The New York Jets Choked - The Mailbag (And Wild Card Weekend Picks)
Well, the New York Jets choked. So instead of outlining twenty-five reasons they were going to beat AJ McCarron in the first round, we will jump into our first off-season mailbag and give picks for Wild Card Weekend. You can follow further New York Jets coverage here in the coming months and as always, thanks for tweeting the questions over!
@TurnOnTheJets@BarstoolNewYork under any circumstances would you consider moving up in the top 5 for another QB? Goff?
— TJ Carey (@TJCarey1) January 6, 2016
No. The Jets currently have the 20th pick in the NFL Draft so it would cost a ransom to move up that high. They only have six picks this year and multiple holes to fill on their roster and generally leaps like that in the NFL Draft don’t work out and leave you depleted of depth. Beyond that, Goff is far from an Andrew Luck type prospect who would merit that type of cost.
@TurnOnTheJets@BarstoolNewYork what would be the minimum value you would want back if the Jets chose to try and trade Wilkerson?
— Crowdawg239 (@crowdawg239) January 6, 2016
A first round pick. If the Jets are going to part with him (which is far from a given) they need at least a first rounder back for an All-Pro player and a game changer for the defensive line.
@TurnOnTheJets@BarstoolNewYork do you think the Jets will pursue any upper tier OT in free agency?
— danny gatta (@DannyGatta_) January 6, 2016
Yes, the Jets need at least one new offensive tackle, if not two this off-season. In a perfect world, they would release Breno Giacomini, restructure D’Brickashaw Ferguson and draft a tackle in the first or second round. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were active in the tackle market right out of the gates in free agency.
@TurnOnTheJets@BarstoolNewYork will offseason philosophy moving forward rely more on draft or FA/trading for veterans (fitz,bmarsh,decker)?
— Don Cortez (@TEFLONdon5991) January 6, 2016
I think it will be a healthy mix of both. The Jets currently have six picks and it would surprising if they didn’t leave NFL Draft weekend with six to eight players, thanks to a trade back or two. They have enough money to be active in free agency and the trade market but I wouldn’t expect any splashes on the Brandon Marshall level in the coming months.
@TurnOnTheJets@Judetruth do you think there’s a place for @J_ACER22 in this offense?
— Johnny Jet (@Johnnyjet_) January 6, 2016
Sure but he will not have anything handed to him by a regime that did not draft him. I don’t think the Jets are going to spend at TE this off-season, as they are more likely to run it back with Quincy Enunwa, Jace Amaro and Wes Saxton while letting Jeff Cumberland and Kellen Davis walk. Amaro will need to improve his blocking to function as the “Y” tight end, while Enunwa works as the “H” primarily but he’ll get his chances.
@TurnOnTheJets@BarstoolNewYork cromartie has to be cut right? What do we do with the RB situation?
— Tim Holder (@THold42) January 6, 2016
If he isn’t cut, he will have to take a big pay cut to stick around. Personally, I think the Jets would be fine without him but Todd Bowles is a fan and may like having the veteran back. At running back, the Jets will probably let Chris Ivory and Stevan Ridley walk, bring Bilal Powell back on the cheap and look to build through the draft in the middle rounds.
@TurnOnTheJets@BarstoolNewYork which players should be resigned this off season and which let go
— june (@eigross7) January 6, 2016
In a perfect world the Jets will at least bring back Muhammad Wilkerson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Damon Harrison and Bilal Powell. Players like Jeremy Kerley, Jeff Cumberland, Kellen Davis, Demario Davis, Ryan Quigley, Stevan Ridley and Randy Bullock are goners. Antonio Cromartie, Breno Giacomini, Chris Ivory and Erin Henderson are all on the bubble.
@TurnOnTheJets@BarstoolNewYork when will the sadness end?
— Chez Leite (@justajerseyboy) January 6, 2016
Next year, my friend. Always next year.
WILD CARD WEEKEND PICKS (BE CAREFUL, FRIENDS)
Kansas City (-3) at Houston: Such an obvious choice for the 4PM Saturday game. This feels like an ugly, low scoring game where you would be safer taking the under than either team but I’ll roll with the favorite.
Pittsburgh (-3) at Cincinnati: All Marvin Lewis does is lose first round games and I don’t think that streak ends thanks to AJ McCarron.
Washington (+1) vs. Green Bay: Yes, I can’t believe I’m picking Kirk Cousins vs. Aaron Rodgers but good lord Green Bay has been awful the past two months.
Seattle (-4.5) at Minnesota: Just feels like a terrible match-up for the Vikings against a Seattle team who may be able to make another Super Bowl run.