Have we ever been this universally praised after any draft in franchise history?

[Long Island Leprechaun]

15 hours ago, JTJet said:

Not to be rude, but you gotta watch more drafts then. 

We get this much praise during the draft almost all the time. 

That's total BS. 

[More Cowbell]

10 minutes ago, Jet Nut said:

When it was in NYC and whichever venue it was held at the room was full of Jets fans.  Its not the same anymore.  

Dolan screwed that up for Jets fans

I doubt even if it was here you would here boos. This group of players is still exactly what the fans wanted. 

[Irish Jet]

4 minutes ago, Long Island Leprechaun said:

Yeah, let's not focus on what's happening right now; let's go back in time to unrelated GM's so we can still manage to feel bad and wallow in curmudgeonly bitterness. I'm glad I'm not you.

Joe Douglas was the GM in 2020. I can bump the reactions to that draft if you like.

I have liked this draft. But I’m gonna wait for the games to be played before I start riding the dick of a GM who’s won 6 games in 2 years.

[Phillyjet]

Taking a step back, recognizing like all of you, this was the most transformational draft since 2000.  Round 1 is getting universally praised, but I think we’ll see a big of nitpicking today on Breece Hall with the trade-up in the second.  I for one think it was an inspired pick, although you could argue that in our rotational system, a 4th/5th round back like Pierre Strong would have been suitable, allowing us to address the depth in the trenches, LB, or safety.  Heck, Jalen Pitre was the next pick.

But, as I see it, I still think this may have been the year for a second round RB, RB1, in the draft.  It’s clear JD loved Breece Hall.  What’s not to like.  Great vision and ideal for our system.  You beef up the interior offensive line, and we are moving chains!  ANd then you consider the alternatives:

1) DT sucked this year in the draft; could we have used depth at DT, sure, but JFM will slide inside and we picked up Solomon Thomas in free agency.  Shepherd is back.  It is serviceable.

2) Oline: the history of tackle prospects in round 2 is abysmal.  And again we’d be drafting a rotational player who would not start on day 1. 

3) LB: think Saleh believes he can get specialist LB/S tweeners so I understand the move here.  

Do I think the Jets need to infuse oline, D-line and LB/S more?  Sure, but in evaluating the Breece pick, you get an immediate starter, much like the three Round 1 picks.  Getting 4 impact starters in a draft is highly unusual. Gotta agree this was a slam-dunk draft.  Do we still have holes, yes, but we now have an identity, a competitive team, and can enjoy Sunday football again for the first time in over a decade.

[Bowles Movement]

24 minutes ago, Irish Jet said:

People were having kittens over the 2020 draft. It’s par for the course.

And while most of our picks have been praised pretty much every site that deals with advanced stats or analytics is sh*tting all over the Hall pick. 

What is the basis of their criticism?

[Jimmy 2 Times]

18 hours ago, bitonti said:

 

The dude became a punchline but had one Hell of a voice, RIP

https://youtu.be/QulBUdp-SAQ

I always thought of him as the happy version of Morrissey. 

[y2k8]

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/afc-east-draft-grades-mike-maccagnan-crushes-first-jets-draft-0ap3000000491832

AFC East draft grades: Mike Maccagnan crushes first Jets draft

1) NEW YORK JETS: General manager Mike Maccagnan deserves kudos for his astute management of the draft board last weekend. The first-time decision maker showed exceptional discipline and poise while acquiring blue-chip talent throughout the draft. Landing Leonard Williams was certainly an unexpected event, but taking the best player available could help the Jets field a dominant defense for the next five years. With Lorenzo Mauldin also coming on board as a third-round pick, Gang Green fortified its top unit with smart drafting. Second-round selection Devin Smith gives the Jets' aerial attack a vertical stretch receiver. His speed and explosiveness will open up the field for Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, while giving Geno Smith a big-play option on every play. Bryce Petty will not compete for the starting QB job in 2015, but matching the Baylor standout with a creative play designer (Chan Gailey) could pay off for New York down the road. GRADE: A

[Irish Jet]

8 minutes ago, Bowles Movement said:

What is the basis of their criticism?

His position.

[JTJet]

25 minutes ago, Long Island Leprechaun said:

That's total BS. 

Revisionist history. Take off the green colored glasses. 

This is a great draft thus far, but we have certainly had this praise many times. Especially in the early rounds. 

[Long Island Leprechaun]

1 minute ago, JTJet said:

Revisionist history. Take off the green colored glasses. 

This is a great draft thus far, but we have certainly had this praise many times. Especially in the early rounds. 

You should just stop at "this is a great draft thus far." The rest is empty emotional baggage.

[Jet hustle]

18 hours ago, STLuLu said:

George Michaels was once also universally praised until he got caught giving head in the men's restroom. So, let's not make too much of a deal of the attention the Jets are getting. I know some of you feel like you're floating in outer space but you will come back to earth soon

Not if Sauce Gardner has anything to say abt it.....

[the Claw]

I get what you’re saying but the Jets usually get praised for (at least) their first rounds. How many years in a row did the Jets get the falling star? Consensus best player? Gerting some praise from the media is cool and all, but this is the first draft I’ve seen in many many years where about 90% of this board are happy and excited. That tells me something. Of course there’s the usual suspects who are being their miserable selves, but the Jets finally drafted along the lines of what most of us wanted. This draft does feel different in that regard.

[JTJet]

19 minutes ago, Long Island Leprechaun said:

You should just stop at "this is a great draft thus far." The rest is empty emotional baggage.

Jesus you're dense. 

It is a great draft so far. But I'm not going so far as to get on my knees and slurp on JDs dong proclaiming it the greatest draft in NFL history like most of you. 

Theres a reason people here and the media joke about the Jets being the "kings of the offseason", and you're just giving it fuel. 

[BigB]

Lets see what all these picks do when they start playing for real. On paper it was an excellent draft and the picks we all wanted.

[Long Island Leprechaun]

1 minute ago, JTJet said:

Jesus you're dense. 

It is a great draft so far. But I'm not going so far as to get on my knees and slurp on JDs dong proclaiming it the greatest draft in NFL history like most of you. 

Theres a reason people here and the media joke about the Jets being the "kings of the offseason", and you're just giving it fuel. 

I love how simply suggesting that we enjoy the moment is transformed into the usual strawmen of proclaiming off-season victory and slurping/riding JD's pole. I've been following the Jets since 1975. I'll reserve the right to enjoy what I see as a competent and effective draft, based on what I know right now. Nothing more. Try reading what I said, not listening to the paranoid narrative in your head. 

[TuscanyTile2]

To the OP's point, I don't think we ever have.  And it's not even necessarily about the national media saying this.  I've never seen Jet fans this happy with a draft before. 

After the 1st 2 days, I already think there's a real chance this will go down as the best draft in Jets' history.  And we still have 2 more picks today!

[BigRy56]

When you package this draft with last years, JD is bringing it. Phenomenal job

[Irish Jet]

24 minutes ago, JTJet said:

Jesus you're dense. 

It is a great draft so far. But I'm not going so far as to get on my knees and slurp on JDs dong proclaiming it the greatest draft in NFL history like most of you. 

Theres a reason people here and the media joke about the Jets being the "kings of the offseason", and you're just giving it fuel. 

Tread lightly comrade.

We don't do dissent here in Joe's Brave New World. 

[RutgersJetFan]

19 hours ago, STLuLu said:

George Michaels was once also universally praised until he got caught giving head in the men's restroom. So, let's not make too much of a deal of the attention the Jets are getting. I know some of you feel like you're floating in outer space but you will come back to earth soon

I've read this post four times and none of it makes any sense and yet I absolutely love it.

[Long Island Leprechaun]

1 minute ago, Irish Jet said:

Tread lightly comrade.

We don't do dissent here in Joe's Brave New World. 

More BS. But continue your circle jerk.

[playtowinthegame]

3 minutes ago, RutgersJetFan said:

I've read this post four times and none of it makes any sense and yet I absolutely love it.

Getting caught giving head is an ANALogy of the Jets looking good in April, and "sucking" in September.

[Jet Nut]

1 hour ago, More Cowbell said:

I doubt even if it was here you would here boos. This group of players is still exactly what the fans wanted. 

No, there wouldnt have been, there would have been a lot of cheering.  But thats the point, being in NYC there would have been loud cheers and if we had a Brady like pick there would have been more boos in a NYC venue than in Vegas where Jets fans weren't the vast majority 

[redlichtie]

Apologies if already posted….nice read 

https://www.golongtd.com/p/the-new-york-jets-know-what-theyre?s=r

The New York Jets know what they're doing

GM Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh needed to nail this 2022 NFL Draft. This weekend could not be going any better.

Tyler Dunne

58 min ago

2

Getty Images

With all due respect to Wayne Newton shouting “Mississippi!” there are few things better on draft weekend than the fist bumps. When that camera peers inside a draft room, we get to see GMs and coaches acting very human. It can be fun. It can be awkward. Howie Roseman and Tom Donahoe supplied a must-see exchange last year. Unfortunately, neither network televising this weekend’s festivities are giving viewers many peeks behind the curtain.

On Night 1, however, there was one awesome moment. 

From Pick No. 15 to Pick No. 26 — before every single selection — New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas tried to trade up for Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson. Finally, he found a trade partner and the Jets captured his elation. “We’re on the f-----g clock,” Douglas says after setting the phone down. When head coach Robert Saleh wraps him in a hug, he gets louder. “We’re on the f-----g clock!”

It wasn’t forced, either. This felt very real because both had every reason to be ecstatic.

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No team faced more pressure than the Jets this weekend. With the Buffalo Bills still quarterbacked by a MVP candidate, the Miami Dolphins adding a dream team ensemble of talent (headed by Tyreek Hill) and the New England Patriots still coached by the greatest coach ever, the Jets needed to take full advantage of their hefty draft ammo. Two days in, this is the franchise’s best haul since 2000 when they nabbed four difference-makers in the first round, DE Shaun Ellis, DE John Abraham, QB Chad Pennington and TE Anthony Becht. It’s no exaggeration to suggest that the Jets landed the best cornerback (Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner), the best wide receiver (Garrett Wilson), the best running back (Breece Hall) and, in Johnson, one of the best pure pass rushers.

For a team that already made its big bet at quarterback, a meat-and-potatoes draft came at a perfect time. This all comes with a massive caveat, of course. Nothing matters if Zach Wilson doesn’t pan out. But the draft broke beautifully for a team in need. Douglas inherited a colossal mess of a franchise in 2019, quietly stocked the roster with actual talent and — if the Jets do turn this thing around for good — we’ll probably look back at the 2022 draft as what lit the match.

Getty Images

There’s few cliches in sports worse than a team telling us they took the best player on their board but, pick to pick, value met need for Douglas. An offensive tackle wasn’t going to change much in the AFC East for the Jets, but a true No. 1 corner? This was absolutely needed with Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle play-to-play threats to detonate. Gardner is described as a faster and more athletic Richard Sherman at 6 foot 2 ½ with 4.46 speed and 33 ½-inch arms. His versatility to play press and off coverage is rare and Saleh nailed it during his press conference on Thursday night in explaining the value of Gardner. This league is all about getting a stop on third and 4 when everyone knows you’re locked up in man-to-man coverage. Sometimes, this sport isn’t that complicated: Can your premier corner blanket their premier wide receiver? With the game on the line? 

Take JC Jackson, the All Pro who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in the spring. He takes the ball away at an absurd clip. The last two seasons, Jackson has 17 interceptions with 37 passes defensed, but when it came to what stands in the Patriots’ way right in the division, he repeatedly was burnt by Diggs. 

There will be growing pains. But the fact that Gardner at least has a shot to compete in such a matchup — because of his size-speed combo — makes him worthy of the No. 4 overall pick.

Since Darrelle Revis’ peak 10 years ago, the Jets haven’t boasted a true No. 1 cornerback.

“Sauce can do everything,” Saleh said. “He can play zone. He can play man. He can win in crunch time. He can run with the fastest guys. He can defend the biggest guys. He’s elite.”

Saleh didn’t hide from a question about the division, too. As a defensive coach who’s thinking about how to stop all of these weapons in the AFC East daily, he knows his scheme will only go so far. In DBs like Michael Carter II, DJ Reed, Jordan Whitehead, LaMarcus Joyner and Ashtyn Davis, the Jets are compiling a group of tough, pound-for-pound players.

Of course, the Jets needed to help their quarterback.

Hill spurned them for Miami and the Jets were unable to swing a deal for unhappy 49ers wide receiver/running back/beer vendor/groundskeeper Deebo Samuel, but this is suddenly a promising crew: Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, Braxton Berrios and the vet Corey Davis should be more than enough for their 22-year-old quarterback. 

Scouts pegged Wilson the best wideout of 2022. Said one: “He’s exactly what a lot of teams are looking for. He doesn’t have ideal size, but outside of size I don’t think you could find anything wrong with him.” He’s smallish but proved he can gain separation and make the contested catch deep — the Jets sorely needed a game-breaker like this:

“He has the whole repertoire in terms of the route tree,” Saleh said. “You see him and he looks a little slight but he’s actually very strong. Plays the game very strong. He’s got great range. He’s got really good speed. He’s another guy who can win 1-on-1 which obviously, when you look at Buffalo, New England and Miami, they’re man-to-man coverage teams. Being able to add him to Corey, Braxton and Elijah Moore and the rest of our receiving corps and the tight ends… it’s a group that’s really ascending and a really young group that’s going to have a chance to grow together.”

Zach Wilson had a strange, futile rookie season with 2,334 yards, nine touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a lowly 55.6 completion percentage through three wins and 10 losses. But the mess around him did not help. The Jets’ receiving corps was hit hard by injury and he didn’t have anyone striking any amount of fear deep. That changes with Garrett Wilson. Of his 12 touchdowns last season, six were on vertical routes. He averaged 15.1 yards per reception and there’s a reason he’s so good in traffic trying to catch the ball at his highest point. It’s natural. He was a star point guard in high school basketball and the AAU circuit who could play at the rim. He actually received D-I offers and has said basketball was his first love. 

His father, Kenny Wilson, even played briefly for Denver Nuggets after scoring 1,573 career points at Davidson.

Here’s Garrett Wilson’s high school basketball film for those interested. 

Getty Images

Samuel is a 1-of-1 talent and nobody was used like him in 2021 — perhaps ever. His third-down run at Lambeau Field in the 49ers’ divisional playoff win was as clutch as it gets in January. While reporting on “Blood and Guts” (preorder today if you’d like!), I can’t tell you how many times some of the best tight ends and tight end coaches ever brought up Samuel’s name unsolicited as a positionless weapon changing the sport. You want him on your roster. Then again, Samuel would’ve also cost the Jets at least $20 million per year and we’ve seen contracts like this totally blow up in the Jets’ faces year-in and year-out for whatever reason. 

Whoever’s been in charge of the football operation too often chases the shiny bright objects. Overall, Douglas’ discipline is a breath of fresh air as he methodically rebuilds the team.

Of course, if we’re nitpicking, the Jets probably would’ve loved for Aidan Hutchinson to sneak down to four. Their pass rush was abysmal in 2021.

Getting Carl Lawson back should help. After signing a three-year, $45 million deal last season, the former Bengal ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in August. Johnson certainly comes with red flags, but credit to Douglas for his resiliency calling teams for half the first round to finally move from No. 35 to No. 26. When our Bob McGinn asked 17 scouts who the best pure pass rusher was in the draft, three said Johnson. There was some scathing criticism but no questioning his pass-rush ability after 12 sacks at Florida State. Said one scout: “He can power off the edge. He’s got get-off and flattens down on the quarterback.” And another: “He’s got exceptional hands and hand usage at the point of attack. That’s what grabbed me the most about him. The sacks came off hustle.”

If the Jets foster the right environment for Johnson, this could turn out to be the great steal of the draft.

I think we can take the franchise at its word when they tell us they drafted three players in their top 8.

They all play premium positions, too.

“Big. Long. Explosive,” Saleh said of Johnson. “He has great athleticism, violence to his game. Very smart. He is probably the most pro ready out of all the pass rushers this year in terms of having a repertoire to his game. Really a perfect fit for what we do defensively with our Wide 9 system, putting him on an edge and getting him firing off the ball and attacking. He’ll really be a great complement to the group that we already have.”

On Day 2, the Jets found a running back. Iowa State’s Breece Hall is as good as it gets this spring and should add a needed wrinkle to the passing game, too. The Jets tried moving back into the first round to grab Hall and still landed him on Day 2. Everything adds up from the speed (4.39) to the athleticism (40 inches) to the production. The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021 rushed for 3,044 yards and 41 touchdowns. Again, the Jets found a playmaker who’ll stretch the field. Even as a defensive-minded coach, Saleh likely knows shootouts are going to be inevitable in today’s NFL. You cannot stubbornly expect to win 17-14 games in 2022. Not with Josh Allen locked in long term with the Bills.

Buffalo had a chance to take Hall itself in the first round, but opted for the dual-threat James Cook instead in the second. It’ll be quite interesting to track both of their young careers considering both will factor into their offenses immediately in a big way.

“Part of the plan,” said Saleh, “was to add some guys who when they touch it, guys can take it 80.”

How refreshing it must be for Jets fans to have such general competence at the top of the organization. It’s almost difficult to comprehend. 

From the get-go, Douglas was a smart hire as someone who cut his teeth as a scout on Ozzie Newsome’s staff in Baltimore from 2000 to 2014. Newsome and the Ravens’ system is revered around the NFL as the gold standard. Many other front offices go sideways because you don’t really know who’s in charge and/or the person making that final call allows emotion enter the equation. As simple as it sounds, a steady presence at the top — think Ted Thompson in Green Bay — is all it takes to build a winner that lasts.

Of course, these Jets are counting on this being their quarterback. A team can add all the talent it wants around a QB. Unless that’s your guy, it won’t matter. Douglas did everything in his power to set Zach Wilson up for success. 

As outstanding as that the Jets’ draft was 22 years ago, that was also the draft that doomed the franchise for a generation. Ellis was solid. Abraham was one of the best pass rushers of the 2000s. Pennington was damn good, too. 

But then at No. 199, a different quarterback was drafted by the Patriots: Tom Brady. 

Once the high from this weekend wears off, Douglas and Saleh will be taking a deep exhale and the real work begins.

 

 

[Jet Nut]

11 minutes ago, Irish Jet said:

Tread lightly comrade.

We don't do dissent here in Joe's Brave New World. 

And your constant whining is getting old.  

Says more about you that you cant enjoy this draft and are trying hard to ruin it for everyone.  

[BurntDice]

I love how this draft is shaping up. They are still rookies though. I’ll be happy with a 8-9 win season and the season not being dead by Halloween. Hoping for a possible wild card push this year and a deep playoff run in 2023  

[xJayce]

19 hours ago, Sperm Edwards said:

2000 comes to mind -- 4 firsts plus Coles in the 3rd

You can say that many 1st rounders is shooting fish in a barrel, but the worst of our 1sts that year - Becht - started more games for the Jets than the #1 pick started in his career. Yeah getting just a blocking TE in round 1 is crap, but he did start 130+ games in his career, and anyway they didn't know back then that he'd be just a 6th lineman (like Brady was before him).

To me, it's not even just about 'well, it's easy when you have top 10 picks". This was the 'easy' part. There was a ton of work to get us to this point (and some will point out destroying the roster to get a top 10 pick is something a lot of bad GMs do all the time).

There has been a lead up to this moment for years, with shrewd trades (thank you Carolina and Seattle) to get the draft capital we needed to make this happen, some decent FA signings, not overpaying in panic mode for Deebo, etc...

The reason we have JJ, Sauce and Wilson coming over is the 'end part' of what has been 2 years of work.

[Jet Nut]

1 hour ago, More Cowbell said:

I doubt even if it was here you would here boos. This group of players is still exactly what the fans wanted. 

I was talking about the Brady pick, not this years draft

[STLuLu]

1 hour ago, Jet hustle said:

Not if Sauce Gardner has anything to say abt it.....

Can't wait to see him play but he's just one man.

[More Cowbell]

18 minutes ago, Jet Nut said:

No, there wouldnt have been, there would have been a lot of cheering.  But thats the point, being in NYC there would have been loud cheers and if we had a Brady like pick there would have been more boos in a NYC venue than in Vegas where Jets fans weren't the vast majority 

That's  not the point but fine

[Irish Jet]

27 minutes ago, Long Island Leprechaun said:

More BS. But continue your circle jerk.

[Joe Willie White Shoes]

21 minutes ago, Jet Nut said:

And your constant whining is getting old.  

Says more about you that you cant enjoy this draft and are trying hard to ruin it for everyone.  

IJ wants to fire JD for not giving up multiple picks and $100 million to AJ Brown. He was apoplectic Thursday night when Brown was traded to the Eagles.  

[Joe Willie White Shoes]

The 2000 draft was universally praised and led to nearly a decade of perennial playoff berths.  

[JTJet]

1 hour ago, Long Island Leprechaun said:

I love how simply suggesting that we enjoy the moment is transformed into the usual strawmen of proclaiming off-season victory and slurping/riding JD's pole. I've been following the Jets since 1975. I'll reserve the right to enjoy what I see as a competent and effective draft, based on what I know right now. Nothing more. Try reading what I said, not listening to the paranoid narrative in your head. 

You talk strawmen arguments like you havent even read the title of this thread. Surely you cannot be this oblivious? 

This entire thread is centered around being universally praised, not "enjoying the moment", so get bent with your deflection. 

[Irish Jet]

10 minutes ago, Joe Willie White Shoes said:

IJ wants to fire JD for not giving up multiple picks and $100 million to AJ Brown. He was apoplectic Thursday night when Brown was traded to the Eagles.  

I did not say we should fire him.

I said he failed to get the veteran #1 he was looking for, which is demonstrably true. I wanted AJ Brown and if we had traded for him you and all the other cultists would have been calling it a stroke of genius.

[Jet Nut]

14 minutes ago, Joe Willie White Shoes said:

IJ wants to fire JD for not giving up multiple picks and $100 million to AJ Brown. He was apoplectic Thursday night when Brown was traded to the Eagles.  

And if JD makes that deal he probably goes on a rant how he overpaid and should have used the picks on one of the available WRs.