New York Jets: Grading the 2019 NFL Draft class
The 2019 NFL Draft has come and gone and now it’s time to rate how the New York Jets fared overall, from Quinnen Williams to Blessuan Austin
Another NFL Draft is in the books for the New York Jets and now it’s time to assess how general manager Mike Maccagnan fared in his fifth (yes, already) draft with Gang Green. Here are my observations and I will give an overall grade for Maccagnan’s draft below.
Here we go:
1. Although I wanted the Jets to select Josh Allen from Kentucky due to New York’s need for a premier edge rusher, grabbing Quinnen Williams with the third overall pick was a no-brainer. The University of Alabama product and Outland Trophy winner will wreak havoc in the interior of the line and he’ll get to the quarterback as well.
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The Birmingham, AL native recorded eight sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss for the Crimson Tide last year. He’ll be a force in Gregg Williams’ base 3-4 defense and should be a perennial Pro Bowler if he stays healthy.
2. Maccagnan took a pair of high-risk, high-reward players in Round Three. Jachai Polite (LB) and Chuma Edoga (OT) are talented but both have some character concerns. Polite performed terribly at the NFL Combine and did not interview well while Edoga flunked a drug test in 2015 and was suspended for a game at USC in October 2016 for violating team rules. Both players have high ceilings but might not start until 2020. Polite and Edoga have to turn into solid contributors or these were wasted picks.
3. Gang Green had a need for a blocking tight end and took a strong one in West Virginia’s Trevon Wesco in the fourth round. However, Wesco is not a good receiver and I would have preferred to give quarterback Sam Darnold another viable weapon like wide receiver Riley Ridley from the University of Georgia.
The Jets still need firepower. The Bears took Ridley five picks after the Jets grabbed Wesco. Ridley is going to be a good pro, just watch.
4. No center? This was an obvious need and Maccagnan did not draft one.
5. Another need entering the draft was at cornerback and Maccgnan waited until the sixth round to pick Rutgers corner Blessaun Austin, a player that has already had two knee surgeries. Very risky. All sixth rounders are risky to begin with but Maccagnan is rolling the dice that Austin can stay healthy. I think that Gang Green better re-sign Morris Claiborne.
Overall Grade: B-
Next. 2020 NFL Draft: Too early mock draft for next year. dark
Williams should be a future Pro Bowler but the rest of this draft has far too many hit-or-miss prospects. If Polite evolves into a solid edge rusher, then pump this grade up to a B+. That’s a big If right now.