patriot Killa said:

And we will have a good rotation of Foley, Shepherd and Xavier Cooper.

Looking forward to the D-line this year.

Folorunso Fatukasi also, I think he's McClendon's eventual replacement.

[rangerous]

every season it seems there are tons of players that can be had for low level draft picks.  he might drawn more interest if not injured so much but then again he does get injured a lot and may not even make the team.  it's a good deal if he makes the team.

[K Clue]

2 hours ago, BurnleyJet said:

Folorunso Fatukasi also, I think he's McClendon's eventual replacement.

Folorunso Fatukasi is Foley lol.

[Jetscode1]

[The Crusher]

11 hours ago, pointman said:

To be fair though, Manish doesn't really follow football so.

Yeah but he never misses a chance to take a shot at Mo Wilkerson either. 

[The Crusher]

9 hours ago, Lupz27 said:

This was just another Manish using another excuse to take another shot at Mo Wilk, even with him gone he has to keep harping in him probably to puff his chest for I told you so’s.

Like minds. Haha

[The Crusher]

9 hours ago, jetstream23 said:

We have to assume he'll be healthy.  If that's the case then this was highway robbery.  I wouldn't be surprised if Anderson is on the field for upwards of 60 or 70% of our defensive snaps.  The MOST important thing in my mind is that he's experienced.  He's played well against NFL competition in a 3-4 alignment so he'll jump right in.  I'd bet $100 our starting DLine in Week 1 is Leo Williams - McClendon - Anderson.

As long as Leo gets some space  to play and not double teamed every play this is huge. 

[Sonny Werblin]

Well, he came back from the torn ACL awhile ago, so I assume we know the knee is good. Laryngeal fracture?? Sounds like a bitch of an injury. As in when it happens you maybe can't breathe or talk, but it also sounds like the kind of thing that has no lasting effects once you recover. So, he sounds like a very good bet on the health side of things.

[section314]

10 hours ago, Maxman said:

Hugh Douglas was young and a better player, but this kind of reminds me of that. New scheme, so we are just going to dump a decent player. See ya.

Exactly, Max. Thought the same thing the day after the trade when they said the Colts were changing schemes. Thought of Hugh right away. 

[BCJet]

I hope he doesnt gain too much weight, that simply never works (see Mauldin) and anything to help his quickness is great.

I know we dont run a traditional 3-4, but who exactly is going to play our "Suggs" role as an OLB who puts their hand on the ground and rushers the passer?  I really hope Mauldin's injury was somewhat fluky and he can come back but its not very likely and I have zero faith in Josh Martin if he has to play more than 30% of the snaps, and Donahue couldnt be more questionable to even make the roster.  

Not an ideal scenario to try to run this type of defense.

[JiFtheOracle]

Anderson sucks and is never healthy.  Otherwise, sure, super great steal! 

[varjet]

Anderson sounds like a good addition.

I just don’t get how this team accumulates players sometimes.  The Jets run a 3-4, and have Williams, McClendon and Pennel, and others, on the roster.  Yet we had 3 DL in the draft.  We draft a TE 2 years in a row.  Yet we draft no OL, even though we have had the same backups who cannot start for 3 years, and basically the rush OLB is complete mystery.

[RichardTodd27]

This is one thing I always appreciated about Mac. He takes chances on guys that have had past injury issues. He did it with Claiborne, Beachum, Long and now Anderson.

Low risk, high reward.

It's a great philosophy and it's paid off for a lot of teams (like when the Saint signed Brees).

[jetstream23]

1 hour ago, The Crusher said:

As long as Leo gets some space  to play and not double teamed every play this is huge. 

I think this is why Maccagnan made an unexpected and questionable attempt at signing Suh.  It was a head-scratcher for a lot of people but finding a way to add another guy who will draw double-teams on the DLine is a key to unlocking Leo's potential.  I want to see how Anderson, Shepherd and our other additions work out this year but I wouldn't be opposed to trying to find a true space-eating NT next year.  A guy in the mold of Snacks, Vince Wilfork or Haloti Ngata.  MUCH easier said than done but I see that as a way to maximize Leo.

[jetstream23]

31 minutes ago, RichardTodd27 said:

This is one thing I always appreciated about Mac. He takes chances on guys that have had past injury issues. He did it with Claiborne, Beachum, Long and now Anderson.

Low risk, high reward.

It's a great philosophy and it's paid off for a lot of teams (like when the Saint signed Brees).

I'd put Marshall in that category as well.  We got him for what, a 5th?  I don't think he was coming off a physical injury but there were serious questions about him and Macc took a calculated risk that worked out.

[JiFtheOracle]

1 minute ago, jetstream23 said:

I'd put Marshall in that category as well.  We got him for what, a 5th?  I don't think he was coming off a physical injury but there were serious questions about him and Macc took a calculated risk that worked out.

Did it work out?  Marshall was his typical dbag-self that tore down the entire locker room.  Sure, he had a great season prior but it was all for nothing.  Every where the guy goes, drama follows.  That 5th round pick could have been Stefon Diggs. 

[dbatesman]

JiF is right about keeping things in perspective. Anderson has never produced at a high level, gets hurt all the time, and is entering the last year of his contract. He’s a freak athlete, and it was only a 7th, so I like the trade, but it would be a major upset if he’s on the roster in 2019.

[Klecko73isGod]

3 hours ago, JiF said:

Did it work out?  Marshall was his typical dbag-self that tore down the entire locker room.  Sure, he had a great season prior but it was all for nothing.  Every where the guy goes, drama follows.  That 5th round pick could have been Stefon Diggs. 

 

1 minute ago, dbatesman said:

JiF is right about keeping things in perspective. Anderson has never produced at a high level, gets hurt all the time, and is entering the last year of his contract. He’s a freak athlete, and it was only a 7th, so I like the trade, but it would be a major upset if he’s on the roster in 2019.

I think we've made a love connection!!!! 

[RutgersJetFan]

Nobody has talked about it. NOBODY.

[JiFtheOracle]

55 minutes ago, Klecko73isGod said:

 

I think we've made a love connection!!!! 

@T0mShane sup dawg? 

[jetstream23]

10 hours ago, JiF said:

Did it work out?  Marshall was his typical dbag-self that tore down the entire locker room.  Sure, he had a great season prior but it was all for nothing.  Every where the guy goes, drama follows.  That 5th round pick could have been Stefon Diggs. 

But it wouldn’t have been.