Florham Park, NJ – A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. Interest in the jump? The Jets revealed their hand with the ill-fated pursuit of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. , indicating its desire to add another playmaker despite the free agent additions of receivers Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman. She has people asking two questions:
Can they pull a receiver or catch tight with the 13th pick? Could they trade receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals?
Very unlikely and unlikely.
Let’s take a closer look.
Hopkins is interesting because…well, he’s DeAndre Hopkins. The former All-Pro only played nine games last season, but he finished second in the NFL in receptions (63) and fourth in receiving yards (713) from Weeks 7 through 15, most of that coming with Colt McCoy at quarterback. There is widespread speculation about the Jets showing interest because they want to surround presumptive starter Aaron Rodgers with as many guns as possible, but those rumors are just rumours.
First of all, there are significant hurdles. Hopkins is set to make $19.5 million and $14.9 million in the final two years of his contract, and we know the Jets were unwilling to pay Beckham up to $15 million. Hopkins, 30, three years after his last 1,000-yard season, will have to restructure and take a cut.
Then there is trade compensation. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported last month that the Cardinals were looking for a stellar second-day pick for Hopkins — but that just doesn’t go with the market. The Houston Texans recently received their fifth driver in 2023 and sixth in 2024 from Brandin Cooks.
Crafting a catcher is a definite possibility. At No. 13, they could have the pick of any receiver or tight end, but the smart money makes them wait until after the first round. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kipper Jr. agrees with that approach, mocking the Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave They went into the second round (No. 42nd overall) after tackle Georgia gave them a touchdown Broderick Jones at 13.
“What they did with Lazard and Hardman, did they do enough [Garrett] “Should Wilson wait a bit?” Kipper said. “I think Musgrave could be a bit of a combo. He’s more of a receiver than a tight end. … If they can get someone like Musgrave — that versatile mobile guy, that H-passer — that would give them That extra option they’re looking for.”
On paper, the Jets seem to have enough at receiver with Wilson, Lazard, Hardman and Corey Davis, but only Wilson has had a 1,000-yard season in the NFL. biography. There is room for another person. It just might not be a high-profile addition.
2. Left, Right, Left: All signs point to Mekhi Becton ready for training camp. The former first round pick, who missed last season after having a second surgery on his right knee, recently received a positive update during a visit to renowned orthopedic surgeon Neil Turks in Los Angeles.
Picton’s weight loss—which is down to 350, after dropping 40 pounds—is good for his knee. Returning to the left tackle may also help. Going to Correct Therapy last summer likely added stress to his surgically repaired knee, which contributed to his non-contact injury. To intervene, there is more pressure on the outside knee.
Left tackle is thought to be his preference. After all, it is his natural state. They already have Duane Brown at left tackle, and there’s a chance they’ll draft one with the 13th overall pick. Exaggeration? Not real. Brown and Buckton are entering the final year of their contracts, and it pays to look ahead — especially in such an important position.
The ideal draft pick would be a player with flexibility at left tackle/right tackle. Among the best prospects, the only person to have played both in college is Darnell Wright (Tennessee). Some scouts think Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State) could play right tackle. He started at right guard in 2021 before switching to left tackle in 2022.
3. A “Different” Deal: This raised eyebrows across the league when the Jets received permission from the Green Bay Packers to speak with Rodgers last month before agreeing to a trade offset. Usually, this isn’t the way it works. Example: The Jets and Kansas City chiefs reached a trade agreement last year before Wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been allowed to talk to the Jets.
Why not with the Packers?
“I think every deal is a little bit different in its own right,” Jets GM Joe Douglas said in recent league meetings. “In some of the trade talks there have been times where we agreed on compensation. This was different. I feel like every deal has its own life. This was very different.”
Here we are, six weeks later, and still no trade. This became an issue again this week with Yahoo! Sports Report said the Jets had agreed to include a first-round pick in 2024 in the package, but owner Woody Johnson changed his mind when Rodgers revealed on March 15 that he was “90% retired” before darkness fell in mid-February.
Rodgers, in his March 7 encounter with Gates, may have left the impression that his plan was to play for two more years. If that happens, you can’t blame the Jets for reconsidering an offer.
4. Trade Forecasting: The Jets-Packers will stare all the way to get the night started, perhaps on the second night. With picks 42nd and 43rd in Round 2, the Jets will control the draft for 14 minutes. Get ready for the high drama.
5. Remember when? Since we’re on the subject of blockbuster trades, Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of Daryl Reeves’ transfer to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On April 21, 2013—the Sunday before the draft—the Jets handled their stellar cornerback the 13th overall pick (used on defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson) and the 2024 conditional fourth rounder (used on wide receiver Jalen Saunders).
It was a highly controversial trade. Revis was a three-time All-Pro, just 28, but he was coming off a major knee injury and battling a contract extension. Reflecting on the trade in a 2021 interview with ESPN, former GM John Edzik referred to Revis as “Ring of Honor Jet, one of the best players to play the position of his era,” but made the deal because he wanted to restock his roster with younger players “to get us out.” from the hole cover.
So who won the deal? Nobody actually.
The Jets attempted to replace Revis with the ninth pick on linebacker Dee Milliner, who was busted. Richardson looked like a budding star for two years but was unable to keep his track. Saunders played three games with the Jets and was out of the league for a year. The Boxers didn’t do well either; They released Revis a year later.
The confrontation between Revis and the Jets ended in 2015, when he returned after winning the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. In August, a decade after sending him away, the Jets will embrace him when he is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. Draft evidence: The Jets’ top 30 reported names show plenty of offensive and defensive linemanship — which comes as no surprise. They are always looking for reinforcements in the trenches. One of the irregulars on the list is the Washington State linebacker Diane Henleyplayer to watch. He did not start playing linebacker until 2020 and is considered a rising talent. The Jets need a quarterback with Alexander still testing free agency.
7. Another Bites the Dust: The long-awaited release of punt Braden Mann left just four players in the nine-man recruiting class of 2020 — Becton, wide receiver Denzel Mims, safety Ashtyn Davis and cornerback Bryce Hall. It is likely that none of them will start in 2023; The only exception may be Becton.
8. x x 2: Newly signed defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (1 year old, $3.6 million) recorded a career high 5.5 sacks last season facing the 3-4 Seattle Seahawks. The Jets believe they can be more productive on offense, going 4-3 up front. He can start alongside Quinn Williams, creating a “Quin-Quin” situation.
9. Did you know? When former Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okuda was traded earlier this week to the Atlanta Falcons, he became only the second player in the past decade to be drafted into the top three and traded less than three calendar years after being drafted. other? Former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold.
10. The Last Word: “It’s not a really strong draft pick. … Three years from now, if you have an A or A+ or B+ grade, you should give your scouts a raise… because that’s a tough draft to rate.” – kipper