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2015 NFL Draft: Mike Maccagnan Shows Steady Hand With Leonard Williams Pick

By Robby Sabo

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New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan proved his worth last night during the 2015 NFL Draft, capitalizing on the one shocker of Round 1.

Until you’ve actually been in the situation, you have no idea what it feels like.

None of us have even the slightest of clues.

What we’re discussing is being the man in charge of an NFL Draft War Room. The guy who has final say on the name that goes on that little card which ultimately ends up in the hands of Roger Goodell at the 2015 NFL Draft podium.

This position, of decision maker, isn’t just as simple as selecting the next member of your team, it determines futures of so many in the NFL business. Jobs, money, fate – all of it can change based on one fantastic pick, or horrible miss.

So, as New York Jets first-year general manager Mike Maccagnan was staring at his first big-time decision in the business last night in Chicago, he felt something most of us will never feel.

Maccagnan had to make a snap decision, and he passed with flying colors.

Thanks to the shock of the draft – which was the Washington Redskins selecting offensive tackle Brandon Scherff with the No. 5 pick – the Jets were suddenly staring at arguably the best football prospect in the group, Leonard Williams.

Coming into the night, many positional needs were, and still are, apparent.

Of course quarterback is the biggest need. Regardless of how talented a football team may be, without a top-flight quarterback at the helm, organizations in this league will have a tough time sustaining any type of success.

Other needs span from the offensive line (which needs significant work), to an edge rusher on the defensive side. Even a deep threat out-wide on offense is something to obtain.

First-round studs like Dante Fowler Jr., Brandon Scherff, Amari Cooper, Kevin White, Andrus Peat and even Shane Ray and Marcus Mariota were all guys rumored to head to Florham Park, New Jersey.

When Maccagnan was faced with the possibility of taking Williams at No. 6 – a guy who many believe is the most talented player in the draft – he had one of the tougher decisions to make of any general manager the entire night.

Considering the wealth of defensive lineman this team already possesses, how could the Jets select Williams? Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison make up a trio of interior defensive lineman, in a 3-4 scheme, who rival any group in the league.

It’s a group that spearheaded a defense who finished fifth in the NFL last season, surrendering only 93.1 yards per game. They are a group that finished third in 2013 while yielding only 88.2 yards per game.

It is a unit that was clearly the strength of this football team.

Despite that well-known information, Maccagnan decided to go with a very novel idea: take the best available player. A player who was not supposed to be there. A guy, who by many accounts, can be a once in a decade type defensive lineman.

It’s such a “non-positional need” pick that Williams can’t even start in their base scheme as it. Neither Williams, nor Richardson, are small or nimble enough to move to the edge. We could possibly see it in some sub-packages on passing downs, but that’s it.

Maccagnan has turned the Jets strength into a downright ridiculous and filthy unit. He’s also sent a message to the entire organization regarding the unknown. With Wilkerson still holding out of mini-camp duties due to contract issues, the Williams pick allows everybody involved to know that even the best performer (Wilkerson), has the potential to be replaced.

Whether or not it happens remains to be seen, but now, the Jets have a plethora of options moving forward. Wilkerson or Williams can still be moved, and both guys would bring back an immense amount of assets.

Options, flexibility, and building upon a strength – it’s the position the Jets are in thanks to the steady hand of Mike Maccagnan. He was presented with a golden opportunity last night, and he didn’t fail.

Williams was too good to pass up, regardless of positional need, and Jets fans are lucky Maccagnan recognized this.

Next: Rex Ryan Fires First Of Many Shots In Jets Direction

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