NFL

New York Jets: Mock Draft Scenarios

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New York Jets, Sam Darnold

With the NFL Draft rapidly approaching (weird to realize that the Super Bowl is only a week away), speculation is running rampant across every NFL team on who will pick who, including the New York Jets. Much is already known about the Jets’ immediate/most dire needs that will be addressed in free agency AS WELL as the draft, so let’s take a look at the current speculation surrounding the New York Jets draft picks.

ESPN Mock Draft

Mel Kiper Jr. sees the Jets going for Jedrick Wills Jr. of the Alabama Crimson Tide with the 11th pick in the first round. He addresses a very obvious need as an offensive tackle, but the biggest slight against him is his inexperience at left tackle. But, known for his strength in run defense, and showing drastic improvement in pass protection, the Jets may have to trade up to get their hands on Wills. Other mock drafts have Wills going 9th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and some as high as 6th to the Los Angeles Chargers.

NFL Mock Draft

The NFL Network has the Jets selecting LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson at 11. It adds some depth to an already strong defense. Clocking 6.5 sacks last season, 94 combined (forced and solo) tackles, and a forced fumble, he could be the choice the Jets go with if they decide to trade Jamal Adams.

New mock drafts will be rolling out every week from every possible entertainment source. The closer we get to the draft, the more likely these draft picks will be who the team goes with. We’ll see what happens in the coming months/weeks, especially when we get to free agency.

Empire State Players React to the Death of Kobe Bryant

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Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant’s sudden death has reverberated across the sports landscape, including here in New York. While his play for the Los Angeles Lakers befuddled and baffled our New York Knicks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, every athlete everywhere is reeling in the news of Bryant’s passing via a helicopter crash in California. What makes the event even more tragic is that his teenage daughter, a travel basketball player, and that player’s parent, were also involved in the crash that took the NBA legend’s life.

New York Athlete’s Respond to Bryant’s Passing

Marcus Stroman, of the New York Met’s, tweeted this out:

“This is extremely tragic to society. One of the most influential individuals/athletes to ever live. His legacy in 41 years is insurmountable. I’m beyond sad. Cherish every single second of life man. Every second you’re breathing, be thankful!”

Le’Veon Bell and Jamal Adams of the New York Jets had this to say via Twitter.

Bell:

“I don’t believe it actually….it’s unbelievable, no way”

Adams:

“Life’s way too short.
My favorite athlete of all time is gone…”

Former Yankee and current Met reliever Dellin Betances via Twitter:

“I’m sick I can’t believe this my idol Kobe gone too soon”

Bryant was just passed by LeBron James on the all-time scoring list in the NBA on Saturday, January 25th.

While, admittedly, not the biggest basketball fan, the impact Kobe Bryant had on the sports landscape was inescapable, even for me. A former college professor of mine, and drummer for the New York-based avant-garde group, Bright Dog Red, summed it up brilliantly. The only apt comparison to the shock and disbelief at Maba’s passing was the sudden death of former Yankees captain, Thurman Munson.

On behalf of all the writers at EmpireSportsMedia.com, I express our deepest condolences to Bryant’s family, his fans, and the Los Angels Lakers organization. This was far too early for me to type this, but Rest In Peace, Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

New York Jets: Why the Jets Should Keep Jamal Adams

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New York Jets, Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams has been the heart and soul of the New York Jets ever since he stepped up to the podium on draft night. Adams has become a fan favorite and arguably the best safety in the entire NFL due to his ability to wreak havoc against opposing offenses. What Adams brings to the Jets on and off the field is irreplaceable, so the question is what should the Jets pay him?

Production

Based off production Jamal Adams is one of the best safeties of the past decade. Since 2010 only 10 defensive backs have more tackles for loss than Adams, only five have more QB hits than Adams and only one has more sacks than Adams. Jamal Adams is a game-changer and a two time all-pro safety. When Adams steps on the field you can expect nothing less than 110 percent throughout all four quarters.

Leadership

Jamal Adams has been the biggest leader on this team since the day he got drafted. Anyone at One Jets Drive can recognize his boisterous voice as he is always yelling about something. Whether he is calling out an offensive play or giving his teammates words of encouragement he makes sure his presence in the locker room is known. Jamal actively converses with players on social media to recruit them over to the Jets and to continue expanding his outreach in the NFL community.

Contract

It’s hard to gauge how much the New York Jets would be willing to pay Jamal Adams because there is no one to compare him to. Jamal is easily the most productive safety in the league, and he is extremely versatile. A fair deal for Jamal Adams would be a 6 year 93-million-dollar deal with 45 million dollars guaranteed. This deal would make him the highest-paid defensive back in the league, and it would be a bargain considering that other DB’s like Minkah Fitzpatrick will set the market potentially higher.

How Tua, Joe Brady Impact the New York Giants Draft

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Tua Tagovailoa

The New York Giants may have received some inspiring news outside of their organization for their NFL Draft plans on Tuesday. Everyone knows how the quarterback position can make NFL teams do some pretty wild and creative things.  The Giants could be in prime position to capitalize.

When will Tua Tagovailoa be ready?

In November, Tua Tagovailoa had major hip surgery after sustaining a season-ending injury against Mississippi State.  Many wondered how significant the injury would be to the mobility of one of the most sought after QB prospects in quite some time.  On Tuesday, Tua and the NFL received some promising news.

Tagovailoa’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, reported that the quarterback could be back to throwing and working out before next month’s NFL Combine.  Although he will be at the Combine, he will not be participating in the NFL’s workout.  Instead, expect Tua to show off his recovery in a scheduled throwing session before the Combine, or at Alabama’s pro day in March.

Who is Joe Brady?

Also on Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers announced the hiring of LSU QB coach, Joe Brady, as their offensive coordinator.  Many New York Giants fans may be familiar with that name, as he has been linked to Matt Rhule throughout the hiring process.

Joe Brady has quickly become one of the hottest names in the coaching ranks.  A grade assistant at Penn State from 2015 to 2016, Brady found himself making quite a leap into the NFL.  After his stint at PSU, Brady was hired by the New Orleans Saints as an offensive assistant from 2017 to 2018.  That is when LSU came calling, making Brady their passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach.

This past season, Joe Brady was honored with the Broyles Award, given to college footballs top assistant coach.  His work with eventual Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow, has been recognized as one of the greatest seasons ever.  The Ohio State transfer finished off his Heisman season by breaking the FBS single-season record for touchdown passes with 60, including 12 in the College Football Playoff alone.  That success paid off, not only for the eventual 1st overall pick in Burrow but also catapulting Brady into the offensive coordinator role with the Carolina Panthers.

How does this help the New York Giants?

The Giants, picking 4th overall in April’s draft, could be in prime position to capitalize on what could be a rush on top QB prospects.

The Miami Dolphins, picking 5th, have been linked to Tua Tagovailoa for nearly more than a year.  The phrase “Tank for Tua” was often iterated following a Dolphins loss in the 2019 season.  With five picks in the first two rounds, including three in the first, Miami has all the ammo necessary to ensure that they get the coveted quarterback.  They may aim to trade up above the New York Giants, knowing that the Lions, who pick 3rd, could also be a potential partner for another team in the QB market.  It seems unlikely that the Washington Redskins would be willing to give up the highly regarded Chase Young, but what if Miami calls with an offer they can’t refuse?

Another team of intrigue is the Carolina Panthers.  Cam Newton’s time with the Panthers seems like it has a real chance of being over.  The oft-injured QB is heading into the final year of his contract.  If the Panthers were to move on from Cam, he would free up more than $19 million in cap space and cost only a $2 million cap hit.  So how does this help the Giants?

Panthers give New York Giants another option.

The Panthers seem poised to claw into the new era with changes across the board.  Hiring the young Matt Rhule and bringing in an even younger, quarterback savvy offensive coordinator screams overhaul.  Bringing in a guy that turned Joe Burrow from transfer to record-setting Heisman winner, National Champion and likely 1st round pick, could spell QB change in Charlotte. Carolina may not have the same resources as Miami would to sway Washington, or even Detroit, but what about the Giants?

It’s no secret that the Giants need all the help they can get.  Unfortunately, that may mean a process extending beyond this season.  Would an offer of multiple draft picks, including a pick or two in the 2021 Draft, be enough to get Dave Gettleman to trade down for the first time in his career?  If Carolina does move on from Newton, expect them to try to get into position for Oregon QB Justin Herbert.  Herbert, a 6’6″passer with excellent mobility, often draws comparisons to none other than Cam Newton. It seems like a perfect fit to me.

Is the Chase Young dream still alive?

Probably not, but let’s speculate for a minute.  What IF the Miami Dolphins use multiple 1st round picks to sway the Redskins out of the 2nd pick?  What IF the Panthers, Chargers, or even Raiders get Detroit to budge from the 3rd pick in order to get Justin Herbert?  I know, I know… that’s a lot of “if’s” and a lot of luck.  However, is it that unlikely?  Could the Giants still end up with the pass-rushing prospect they’ve needed?

The New York Jets Shouldn’t Fire Gase Because the Titans are in the AFC Championship Game

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New York Jets, LeVeon Bell

Things did not go the way Adam Gase expected them to his first season with the New York Jets. Some of the problems he faced were out of his control (Sam Darnold’s mono), and some he could control (why won’t he give Bell the ball?). But to argue Gase should be fired because Ryan Tannehill “leading” the Titans to the AFC Championship game is lunacy in the highest order.

Ryan Tannehill Barely Played for Gase in Miami

Ryan Tannehill was so hurt as a Dolphin when Gase was his coach, he played in exactly 24 games for the Dolphins. That’s right, he played in 24 out of 48 games for the Dolphins, missing the entire 2017 season. So you can’t fault Gase for “hindering Tannehill’s development”, as some Jets fans are arguing because Tannehill couldn’t get on the field half the time.

Tannehill Was the Titans Backup for About Half the Season

The other reason why we can’t fault Gase by using Tannehill is the Titans didn’t start Tannehill until they went 2-4. So with about half the season over, they make the switch and had to have EVERYTHING fall their way to get into the Wild Card game against the Patriots. Do you know who else was in the same boat as the Titans? The Oakland Raiders. They ALMOST were the Titans this year. And if they were, we’d more than likely be staring Baltimore v KC in the mouth for Sunday’s game.

The TITANS Aren’t Trusting Tannehill That Much on This Playoff Push

Look at the Titans offense these last two games. Against the Pats, he went 8-15, for 72 yards, a TD, and a pick. Saturday, in Baltimore, he went 7-14, with 88 yards, and 2 TD. Derrick Henry has been the reason the Titans have won these games. So how can you cite what “Gase did to Tannehill, and look at the Titans now,” as proof why Gase needs to be fired? It’s just sheer lunacy!

The Jets Need to Stay Out of the Tua Tagovailoa Sweepstakes

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Tua Tagovailoa

The NY Jets were like any other football team watching the Tua Tagovailoa lead Alabama Crimson Tide come back to beat the University of Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 College National Championship game. Salivating at the chance of drafting this kid. But he was a full two seasons away from being eligible for the draft. And the Jets drafted Sam Darnold. Now, Tua declared for the draft, and the Jets need to steer clear.

Sam Needs Help, Not a Threat

Sam Darnold is showing signs he’s progressing in the right direction. A competent backup is who the Jets should consider this offseason, and I made the argument that they should be all in on Joe Flacco as the direct backup to Sam. He had an injury that cost him games in 2018, and the mono set him (and the team) back this past season. Having someone to fill in without looking helpless is key for 2020, but drafting Tua will lead to Sam losing his job.

A body of work like Tagovailoa makes fans want to see what he can do sooner, rather than later. If Sam struggles over a couple of weeks, fan pressure will mount on the Jets to bench Sam for Tua. And once Tua goes in, no one will want to see him come out.

Tua’s History Should Scare The Jets

Much will be shrugged off over this, but the two surgeries he got for ankle sprains were largely elective. And the implant placed in Tua’s ankles can break, causing him to miss more time professionally to correct what was done. And that hip dislocation…

Lots are saying that the hip dislocation was a freak accident. But what if it wasn’t? This is a kid who, at 21 years old, had both his ankles operated on, and had to surgically repair a dislocated hip. This kid is injury prone. And do you really want an injury-prone quarterback? It’s what ultimately cost Ryan Tannehill his job in Miami.

There Are Too Many Moves to Make to Waste Draft Capital to Move up for Tua

We all know the Jets offensive line needs to be addressed. We know the defense can be strengthened, to become as elite as any defense in the league. We know we can get a viable backup and draft a third-string QB for when Sam misses time next season. We will lose so much maneuverability to do all of this if we trade away our draft picks, just to move up for Tua.

All of these and more is why the Jets need to keep far away from the Tua sweepstakes.

 

NY Jets Mock Draft 1.0 Rounds 4-7

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Welcome back to my 1st mock draft attempt of 2020. The goal is to improve the Jets and give them pieces that hopefully lead them to an improvement from 7-9 next year and success in the foreseeable future. In the first 3 rounds of this mock, the Jets added a star wideout, a beast of an offensive lineman, a linebacker with big potential and a potential replacement for Lev Bell. Using The Draft Network Mock Draft Simulator and taking the best players at each position based on needs, potential, and more here is an early projection of what the Jets draft could look like.

Round 4 Pick 110: Trajan Brady CB Miami

The Jets will have some big cornerback decisions in this upcoming offseason. Trumaine Johnson will likely be on his way out. They have other free agents like Brian Poole as well. Poole should be brought back. Arthur Maulet and Bless Austin have shown flashes but the Jets need another corner. Trajan Brady would be an excellent slot corner or rotational cornerback in the future. Brady is FAST and can keep up with a lot of receivers in coverage and support blown coverages. Brady is very undersized but if he can figure out ways to use it to his advantage in the future then he can be a very solid NFL player.

Round 5 Pick 140: Yasir Durant OL Missouri

The Jets need to not only upgrade the offensive line in free agency and with an early-round pick but also in the late rounds as well. Yasir Durant is a raw prospect but one who could easily become a top offensive lineman for this squad. In 2018, Durant allowed fewer QB pressures then both Jawaan Taylor and Jonah Williams, two top linemen from last year’s draft. Durant is the kind of player that with development from a solid offensive line coach, could be a very good NFL Starter. Durant could be a very good value pick in the 5th round and a good piece for the future.

Round 6 Pick 171: Denzel Mims WR Baylor

One of my favorite picks in this draft is Denzel Mims. Mims is a 6’3 receiver with electric speed. Mims can be a monster in the red zone and also be a significant deep threat. He has the makeup of a superstar receiver and his only flaw is some minor technical issues. If Mims can iron some of those issues out with help from offensive assistant Hines Ward and WR Coach Shawn Jefferson then Mims has the potential to contribute early and in a big way. Mims has the potential to be one of the best wide receivers in this class and adding him could immediately help the offense, both now and in the future.

Round 7 Pick 202: Big Kat Bryant EDGE Auburn

Big Cat Bryant is a really good athlete. He has not played a lot at Auburn and only has 6.5 sacks in the three seasons he spent there, but the way he’s utilized at Auburn significantly drops his stock. Although Bryant is athletic enough to drop into coverage, has sideline to sideline speed and has solid pass rushing abilities, they play him at defensive end. If Bryant was switched to outside linebacker, his production would immediately increase. That type of athlete in a Gregg Williams defense would be fun to watch. Bryant would fit well in this defense as a rotational linebacker but if he’s a defensive end I don’t know how long he’ll stay on an NFL roster. This would be a potential based pick that the Jets should make.

Summary

The Jets added a speedy cornerback with the potential to be a solid slot corner. They added an offensive lineman with the potential to become a very good start with some technical refinement. They grabbed one of the best wideouts in college football from this past year who could immediately contribute. Lastly, they added an edge rusher with solid potential as a rotational pass rusher. Their Day 3 picks matter just as much as their Day 1 picks. Joe Douglas often has a lot of success in identifying talented Day 3 picks as seen with some of the Eagle’s previous pickups. These are 4 additions that could help the roster significantly and the whole draft class would be one to be proud of for the Jets.

Have the New York Jets Finally Figured it Out?

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Remember when the New York Jets lost to the Miami Dolphins? The season was over. The Dolphins, at that point, were winless, and the only win the Jets recorded was against the THEN 3-2 Dallas Cowboys. 1-7 at week 9 in the season, all was lost, and everyone was calling for coach Adam Gase’s head.

Then they beat the New York Giants, in a game that was dubbed the “poop” bowl. Then, they beat the Washington Redskins, who scored their first touchdown as a team in… well, it was over a season. Both games weren’t really considered “quality wins” when you look at the teams. The Giants are in the same boat the Jets are in, getting a newbie quarterback acclimated to playing pro football. And the Redskins are just a hot mess. Duane Haskins spent HOW LONG trying to learn the offensive system before the Redskins front office said: “START HIM!”

Now, in their first real challenge from a good team since Dallas, the Jets beat a team with a winning record. Going into yesterday’s game, the Raiders were 6-4. That’s the second team the Jets beat with a winning record this season. With a nice, and pretty, 3 game win streak, have the Jets truly figured it out? I think the answer is a resounding yes.

How Do You Measure Success?

Mathematically, the Jets have a slim chance of making a Wild Card berth for the playoffs this year. You read that right, they have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs as a Wild Card team. How realistic is it though?

The Bills are sitting pretty as the top Wild Card team at 7-3. The Raiders are 6-5, tied with the Colts. The Colts are not only tied with the Raiders for the second Wild Card team, but they’re also only 1 game behind division leader, the Houston Texans. The Jets, still have to face the Bills and the Ravens down the stretch, not to mention they’re playing Miami again, a team they’ve already lost too. Way too much have to go the Jets way in order to nab that second Wild Card spot, like a beyond epic collapse from the Bills, on top of beating the Bills on the seasons last day.

So you shouldn’t measure the success of this season by the Jets making it to the playoffs. 

Considering the Jets going through just HOW MANY?!?! quarterbacks in the first 4 games of the season, a .500 season, or even a 7-9 season should be viewed as a success for the team. You can’t predict or prepare for your starting quarterback going down with mono. And while Darnold can still improve as a quarterback, Darnold has looked impressive during the Jets current 3 game win streak. 

So I think, yes, I think if the Jets finish within a game of .500, you can count this season as a success. If we’re talking 2 games below .500, it’s borderline. Anything below .500, considering how the Jets streak of a new coach having a winning record is going to be broken with Gase this season, and you can consider the season a failure for the still-developing Sam Darnold and the Jets.

New York Jets: Brandon Copeland Is A Big Return

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New York Jets, Sam Darnold

A lot of people have focused on the high profile return of Sam Darnold. Yes, the offense really really needs a boost and Darnold will provide that. However, the New York Jets pass rush could use a boost. One of their best pass rushers returns this week and the New York Jets will immediately get a leader back on the field.

Brandon Copeland Constantly Improves

Originally, Copeland came into the league and had trouble finding a spot. He played on the Ravens and Titans practice squads. Then he finally found a home in Detroit with the Lions.  In his first two years in Detroit, Copeland played solid football. He had 19 tackles, a TFL, 2 QB hits, and 1 FF as a backup/rotational LB. After tearing a pectoral and missing the whole 2017 season, Copeland was hungry last season. Copeland posted a career year with 35 tackles, 2 PDs, 5.0 sacks, 8 TFLs, and 14 QB hits. Copeland had a great year and was coming back this season with high expectations.

PEDs In The Past

There were lofty expectations for Copeland this season and those got diminished immediately. Copeland tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and was hit with a 4 game suspension. Copeland is a good guy and a hell of a ballplayer who made a bad mistake. Now he is back with a clear mind and a chip on his shoulder. He can be a key impact guy immediately and his presence should help in a big way. The Jets needed to make an impact on their pass rush and his return will do just that.

The Philadelphia Eagles Rise Above the New York Jets

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New York Jets, Avery Williamson

The New York Jets lost another one. They now have started the season 0-4. A team with so much hope has had a very tough start to their season. There’s a lot to dive into from this game so here goes nothing.

Offensive Line Needs An Overhaul

The Jets offensive line has been horrific to watch this season. Like, historically bad. The Jets allowed 10 sacks in Sunday’s game against Philly. Yes, their defensive line is good but not THAT good. The Jets shouldn’t have played as poorly as they did at offensive line. The ”changes” that Adam Gase made really didn’t do very much. The offensive line still couldn’t guard a pee wee football edge rush. Quite frankly they’ve got to get it together. It’s hard to watch. It’s scary that our franchise guy will come back from a dangerous illness and end up behind that terrible offensive line. They’ve got to get it together and at the very least make it through the season without Belk or Darnold getting destroyed.

The Defense Has Played Really Well

The offense has been absolutely pitiful. Obviously injuries, offensive line play, and poor coaching made that happen. However, the defense, on the other hand, has been really good. The main issue with them is that they either have to play defense when the opposing offense has amazing field position or they are exhausted because they’re constantly on the field. Gregg Williams and that defense have dealt with just as many issues as the Jets offense and yet, the defense has been really damn good. That might just be a reflection of coaching but I mean what do I know.

The Play Calling Is An Issue

Unlike some New York Jets fans, I won’t call for Adam Gase’s dismissal. However, he does deserve a lot of blame for the poor start and poor take yesterday. The fact is, Adam Gase doesn’t have a good situation. His star QB is out, his blockers stink and he can’t revolve the offense around key guys if the QB can’t get the ball to them. Luke Falk has performed pretty bad but in his defense, he’s played the last two Super Bowl champs and had little preparation. With that said, an ”innovator”, ”offensive genius” and a ”guy who knows where the game is heading” should be able to produce something on offense. Those were all words labeled to Gase by Chris Johnson. If you’re all those things then you don’t have the defense with as many touchdowns as your offense through 4 games. Gase needs to prove why he’s here and not why he shouldn’t be.

Brighter Days Ahead

Brandon Copeland and Chris Herndon are guaranteed to return to the team this week. Jordan Jenkins, C.J. Mosley, and Sam Darnold could possibly return as well. This team has a much brighter outlook with those 5 on it. Hopefully, this squad comes back to normal with their returns but it all starts at the top and Gase needs to get their act together.