The Jets drafted Sam Darnold with the third overall pick in 2018, but Larry David thought there was a better option on the board.
David was on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN Radio Tuesday and said he called former general manager Mike Maccagnan ahead of the 2018 draft. He had a suggestion to make, and that was to draft Lamar Jackson. David, of course, is known for “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” fame and not for his draft expertise, and so Maccagnan ignored his advice.
“He laughed at me, but who can blame him?” David said. “Nobody thought Jackson was gonna be good.”
It turns out that David knew what he was talking about. Jackson is the odds on favorite to win the MVP award in his second season, led the Ravens to a 14-2 record and led the league in total touchdowns.
At the same time, it’s hard to blame Maccagnan for passing on Jackson. Almost every other team overlooked him until the Ravens picked him 32nd overall. There were even people around the league that were trying to turn him into a wide receiver.
David has a history of calling Jets general managers ahead of the draft. In 2006, he called Mike Tannenbaum and told him the Jets should draft Reggie Bush with the fourth overall pick. Bush ended up going second overall to the Saints, while the Jets selected D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold.
The comedian has yet to reach out to current GM Joe Douglas, but maybe he should this year because his player recommendations have been spot on.