Selecting Sam Darnold was a no-brainer move on Day 1 for New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan, but how’d he do on Day 3?
Day 3 of the NFL Draft is where championships are really won. Day 1 stars get all the glitz and glamor, but here are the grind players who make their money the hard way.
New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan did a decent job on Day 3, moving around a lot like last year.
Let’s examine the players.
Chris Herndon, TE, Miami
Herndon is a work in progress. He has some skills that can be utilized immediately – like run after the catch ability and decent blocking skills. That said, he needs to play to his size as a blocker and needs to be more precise as a route runner. He is a good second tight end for 12 personnel, but right now he’s too raw to be a starter.
Parry Nickerson, CB, Tulane
This guy has nickel corner written all over him, and that’s mostly due to size. He’s a quality cover corner who’s used to playing man-to-man. He’s a ballhawk who made plays on 47 balls in his career at Tulane (16 interceptions (one TD) and 31 passes defended).
Foley Fatukasi, DT, Connecticut
Fatukasi is a run stuffer with athleticism. According to Pro Football Focus, he was 30th in the nation in run stop percentage, and graded every year at a minimum of 82.8 against the run.
With their second pick a row, the Jets add some help on the defensive interior with UConn's Folorunso Fatukasi, who ranked 30th in run-stop percentage among draft-eligible interior defenders in 2017 (8.0)
— PFF (@PFF) April 28, 2018
New #Jets DL Foley Fatukasi is known for his run-stuffing prowess. He finished every year with a run-defense grade of at least 82.8
— PFF NY Jets (@PFF_Jets) April 28, 2018
With Leonard Williams potentially getting a lot of double teams, that could open things of for Fatukasi, and it could become a pick your poison battle early on in 2018.
Trenton Cannon, RB, Virginia St.
Cannon will be a back used in tandem with Crowell to be a scat back. He’s got burst and the ability to break a big one now and then, but nothing more on the offensive side of things. On special teams, he can use his speed to hit the hole and set up big returns. He’s a decent pick, but the Jets could’ve done better earlier.
Next: NFL Draft 2018: Grades for each first-round pick
Final Day 3 Conclusion
Maccagnan could’ve done better, but he also could’ve done much worse than he did. He filled the hole vacated by the release of Muhammad Wilkerson, and he got a third coverage guy they very much needed. Unfortunately, he didn’t address the offensive line or the edge. So, his final grade can’t be too high.
Day 3 grade: C+