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Rico Cimini
Florham Park, NJ – A look at what is happening in New York Jets:
1. Family theme: When they are on the clock with the seventh general selection in the draft on April 24, the jets could face the intriguing choice of a prolific closed wing that catches the pass or a highly qualified Tackle that would fill an evident hole in its offensive line.
Does it sound familiar?
A year ago, the hum that surrounds the airplanes focused on the closed wing of Georgia Brock Bowers and a handful of highly qualified tacoleades. Indeed, Bowers was on the board for the Jets, who had changed a place at 11, but opted for the left Tackle of Penn State, Olu Fashanu, and immediately named him the backup copy of Tyron Smith. Yes, backup.
Bowers, took two selections later for the Las Vegas Raiders, went to a record rookie season (112 receptions for 1,194 yards). Fashanu replaced Smith injured in the middle of the season and showed a constant improvement. No one is calling it “generational” as if they were Bowers, but the choice still has its value because it plays a premium position.
Now here we go again, with another Nittany lion in the conversation.
The closed wing of Penn State, Tyler Warren, is a possible selection of Top 10, as well as the Missouri Armand Memand Mebou. Both would fill the needs. The Jets did not sign the closed wing Tyler Conklin (Los Angeles Chargers) and the right Tackle Morgan Moses (New England Patriots), and did not make great movements to replace them. They added Stone Smartt and Chukwuma Okorafor, respectively, as profit -free agents.
In his last simulated draft, ESPN senior draft analyst, Mel Kiper Jr., chooses Warren to the jets.
“I went with Warren because they passed Bowers last year, and I thought with Justin Fields, that would be someone who could really create a nightmare for defensive coordinators,” Kiper said. “I thought you might find a straight back to the line a bit.
“Membou, he is tempting. I tell you that he is very tempting because and he is a plug-And-play type, as Warren would be. You can’t choose them. You have to take one of the two. There is a good possibility that both are there at seven. … Membou or Warren, you take your choice. I don’t think anyone can argue with one of those players.”
Warren made 104 receptions last season for 1,233 yards (11.9 Yardas average per capture), eight touchdowns and an impressive 6.7 yards-after the reception capture. As I break, it might not be at the same level as Bowers, but it would be an update. The closed wings of the Jets averaged a low 8.1 yards league per capture last season. Warren (6 feet 6, 256 pounds) is also a constant blocker, and that would help Jets, who believe they are more execution equipment with a double threat field marshal as fields.
Kiper called Warren a “very valuable piece of chess.” Meanwhile, Membou (6-4, 332) is a road student with 30 race beginnings who crowned an excellent season with a strong combination performance that included a time of 4.91 seconds in the 40-yard race. His draft stock is flying. As Kiper said, “it’s red right now.”
You are probably thinking: “Why take another offensive liner?”
Former general manager Joe Douglas invested a lot in the line, three first round teams and a second round, but the new coach Aaron Glenn comes from the Detroit Lions, where they used a strong line game as a basis for their change.
There is no clear initiator in the right Tackle, so Membou, or perhaps the Will Campbell of LSU, will be a consideration. Let the debate begin: Tackle or winged wing?
2. Cover corner: Of all its starting line needs, the only addition that can be considered more than a one -year stop is the corner. The $ 23 million guarantee for Brandon Stephens is basically a two -year commitment. Fields received a guarantee of $ 30 million, but we all know that the salary scale of Quarterback is different from the others.
In a nutshell, it would be a surprise if they use a high selection in a corner. Each other position is on the table.
3. Strange, but true: In the era of the common draft (since 1967), the jets have never chosen a player in number 7 in general. They have had 26 top 10 teams, with at least one selection in each slot, except seven. In fact, it is the only vacant slot in Top 18.
That ends this year … if they maintain the selection.
4. The sauce turn? The Houston Texans star, Derek Stingley Jr., became the first 2022 first round selection to receive a contract extension: an extension of three years and $ 90 million that restores the corner market. It includes $ 48 million guaranteed in the firm, and links it with the Texans until 2029.
Somewhere, Sauce Gardner is smiling.
Gardner, recruited a place after Stingley (third and fourth in general) by the jets, can present a case that deserves to be the next man.
He has accumulated more praise than Stingley-2022 NFL defensive rookie, two Pro Bowls and two All-Pro honors, compared to a Pro Bowl and an All-Pro for Stingley. From the point of view of Analytics, Stingley describes the advantage, since it has surpassed Gardner the last two seasons, according to the EPA/Target (NFL Next Gen Stats), as the closest defender. However, it is worth noting that Gardner has played in 48 of 51 games, compared to Stingley’s 37.
In a nutshell, both are outstanding corners. It is probably safe to say that Gardner is looking for more than $ 30 million per year, and is probably looking to secure the bag before the start of the season.
It must win $ 5.3 million in 2025, plus an estimated $ 20 million in 2026 (fifth year option). Jets could try to slowly play negotiations because their limit load will not increase until 2026, but it is likely that the price of the sauce will increase if they wait.
5. Did you know? Each team still has its first round selection, which has not happened so close to the draft since 1993, according to ESPN Research. That year, Kansas City bosses exchanged a first round selection for Joe Montana five days before the draft. This year, no team has changed its first round.
In case I asked it, the last time the jets did not make a first round selection was 2005. The day of the Draft, they issued the first round by a package that brought the closed veteran wing Doug Jolley.
6. Q is defeated: It will be interesting to see how the team handles the situation of the Quincy Williams contract.
The supporter is entering the last year of a three -year agreement and $ 18 million, which he has exceeded. It was the first All-Pro team in 2023 and continued with a solid season. Its average of $ 6 million per year occupies position 37 among the supporters outside the ball, according to the limit.
The Jets simply rewarded the supporter Jamien Sherwood with a three -year contract and $ 45 million on the eve of free agency, so it would be natural for Williams to wonder: “What about me?” The previous administration was open to extend it before the start of the 2025 season; It is not clear if the new regime feels in the same way.
7. Prepare: The Jets open their low season program on April 7. As a rule, teams with new coaches can start two weeks before the rest.
8. Looking for a home: Aaron Rodgers is the only prominent free agent of the 2024 Jets who are still looking for a new team. All signs point to the Pittsburgh Steelers, as it spent six hours with them in their facilities on Friday. It is worth noting that Steelers are at the start time of the jets, so a rodgers returns to Metlife Stadium is a clear possibility.
9. You never know who is looking: The open receiver Tyler Johnson, playing for Los Angeles Rams, opened last season with five trapped for a personal 79 -yard record. He gave an impression on the opposite defensive coordinator … Glenn, who signed Johnson as a free agent last week.
10. The last word: Warren carried the number 44 on Penn State due to John Riggins, the Rama de la Fama corridor. As Warren explained in the combination of exploration: “I’ve been 44 because when I was younger, my dad put John Riggins and said: ‘This is how I want you to run the ball.'”
Few will remember that Riggins starred in the jets for five seasons before going to Washington.
