The Jets locked the second overall pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. This almost certainly means the New York Jets will miss out on Trevor Lawrence, the “generational” prospect out of Clemson.
Ever since the Jets went on their 13-game losing streak, Jets fans had their heart set on Sunshine. He will likely be in Jacksonville come training camp. So now we enter the draft with a new lookout on life.
Let’s be real- the New York Jets are not one position away from being perennial playoff contenders. One quarterback is not going to come in and change the entire locker room. Without the appropriate staff around him, he’d turn into another suffering quarterback. Remember when Sam Darnold was expected to go first overall during the 2018 Draft Class? And what happened? Mike Maccagnan follows up with drafting three offensive players the next two drafts. Trenton Cannon and Chris Herndon were selected during 2018. Trevon Wesco was taken in 2019. And look at where the franchise is at now. We have a quarterback running around like a deer in the headlights because he’s been sacked and chased so much.
Compare that to the likes of quarterbacks drafted in recent years who have gone on to be wildly successful. Josh Allen first had the defense to lean on, and then Buffalo went out and got him a serviceable offensive line, receivers to throw to, and a coach who could correct his biggest flaws. Now they’re AFC East champions, and Josh Allen is a *catches throat* good quarterback. Or Deshaun Watson. As talented as he is, he’s running around for his life throwing to…oh right DeHop is gone. Stuck playing hero ball under one of the most incompetent general managers in recent memory.
Or Patrick Mahomes. Who, granted, has an absurd skill set, and also a plethora of offensive weapons across the entire lineup, and one of the best coaches in the league.
None of them were the first quarterback taken off the board. Take Baker Mayfield in 2018- surpassed by Allen and Jackson. Or Andrew Luck– surpassed by Russell Wilson. Or even John Elway, with an argument to be made by Dolphins fans for Dan Marino.
If the Jets build a team the CORRECT way, which is something we haven’t seen in a very long time, you can plug in and develop a quarterback. What do all of these success stories have in common, compared to the “failures”? Good coaching, which the Jets do not have, and good offensive weapons, which the Jets are getting to. If the Jets can put together a proper roster this off season, just about anyone could succeed in the quarterback position within reason. Or, we could’ve ruined Trevor Lawrence like the Jets ruined Sam Darnold. Instead, draft some offensive line up, and draft a wide receiver. There’s plenty of draft capital and a lot of talent that will be available. There’s no reason why, even if Sam isn’t The Man, that a quarterback in the 2022 class couldn’t thrive under a properly built roster.
The 2021 NFL Draft does not force the Jets to draft a quarterback, despite the obvious pressure from the media thinking the Jets are in love with Justin Fields or Zach Wilson. There’s a ridiculously good offensive lineman in Penei Sewell out of Oregon. This wide receiver class might be better than last years. Later there will be corners and edge defenders to take. We’ve seen that Joe Douglas can draft properly. This Jets rookie class has been amazing. The Jets are moving in the right direction, with even more draft picks to add to the roster.
A quarterback is only as good as his protection and receivers. The Jets are not going to be set back 10 years by missing out on Lawrence. The Jets are in a good position to put together a legitimate roster capable of long-term success, after Joe Douglas hires the head coach HE wants to run HIS football team.
