To say the Jets have a lot riding on the 2020 NFL Draft would be an understatement.
Joe Douglas did a nice job filling holes and addressing needs in free agency, but there is still plenty of work to be done in order for the Jets to rise to contender status as soon as next season. Numerous positions still have gaping holes, while others are in need of depth.
Fortunately for Douglas and the Jets, this year’s draft class is loaded. It’s not a class that is top-heavy, either. From the first round to the seventh round, there will be talent available for the taking. That should be music to New York’s ears considering the need for an influx of youth.
All the Jets have to do is avoid messing up and picking the wrong players — something they cannot afford to do. That easier said than done, of course, and is rarely accomplished when it comes to Gang Green and the draft.
In 1983, the Jets selected Ken O’Brien over Dan Marino. In 1987, they decided it was a good idea to select a fullback in the first round. Three years later, they spent the second overall pick on Blair Thomas, who rushed for only 2,000 yards and five touchdowns in four seasons with the team. In 1995, New York selected tight end Kyle Brady over future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Warren Sapp.
The list of Jets’ draft blunders goes on and on. In fact, there is an entire YouTube video dedicated to the subject. The NFL draft has forever been an imperfect science, but to the Jets, it has been more like rocket science.
One of the main reasons Mike Maccagnan is no longer New York’s general manager is because of his inability to find quality players in the draft. He did well to land Jamal Adams and Sam Darnold, but those two basically fell into his lap. Maccagnan struggled mightily in the middle rounds, with almost all of his selections on days two and three no longer with the Jets.
In his first draft calling the shots as a general manager, Douglas is not only tasked with landing talent to build a winning roster, but also with dispelling the notion that the Jets cannot hire a general manager who understands what the NFL draft is all about. It will take a couple of years to determine the true success of Douglas’ first draft class with the Jets, but if he makes head-scratching decisions right off the bat, people will expect the worst.
The Jets are closer to winning than they might seem. With players like Adams, Darnold, Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley in the mix, New York has its fair share of talented pieces in place. The negatives of the roster simply outweigh the positives at this point in time.
That can all change beginning on Thursday night. As long as Douglas doesn’t mess things up like those before him, the Jets will be heading in the right direction.