Gotham Green Grades: My Take on the Jets 2020 NFL Draft

From left to right: Mehki Becton, Joe Douglas and Denzel Mims. Photo: Bill Kostroun/AP.

Joe Douglas just completed his first NFL draft as GM with the New York Jets. With a lot of his picks, I found myself often thinking: "I don't hate/dislike the picks; I get it. I understand where he was going with it, but I thought there were better playmakers who were available at those spots." 

Well, there was one pick I disliked, but I will explain all of that and more, plus my overall draft grade in this analysis. Usually I do an exclusive post with the first pick, then another post on the rest of the draft later, but with other projects on the horizon, it's easier for me to combine their entire draft at this point.

First Round: Mehki Becton, OT, Louisville

An example of what I was talking about when I said I didn't hate or dislike the pick, but I thought there were playmakers there who could possibly come in and contribute right away were available starts with their very first pick. Honestly, I wanted edge rusher Chase Young, but realistically I wanted WR CeeDee Lamb, who I thought was the best receiver in the draft. By that I mean, I knew 9 times out of 10 Young was going with the first two or three picks, so the odds of him being available at No.11 was slim-to-none at best, but they had a realistic shot at drafting Lamb, and he went to a team I literally despise, so of course my thoughts of him have immediately changed.

I was thinking with Joe loading up on offensive lineman in free agency, you can pick a WR here and get solid OL later, but I understand the need to protect Sam (Darnold). The offensive line gave up 52 sacks last year, the second most in the league. It's going to be hard for Sam or any quarterback for that matter to do anything if he's constantly on his back.

Anyway, I was a tad disappointed they didn't draft Lamb, but when the slight disappointment subsided, the more I looked at Mehki's tape and did research on him, the more impressed I am with his upside and warmed up to the pick. The guy's 6-7, around 360 pounds, but he's no stiff. He ran a 5.10 in the 40 at the Combine, which is fast for a dude his size, he's nimble and light on his feet. One analyst during the draft referred to him as a "dancing bear."

Last season, he won the Jacobs Blocking trophy (best blocker in the conference) and made First Team All-ACC. Of course, there were concerns about his weight and if he can keep it under control, and a few concerns about some aspects of his technique, but those things are easy fixes with time and coaching.

The Jets are all-in on building around Sam and it starts with protection. If Mehki plays up to or exceeds his upside-- I'm confident that he will-- Sam may never get sacked from that side of the field again. I say that jokingly, but it's going to be hard to get around him. It's hard enough getting beyond or around a wall, nevertheless, a mobile one.

Grade: A

Second Round: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

Okay, so I was thinking with this pick they should go after a pass rusher. An edge rusher was what I really wanted with the first pick, but I didn't think there was anyone of that caliber to be taken that high after Young was drafted, which is why I was hoping they would've drafted Lamb. I wanted an edge rusher, but I didn't want him to reach to get one, so kudos to Joe for not nutting up.

In this round, I was hoping he would've picked edge rusher Zack Baun from Wisconsin, who I thought was the second best rusher in the draft, but I knew his stock would drop once I found out he lacked prototypical size for an NFL edge rusher. He traded down in this round in a deal with the Seattle Seahawks, picking up an extra pick in the third round-- which I liked. Baun was still there when he picked at No. 59, but he chose WR Denzel Mims.

Again, I understood that Sam needed more weapons at the receiver position. I don't hate or dislike the pick, but with a deep receiver class, I thought at this point-- especially with three third round picks at the time-- this position could've been addressed later. Anyway, Joe traded down and still got the player he wanted.

In Denzel, they're getting a receiver with size, speed and is reliable in the clutch (I watched a few Baylor games last year). Being that he dropped so low in the draft considering he was viewed by most as a first round pick, plus stating that he felt slighted by that notion and that he has been underestimated most of his life, he's coming in with a chip on his shoulder and a ton of motivation, which could spell trouble for those who passed him up.

Grade: A-

Thrid Round: Ashytn Davis, Safety, California (Berkley)

With his first pick in the third round, Joe drafted safety/return specialist Ashtyn Davis. I said myself that they needed to address safety depth after starters Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye (both dealt with injuries last season) so I don't hate or dislike the pick, but again, this could've waited, especially with Zack Baun still being available.

Another story of one being overlooked, Ashtyn didn't draw any attention from schools until he started to excel in track. He wound up attending California and getting on the team as a walk-on, a story similar to last year's fifth round pick Blake Cashman.

He's kind of small for a safety, but he plays much bigger than he looks. A rangy thumper, you can line him up all over the defensive backfield and he has some experience at cornerback, so I'm sure Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams will have fun utilizing him in his defense. I like his explosiveness and eye for the ball. He reminds me of Tyrann Mathieu, but better in coverage.

Grade: B+

Third Round: Jabari Zuniga, Edge Rusher, Florida

Finally, a pass/edge rusher is taken with Zuniga at No. 79 overall, but Baun was available at No. 68 before eventually being drafted by the New Orleans Saints at No. 74. After a breakout season his junior year, he decided to stay in school for his senior season that was plagued by injuries, which I'm sure hurt his stock considering he was viewed as first round value had he entered the draft last year.

Looking at his tape, he doesn't have the freak athleticism as Chase Young, but he's sufficient in that area, he has solid fundamentals and he's versatile, which goes a long way with any team. He seems like the type of player that will have solid production, but will fly under the radar. Another thing that will make Jets fans at him look side-eyed is the fact that they drafted Jachai Polite an edge rusher in the third round from Florida last year, who didn't even make the team.

Now, I don't think it's fair to automatically assume the same fate with Zuniga. He's not Jachai Polite. According to a professed Dolphins fan, he likes the upside of Zuniga as a prospect more than Becton. Again, I don't dislike the pick, it addressed a need, but I thought a better prospect was available earlier in the third round.

On a side note, the third 3rd round pick was traded to the New England Patriots, gaining an extra 4th round pick, and a sixth round pick for next year, a move that I thought was solid.

Grade: C+

Fourth Round: LiMichal Perine, Running Back, Florida

I liked this pick at this stage of the draft. I thought they needed to add depth behind Le'Veon Bell, and I think this was the right time to do so. Another pick who seems to have a chip on his shoulder, he was ousted by Auburn recruits stating he was a bit too slow, later burning them for 130 yards and a touchdown last year.

He strikes me as the type who won't wow you with natural athletic gifts, but compensates for that with hard work and being fundamentally sound. He's also a good receiver (out in the flat and you can line him up as a wide out). He's the prototype for coach Adam Gase's offense, and I think he and Bell will be a dangerous duo for years to come.

Grade: A-

Fourth Round: James Morgan, Quarterback, Florida International

My biggest question mark here. I didn't like this pick, at all. I know he has the measurables coaches and scouts covet (big and tall with a rocket arm) but there were more pressing needs. They could've picked another pass rusher here or even another receiver. You never know how these situations will turn out, but as of right now, he seems to be a project/third stringer at best.

I understand that Sam needed a backup (he has dealt with injuries his first two years in the league) but I was hoping they would've signed a veteran instead, which they still could. If they were going to go quarterback here, I would've preferred Tyler Huntley from Utah, someone who reminds me of Russell Wilson.

Grade: F

Fourth Round: Cameron Clark, Offensive Tackle, Charlotte

I liked this pick at this stage of the draft as well. He was named MVP of his team in 2017. That's unheard of from an offensive lineman on any level. Not to mention, you can never have enough protection for your quarterback(s).

Grade: A

Fifth Round: Bryce Hall, Cornerback, Virginia

From what I've heard about Bryce, it seems the Jets got a steal getting him this late in the draft. Most had him as high as the third round, but I'm sure his injury back in October is what dropped his draft stock. I like his size and he's good in press coverage, which is a plus in Williams' defense, where the corners are usually on an island.

He will be thrown into a pool of cornerbacks competing for the spot opposite of Pierre Desir. It will be interesting to see how this plays out come August and September.

Grade: B+

Sixth Round: Braden Mann, Punter, Texas A & M

Could've used another skill position, but a good pick at this point in the draft, where special teamers are usually taken off the board. He won the Ray Guy Award (nation's best punter) and Best Special Team Player in 2018 and made the First Team All-SEC two years in a row (2018 and 2019).

Grade: A

Overall, as I've said (repeatedly) for the most part, I didn't hate or dislike the picks. Needs were addressed, but I thought there were better prospects that were available at the time. I thought Joe did a solid job in his first draft. I definitely liked the way he spun trades. Speaking of which, he traded his second sixth round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for cornerback Quincy Wilson.

He gave up a low value draft pick for someone who was a second round pick in 2017. From my understanding, it didn't pan out with the Colts (obviously) but he showed some flashes in the process. It was a low risk, high reward situation, in my opinion. Honestly, I liked his wheeling and dealing better than his draft.

Overall Grade: B

 

How Sweet It Is!

Sam Darnold. Photo Credit: Adam Hunger/AP.

Yesterday afternoon, the Jets defeated the Dallas Cowboys 24-22 to get their first victory of the season and under the era of Adam Gase. Aside from the Patriots, I couldn't think of a better team for them to get their first victory against than the Dallas Cowboys. I can't stand those scumbags; particularly Jerry Jones and Dak Prescott. My reasons are non-football related, so I won't discuss that here. Besides, I already wrote a post concerning that matter last year. I hate them more than I hate the Patriots.

Personally, I think they should be 2-3; they had no business losing to the Bills on Week One, but what's done is done, no use looking back. Moving forward, it was great for them to get Sam Darnold back, who missed the last three games due to mononucleosis. He threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns, including a 92-yard bomb to wide receiver Robby Anderson.

Speaking of which, those last three games which started with Trevor Siemian, who is now out for the season, and finished with Luke Falk-- who was recently released-- at the helm was god awful, and hopefully, those days are behind them.

On a side note, I was tied up with other things, plus I don't rock with the NFL too much anymore outside of perhaps watching play-by-play online, but I had no idea the game was on TV until I turned it on for a few moments to see the final seconds before turning it off again. Those few moments were great to see. No, it wasn't a Super Bowl victory-- it's not that deep-- but it has definitely made my week, so far.

Now the question is, where do they go from here? Personally, I don't see why they can't bounce back from an ugly start. Throughout league history, there have been teams who came out of the gate slow and had a strong finish. Case in point: the New York Jets. In 2002, under Herman Edwards, they started off 1-4 and finished 9-7 to win the AFC East Division and advanced past the AFC Wild Card round. It's a long season. We'll see what happens.

Prior to the game, I thought to myself how sweet it would be for them to get their first win against the Cowboys, not only for the reason I alluded to above, but because they desperately needed it. How sweet it is.

Is The Jets Season Over?

Sam Darnold. Photo Credit: Bill Kostroun/AP.

Yes, I know. Following the goofy loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday after holding a 16-0 lead for three quarters, they look like the same ol' Jets. Then, I get online today only to find out that Sam Darnold will be sidelined indefinitely with a case of mononucleosis AKA "the kissing disease". Already there are questions and posts on whether or not the Jets season is over.

Before I give my answer, let me say this: taking over for Sam will be Trevor Siemian, a guy who has NFL starting experience, and after watching him for two years in Denver, I like him better as a No. 2 quarterback holding down the fort until the starter returns, which is the situation he's in now.

I wouldn't say he's trash; one even referred to him as being "incredibly average," so he might not be a Pro-Bowler necessarily, but he's adequate enough to get things done-- hopefully, it will be on a consistent basis this time around. Adam Gase's offense suits his skill set, being that he favors the intermediate-to-short throws. Again, my hope is that he doesn't settle for those too much this time around.

Trevor Siemian. Photo Credit: Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com.

There's a great supporting cast starting with the running backs featuring Le'Veon Bell; they added veteran wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who's familiar with Gase's offense going back to their days with the Denver Broncos, to go along with the productive three they have already in Quincy Enunwa, Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder. Hopefully, the first two are more productive moving forward than they were Sunday.

Despite that let-down in the fourth quarter last week, the defense looks promising-- for the most part. So, is the Jets season over? We'll see, but for a short answer, I will say, no. Besides, that was only the first game of the season, we have a long way to go. Calm the fudge down!!!

The Value of the Nose Tackle

I was reading an article with a take on the progress of the Jets rookies so far in the preseason, and what stood out to me the most was the analysis on NT/DE Quinnen Williams, who can play all positions on the defensive line, but was drafted as a nose guard. The writer talked about how he fared against the Saints; how he didn't record anything statistically, but drew a holding call. He went on to say his play was not enough for a third overall pick and gave him a C-minus.

This reminded me of how undervalued the nose tackle/guards are. Their value typically isn't going to show up on a stat sheet, but rather in intangibles. They're usually asked to engage offensive lineman and occupy space to create lanes for the defensive ends, linebackers and sometimes safeties to make plays. So, some analysts and most spectators tend to think just because the guy didn't record 5-8 tackles and a sack, his day was unproductive.

Usually, when you see the "star" defensive players make the Sports Center highlight plays, it's usually the nose tackles who set it up, tying up the lineman to create lanes for them to make those plays, which brings me back to Quinnen Williams. The previous week against the Falcons, he didn't record a tackle or a sack, but it was his ability to occupy blockers that enabled others to make big plays, as explained and demonstrated in this video.

Of course, getting sacks and tackles-- for losses, in particular-- are a plus, and I want to see that from him, however, most guys who play the anchor position typically won't generate a lot of sacks because of what they're asked to do, for the most part. Players like Jay Ratliff, who played the anchor position back in the early 2000s are rare. I think people will see more of his pass rush prowess when they move him around on the line, versus him playing strictly as the anchor.

Overall, I wanted to shed more light on how valuable the nose tackle/guard/anchor position really is. While they usually won't have the same Pro Bowl-caliber stats as an Aaron Donald or J.J. Watt, they bring more to the table than most realize or give them credit for. They do the grunt work while others get the glory.

The Eagle Has Landed...in New York

Joe Douglas during his tenure with the Eagles.

The Jets search for a GM is finally over. On Friday, they hired former Eagles VP of Player Personnel, Joe Douglas as their new general manager. Before I give my take on the hire, I'm noticing this perception that reporters are creating about the Jets that gives me mixed thoughts. An ESPN reporter stated that the Jets would not take no for an answer from Douglas, claiming that each time he turned them down, they came back more relentlessly, until he relented.

Until or unless officially stated from someone in the Jets front office, to me, the only thing that gives this claim any validity is because from my understanding, they requested an interview from the Vikings' George Paton on more than one occasion. Otherwise, it seems that people are on this low-key smear campaign to make the Jets look like hopeless beggars.

Anyway, because Douglas was viewed as a favorite to the land the job from the beginning, and being an acquaintance of head coach Adam Gase, one of my reactions to this is "duh." Being familiar with Gase should help things run more smoothly. Not saying that they will always agree on everything, but I think more than likely they will be on the same page in terms of what players will fit and will not fit.

On a side note, Gase's last move as an interim GM was re-signing running back Bilal Powell, a move I wasn't expecting, and much better than the cheap trade-off getting only a sixth round pick for Darron Lee.With his versatility as a runner and receiver, Bilal should be a great fit in Gase's offense.  The backfield just got deeper with this acquisition, along with Ty Montgomery, Elijah McGuire and the major signing of Le'Veon Bell.

As I alluded to in my last post, I'm good with this hire because Douglas comes from two stable organizations in Baltimore and most recently Philly, so he has seen and knows what a championship-caliber team looks like. Known for being an integral part of turning teams around, it will be intriguing to see what he brings to the table. My optimism is that he will continue his penchant of helping turn a team from low-seed to steady championship-caliber contenders, this time from a higher position, being given the keys to the team's football operations.

That's not to say that success will happen overnight, it usually doesn't, but I'm optimistic that it will be sooner than later. After a three-week search and several interviews, it's official, the eagle has landed in New York. I call this: Broadway Joe: The Second Act.

My Choice for the Jets GM Job

Ozzie Newsome. Photo Credit: USA Today Sports.

As the Jets continue their search for a general manager, interviewing four out of the five candidates this past weekend. First, they interviewed the Seattle Seahawks' Co-Director of Player Personnel Scott Fitterer, the New Orleans Saints' Director of Pro Scouting Terry Fontenot, the Philadelphia Eagles' VP of Player Personnel Joe Douglas and finally, the Chicago Bears' Assistant Director of Player Personnel Champ Kelly from the Chicago Bears.

One of the candidates, George Paton of the Minnesota Vikings rejected the Jets request for an interview-- for the third time! They just don't get it, do they? Will they ever learn from dealing with Minnesota? This reminds me of that lame who keeps pursuing a woman who wants nothing to do with him. Leave that broad alone and find someone who wants to be on your team, so to speak. I try not to use choice words on this blog, so I'll give my advice to the Jets concerning him in an acronym: FTMF.

The favorite out of these candidates from the start has been Joe Douglas. He's familiar with Adam Gase, and from my understanding, he wants to run his own team. What I like about this candidate is aside from the familiarity with Gase, he comes from two stable organizations: currently Philadelphia and previously the Baltimore Ravens.

The Eagles won a championship two years ago, and they usually maintain a team that are contenders, as well as the Ravens. Assuming he's learned from the guys on those franchises, I like what he could possibly bring to the table.

Speaking of the Ravens, this brings me to the subject of this post. Needless to say I'm not a part of the recruiting/hiring process, but my personal favorite, if I could pick someone to manage the New York Jets, it would be former Ravens GM and current advisor Ozzie Newsome.

Ozzie Newsome (right), Lamar Jackson (left). AP Photo/Patrick Semansky.

Ozzie created a strong, stable, contending foundation in Baltimore. Most of his draft picks have been successful; Terrell Suggs, Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata to name a few, and they won two Super Bowl titles under his watch. I'll admit, another reason is the fact that he's a brother, and while I'm for seeing people succeed in general, for me, it's extra special to see one of my own succeed.

I can hear the voices of certain people now: "Why everything has to be about race?" Screw you. Moving on, most would call this "wishful thinking," but hey, a brother can be optimistic, can't he? You never know.

Instigation and Speculations: My Take on the NY Jets "Drama"

Adam Gase. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II.

Yes, I know I'm late to the party in terms of reporting it, I've been wanting to give my thoughts on the fiasco that has been going in the Jets front office, but I've been busy with projects of my own. That being said, unless you've been living under a rock, the Jets unexpectedly-- to us, anyway-- fired Mike Maccagnan, who was the General Manager of the team since 2015.

Honestly, I thought his job was in question after the season, but they (initially) decided to keep him. Then, during the draft, word went around that there was some rift between Maccagnan and Adam Gase, and that Maccagnan was on his way out of the door, both allegations at that time were denied.

Maccagnan's track record wasn't particularly impressive, especially when it came to drafting. His standouts so far are Leonard Williams, Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, and I think Sam Darnold and Chris Herndon has a high ceiling. Jordan Jenkins, Elijah McGuire and Lachlan Edwards has been decent. He tried to finish on a strong note, signing some notable free agents such as Le'Veon Bell and CJ Mosley, and trading for two-time Pro-Bowler Kelechi Osemele, but that apparently wasn't enough.

Now, I don't know about the "rift" between the former GM and head coach, but the latter became obviously true after Maccagnan was let go nearly two weeks ago. Going back to what I mentioned about his job security, it wasn't so much the fact that he was let go that surprised people, it was the timing of it.

Mike Maccagnan.

Most chimed in that it was a decision they could've made after the season ended, where they could've brought in someone and started the new season off in a different direction as far as the GM's vision in a coach, player, and team versus waiting a few weeks after the draft, where now you have to hire someone on the fly.

Gase, who was named the interim GM immediately afterwards, made his first move by trading Darron Lee to the Kansas City Chiefs for a measly sixth round pick. I understand that although he showed some signs in his last two seasons, particularly last season, he didn't quite live up to his expectations as a first round pick, I was thinking they could've at least got a fourth rounder for him. Gee!

On a side note, if the Chiefs are going back to a 4-3 as I'm expecting, I think Darron's better served in that formation as weakside linebacker, versus being an inside/middle linebacker. Darron was too small to play in the middle of the defense where he would have to take on extra blockers, which is why I say I think he would thrive in a defense where there's an extra lineman to protect him up front, if they place him in the middle in Kansas City. Again, I think he's better served as a Will linebacker. Of course, there are exceptions in terms of small inside linebackers thriving, such as the late, great Sam Mills, but I'm talking about Darron Lee here.

Anyway, back to the drama. This brings me to the title of this post. Since Maccagnan's firing, there has been all types of speculating and instigating such as Gase ingratiating CEO Chris Johnson to overthrow Maccagnan, Gase being against the signing of running back Le'Veon Bell, rumors about them possibly trading Bell.

I think the allegations, particularly about Bell, is nonsense. One of the speculations out there that I think has some merit is Gase not wanting to pay that much for a running back. Especially when you consider that running backs aren't as valued as they were 10-20 years ago. Very few teams emphasize a run-oriented game. However, I don't know anyone who wouldn't want a top-three back on his team.

Then, there was talk about Peyton Manning taking the GM position. Again, I could see where this would have some merit, seeing that Manning has looked out for Gase, putting in recommendations for him to land the head coaching jobs at Miami, and now New York. He's the reason Trevor Siemian is now a New York Jet. However, the chances of that happening were/are slim.

 People just need something to talk about. I mean, football season is approaching, but the Jets gave them some material for them amplify in the meantime. Hey, if I'm wrong about any of my take of this Jets "drama," I stand corrected, but unless any of this is confirmed, it's all speculation and instigation.