New York Jets: Should Mike Maccagnan have drafted Vic Beasley?
Leonard Williams is the only player left from Mike Maccagnan’s first draft class, but was there another draft pick that the New York Jets should’ve made?
New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has been getting a lot of criticism lately for his poor draft record. In fact, many people have pointed out that the Jets only have one player left on their roster from his first draft in 2015 — first round pick Leonard Williams. Now there’s a question as to whether or not Williams was the right pick with the Jets being in the situation they’re in with their edge rushers.
The truth is answer to the question can never be fully answered. Is Vic Beasley as the man the Jets should’ve taken over Williams? When you look at his total numbers, it looks like the case. He’s has 24.5 sacks in three seasons in the NFL.
There’s one problem with looking back with numbers like that. There are questions that can never be answered. He’s played 4-3 defensive end and 4-3 outside linebacker. How would his numbers look as a 3-4 outside linebacker with the Jets? Also, when you look at the total sacks, it’s enhanced by a 15.5-sack season in 2016, which means he’s only had one great season in his first three. The other two seasons only total nine sacks.
Sure, Beasley had that one great season, but if you take that out, the career pass rush productivity (via Pro Football Focus — subscription required) of Jordan Jenkins and Williams is actually higher than Beasley. We have more evidence to point to the two seasons he was average as opposed to that one super season. So, let’s not completely blow this thing out of proportion.
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As the saying goes, hindsight is always 20-20. That said, let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill and call this a mistake. We will never know if Beasley could perform in New York the way he did in Atlanta.
Should Maccagnan have drafted Beasley? Possibly, but like the number of licks it takes to get to Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop, we will never really know the answer to that question.
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