March 24, 2022 • 26 mins
It's episode eight of the Draft Preview Podcast as Host Ethan Greenberg and Dane Brugler talk how the Jets' free-agent signings could affect their draft plans (4:00). They discuss if options could have changed at pick No. 4 (8:09), linebacker options (9:56) and potentially adding an offensive lineman in the first round (12:18). Dane then gives his best-case scenario at picks 4 and 10 (15:07) before discussing this year's tight end class (19:01).
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The New York Jet and are now on the gored
in New York has been one of the greatest questions.
Zack spit out on the brand that one right now
the New York Jet flick. Welcome to another episode of
NFL Draft Preview Ethan Greenberg, joined every week by the
(00:22):
athletics Dane Brugler. Free agency underway, which is kind of
the first domino, or maybe not the first domino, but
it's a big domino, let's say, in the pre draft process,
because maybe things start to crystallize in about a month
or so. It's March. That means that the draft is
just over a month away. We're coming in hot into April.
It's fifty degrees in Ohio, Dane said off the air.
(00:43):
It's about fifty degrees here in New Jersey, so the
warm weather is coming. Where's the b stat By the way,
where are we are? Do you feel confident in where
you are? You feel like you're ahead of schedule, behind schedule?
Give us a little peak behind the curtain here until
it's out into release it into the y. I always
feel like I'm behind and there's no way I'm going
to get it done. But every year find a way. Um,
(01:05):
but it's uh, this is the point of the season
of the process where Pro Days are happening, and so
I pride my myself or my my guide on having
all of the pro day, verified Pro Day information, not
just what people are posting on Twitter, but the verified
numbers from teams. So, um, you know, it's it's important
to get all those numbers. And that's kind of where
I'm at, gathering all those names, all those numbers, finding
(01:28):
out Okay, who are some of the Combine snubs that
tested really well, who have a chance to get drafted.
They just you know, they were involved with some of
those guys last year. So uh, it's it's definitely a
process and something that you know, you give me a
little bit of anxiety when you mentioned how close the
draft is, but we're gonna get what what I just
(01:49):
want to be clear when you said release it into
the wild, do you mean the fans like Twitter? Yeah,
that's the wild right there. Well, it's it's one of
the career easiest days of the year for me is
the day it comes out and the moment I hit
send and it's out there. Um, I just I'm waiting
for my phone to blow up. From from agents, from
(02:11):
uh you know, text from are on the league, from
you know, Twitter reaction for fans. So it's it's a
lot of fun, but you know, I'm also kind of
guarded against uh, you know what what people are saying.
But it's it's something I'm very very much looking forward to.
You have to enjoy a nice beverage right after you
hits end and it gets released into the wild like
that same day. You first first thing I do is
(02:33):
take my dog for a walk, just get some fresh air,
get some you know, get some exercise, and then come
back to the computer deal with whatever is coming at
me at that point. So but yeah, it's good to get, uh,
just a breather after I hit send on and it's
just like a it's just like a phone stays at
home type of walk, Like you press send, you grab
(02:55):
the leash, you just go and you and you just
kind of roam for maybe an extended walk and then
you come back and see who who blew up your
phone about what that's That's exactly it just clear my mind. No,
just give me a half hour away just to you know, reset,
re calibrate, uh, and then dive right back in because yeah,
there's still plenty of work to do before we get
(03:15):
the draft weekend. Alright, well, let's talk about this free agency,
the first wave, I'd say, right, that's pretty much what's
what's behind us now. There obviously be moves that trickle
between now and the draft, but the first wave is
behind us. The Jets made a number of moves I'd
say none that really broke the bank according to the reports.
But you know, some things do change based off free
(03:37):
agency from an evaluation standpoint, So, Dane, where you sit
based on the Jets signings like Lake and Tomlinson, D
J Reid, c j Uzama, Jordan's whitehead Tyler Conklin, what
is your picture for the Jets draft right now? Like
has what was the picture before free agency? And do
you think it changed at all as we record here
in late March. I think the best teams they always
(04:02):
attack free agency so they can go into the draft
without a clear need where they have to go reach
for a position. And I think that's what we saw
the Jets do. Uh during that first wave of free agency,
where they address corner, they addressed safety, they addressed tight end, Uh,
they addressed that offensive line. They find that right guard,
they've been looking for um and that way they go
(04:22):
into the draft and saying, Okay, we don't have to
go offensive line early, we don't have to go corner. Uh.
They've positioned themselves well based on these free agent signings
that it really keeps the board open. And you know,
especially in the first round with two picks in the
top ten, who falls to you at those two picks
and they're not, you know, handcuffed to a certain position
(04:43):
where they have to address it or they're gonna end
up leaving a hole on their roster going into the
summer and into training camps. So from the jet perspective,
I think they did, uh you know exactly what you know,
kind of from from a fast perspective, you hope they
would do address several of these needs. And now you
can really attack the draft and go based off of
your board and you're not reaching, you're not overvaluing certain positions.
(05:05):
And so, you know, I think we've talked so much
about tight end and Okay, well they they signed two
tight ends, two guys that are maybe not elite Pro
Bowl types, but guys that are functional starters, can help
you in the passing game, can help you as blockers. Uh,
they address the secondary with two guys back there who
are plug and play guys, and and then a critical
(05:28):
piece on the offensive line who you know, you expect
to step in and really fortify things up for you
for you upfront. And so those are big pieces for
this franchise and as we go look forward to the draft,
it really gives them a lot of options. You know,
I was just thinking about this c J Usama, Tyler Conklin.
We'll talk about this tight end group in this year.
(05:50):
But Conklin and Usama both senior BAWL guys, both fifth
round picks. I'm just curious, like, what do you remember
about them from college when you were studying them coming
to the pros, because now are on their second contracts
and suppolsedly gonna be pretty big pieces to this Jets offense. Yeah,
I mean both athletic guys America. Conklin I believe was
a basketball player. Uh, that was kind of his his pedigree,
(06:12):
and you saw that on the football field with the
body control, the balance, his ability to win body position
down the field. So you know, Tyler Conklin, I think
that you know, we've seen that up to this point
of his NFL career. And then c Jozamba, a guy
that could stretch the scene, a guy that you know
could be a not just a a reliable pass catcher,
(06:34):
but a guy that could be a little dynamic down
the field and someone that the defenses have to account for.
So both these guys coming out of the college level
going to the Senior Bowl, uh, and I think there
are two prime examples why you don't have to draft
a tight end in the top one hundred picks. You
can wait to Day three and get a quality player.
And that's that's absolutely the case this year, where the
(06:54):
sweet spot of this tight end draft that the draft
class is gonna be third, fourth, fifth round. You're going
to find excellent value in those in those rounds. And
even though they did make these additions at tight end,
there's a good chance we can still see the Jets
draft at tight end. And I think that these two
guys are examples that even if they wait till the
fourth and fifth round, you can still get a pretty
good player. That's a great point. We're going to talk
(07:17):
about these guys that could be options for the Jets
later on in this episode, but let's continue talking about
free agency and the picture changing with free agency. So
when we did your mock draft a couple of weeks
ago for NFL Draft preview, you had Sauce Gardner at four, right,
and I'm just with the dj Read acquisition. Do you
(07:39):
think that that changes at all or you think that
that's still very much in play with Sauce Gardner at
four and the caveat to all this is with the
signing at safety and Jordan Whitehead and the resigning of
LaMarcus Joyner. I know you have not believed that Kyle
Hamilton's would be a Jet at four, But between Sauce
(08:02):
and Kyle Hamilton's, where do you think the Jets would
go between those two right now? Honestly, I think it
really depends less on who's on the roster and more
depends on how Joe Douglas and his staff how they
view these players. Because if you're drafting with the fourth
overall pick, you need a draft one of the top
four players in the draft according to your board. Forget
(08:25):
the position, need forget everything else. Just ranked the top
four players in this draft, and you're gonna come away
with one of those guys. And if that ends up
being a pass rusher. If that ends up being a corner,
if that ends up being a safety, then so be it.
But I think it's important when you're drafting that early
to not necessarily think about, Okay, what's best for two
this season, what's best for the current makeup of this roster.
(08:48):
It's more important to think about the long term, more
important to get the best player available at that point
um and and that that will that strategy will change.
Maybe when you get later in the first round, maybe
even at ten, that strategy changes a little bit. But
I think it's very important with that, with the top
four pick, that make sure you're getting one of the
top players in this draft. So if that ends up
being sauce Gardner, then I then so via dj re
(09:09):
should not change your thinking on that, because you know,
corner is one of those positions where, uh, you know
you're playing with three four corners out there at a time.
I know they addressed the position quite a bit last year.
It's something that you know they feel like they're in
good shape there right now. But if you have a
chance to get an impact guy like sauce Gardner, who
you believe is one of the top four players in
(09:30):
this draft, Uh, could be a future pro bowler, then
by all means, I think you should do it. Now.
Kyle Hamilton's same type of thing. Uh. There's obviously the
value of safety that early that factors into the discussion,
But I think it just comes down to, again, who
are the top four players in this draft that are
going to make an impact for your team and just
(09:50):
making sure you're coming away with one of those guys.
Are the other positions that I feel like One position
I don't feel like has been discussed a ton in
terms of the Jets has been linebacker. They have c. J. Mosley,
they have Quincy Williams, they have a number of other
players like Jamie Sherwood and Holms and noz Rel Dean,
and the Jets hope that they can develop into into
(10:11):
good players for their team. Sherwood's coming off the Achilles injury,
nozzle Dean, I believe Robert Salas said, was adding some weight,
so which should not surprise anybody. But that's a position
not a lot of people have talked about with the Jets. Now.
I we discussed Devin Lloyd being a good schematic fit
for the Jets. Long limbed former safety similar to Sherwood
and noaz Rel Dean in college. So Devin Lloyd potential
(10:36):
top ten pick, how do you see? Well, first of all,
would you be surprised if the Jets went in that direction?
And second of all, like I know this, I know
that you're not supposed to draft for need. But do
you think that maybe free agency could have shifted at
all the way that the Jets potentially view Lloyd in
terms of a top ten pick. No, I mean I
(10:58):
think that, Uh with Louy, you know, he's you can
make an argument he's one of the ten best players
in this draft. Um, And so I think that it
would make sense for him to be in a discussion
there at number ten. A guy that is explosive, Uh.
He can help you in coverage, he can help you
downhill as a blitzer, he could do everything you want
for a linebacker. Didn't blow up the combine, uh like
(11:18):
some people thought he might. But he's still an explosive
player that is gonna step in from day one and
be a a three down player for you. Doesn't have
to come off the field. So there's value in that certainly, um.
And so at number ten, there there's a there's a
scenario out there where I think that he might be
the best fit for the Jets at that point. Um
Now do I think that that's necessarily maybe the ideal scenario,
(11:41):
maybe not, But I still think that he is that
caliber of player where he belongs in that discussion as
a as a possible top ten guy. Also, another two
positions that have been commonly mocked to the Jets before
free agency, edge wide receiver. Based on what's transpired, it
so far feels like those are pretty much in play
(12:02):
wherever in the draft, as early as the first round,
as late as undrafted free agency, So I don't really
want to talk about that. The one position I do
want to focus on before I get your best case
scenario in the first two rounds is a very unique one.
I think it's really a split one on Twitter right now.
It's offensive line, particularly offensive tackle, with ikey a Kwanu
(12:24):
and Evan Neil both popular picks to the Jets at
number four if they were on the board in those
specific mock drafts. Now that the Jets have signed Lake
and Tomlinson, where do you stand on potentially either one
of those guys, meaning a kwan O'Neil even Trevor Penning
if it were picked ten or Charles Cross or whoever
it is, where do you stand on them as being
(12:45):
potential Jets? Knowing that the Jets right now Robert Sale
has said that McKay Beckton and George Fan competition at
left tackle. Also knowing that George Fant is in the
final year of his contract, despite the fact he doesn't
have a lot of tread on the tire and it
feels after last season he's a scheme fit and an
ascending player for the Jets. Yeah, I think the offensive
(13:07):
lines a really interesting UM discussion point here when it
comes to the draft, because it's a position they've gone
the last two years UM, and it's a position that
you know, we could see them realistically address at four
or ten. Because you look at the tackle situation with
McKay Beckton, we just it's a little unsettled. We just
(13:28):
don't know what that's going to look like the next
few years of his rookie contract. Will he lock down
the left tackle job and be the high upside guy
that we think he is, or at least that he's
capable of. It's it, you know, hopefully he That's how
it turns out, but it's that's no guarantee that it will. So, uh,
it's a little unsettled. And because of that, uh, there's
(13:48):
there's absolutely a chance we could see one of those
top offensive linement off the board at number four. They
give you position flex, tackle or guard. Uh they can uh.
You know, you bring all those guys to camp, what
the best man win? And I know you know the
the doubters would say that you know you don't need
to it. You know you have the offensive line set
right now with your two tackles, your two guards. Um,
(14:09):
but you know it's offensive lines of position where you
just never have enough depth and you don't know how
the future of that positions, uh, of that unit is
going to look. So if you have a chance to
draft the guy you're very high on who has a
high grade from you, it might be tough to pass
him up at that point. If Evan Neil or Icky Kuan,
who are there at number four. So it's a really
tough discussion that I think, you know, we have our
(14:30):
opinions on the outside, but you know that the coaches
and Joe Douglas and that you know, the front office,
they've got their own opinion on that the state of
that offensive line is and there might be some disconnect there,
so there's a little bit of unknown. Obviously, what happens
on draft weekend will give us a little bit of
a tell of how the what kind of shape they
see that offensive line right now. So let's just wrap
(14:51):
up this free agency talk with I'm just kind of
kind of hand over the floor to you. I'm curious
what you view as possible scenarios overall at four and ten,
by position or specifically by player, and I want you
to tell us, in your opinion, what is the best
case scenario for the Jets at pick number four and
pick number ten. Yeah, and I think that there's no
(15:16):
like obviously answer here in my opinion where okay that
it's clearly this, this and this. I think that you
can make a case for several of these different directions,
especially at number four. Uh, they could go defensive line
with Travon Walker. I think you know the at a
Georgia tools the player who has high upside um. You
know we mentioned Sauce Gardner. Uh, you know, the corner
(15:37):
position is in much better shape now than it was
a couple of years ago. But still, if you have
a chance to add a guy like Sauce Gardner who
you feel could be a future Pro bowler, you absolutely
do it. So I think that that's certainly a case
for that. We just talked about offensive line there at
number four, Um is for a place where you talk
about these receivers. Uh. In my opinion, that's a little early.
I think that you feel good about receivers being there
(15:59):
at ten if you really want to go that direction
in the first round. So I think right now where
we are, I could make a case for defensive line,
could make a case uh for for pass rusher, certainly,
But I think that you know, offensive line or Sauce Gardener.
I think I'm leaning on the thing. I'm leaning Gardner
at this point. Just again, I'm getting a chance to
(16:20):
fortify the back end of my defense. A guy that
is going to compete for snaps right away and you
feel is going to make Pro Bowls. Um. And so
I feel good about my offensive line is gonna play
itself out. Um. You know, I at pass rusher, I
think that you know, we could go travon Walker, we
could go Cabon Thibodeaux, maybe even talk about Jermaine Johnson
at that point, if if you're worried, he's not gonna
make it to you attend um. So I I feel
(16:41):
good about U, you know, getting someone on defense, getting
an impact player right now, I think I lean Gardner
at that point over over a pass rusher and then
a number ten. This is where, Okay, do one of
those pass rushers fall to you? Uh, just Jermaine Johnson there.
If Jermaine Johnson is there, I think that's too good
to pass up. But I think I'm going sauce Gardner
Jamaine Johnson. Get you a guy that's gonna help you
get after the quarterback. Then the guy's gonna pick off
(17:02):
the quarterback. But I think the one scenario that kind
of disrupts that is getting a wide receiver, a key
guy that's gonna help your your sophomore quarterback. It's gonna
help your offense go. And whether that's Garrett Wilson, who
I believe the top receiver in this draft, or say
that's uh, you know Drake London, who brings sides, who
brings uh maybe you know fits your identity a little
(17:24):
bit more. I can understand that as well. So again,
I this is my way of saying, there's so many
different directions they could go. I'm not sure there is
a one exact way that they should be going. I
think there are several When you talk about ideal scenarios,
I think there are several different options you could look at.
All Right, one last question about this at four, just
I'm curious you're reasoning behind let's say Sauce Gardner over
(17:46):
Kyle Hamilton's. And let's say, you know, we've seen some
freaky stuff happen during the draft. Let's say somehow, some way,
Kyle Hamilton's there at number ten. What do you think
about the Like, is that almost too good to be
true and you're running that card up? Or that also
depends Jeremaine Johnson is there. Yeah, it depends on who
is there um, And because if Jermaine Johnson is there
(18:06):
or the receiver that they want is there, that might
be the pick um instead. But Kyle Hamilton's you know,
we we've said it before, he might be the best
talent in this draft, just overall talent, and not just
physically with what he can do for a guy that's
six four to twenty, but his his intelligence, the way
he sees the field, his red reactability. I mean he
(18:26):
is as instinctive as it gets. For a player that
can play single high, that can walk down on the box,
I mean, he can just do everything. So at that point,
you're looking at a guy that's gonna help your defense
in a big way if you believe that he's worth
the value at there at that point, if he fits
your defense in your scheme. So that that's an important
part of this. But with Gardner, I just think the
(18:46):
value of the cornerback position is so high. And you
know what it means, Uh, it's for a guy that
you put out there that can hopefully take away one
side of the field. There's just a lot of value
with that. So that's why I would lean Gardner in
that scenario. It all right, that was a great synopsis
right there. Let's shift our focus now to the tight
end position at the NFL Draft, the position as a whole. Obviously,
(19:08):
this conversation was a lot different in January when we
were in Mobile, Alabama. We're talking about guys like Trey McBride,
Jeremy Ruckard potentially as future Jets as early as at
that point, potentially the second round. And then you said,
you know what, I'm not really comfortable taking any guys
in the second round, so then in this case for
the third round. But after the signing of c j
U Sama, the signing of Tyler Conklin, I would imagine
(19:31):
that you would believe it doesn't seem as likely that
the Jets are probably gonna go tight end in the
first two days of the draft. Is that right? I
think that's fair because, and again, like we touched on
earlier there, you know, these two guys both being Day
three picks are prime examples that you don't have to
go that direction that there, and especially in this draft
class where there's some good tight ends who will go
(19:54):
on Day two. Trey McBride is still a solid player,
Great Dold Chick from u C l A still a
good player. Jeremy Ruckert has kind of been out of sight,
out of mind because of that foot injury at the
Senior Bowl. Still a really good player. But you can
afford to wait fourth, fifth round, you're still get a
good good player. And again, especially in this draft class
where a tight end uh not a top heavy position
(20:15):
this year, but once we get into the third, fourth,
fifth round, it is one of the deepest positions in
this draft. So how do you rank the top three
tight ends let's say right now on your board, and
where do you think that they'll go in terms of
round It would be McBride, Dolchick, and Ruckert Um McBride
(20:35):
being a guy that is does not have one elite trade,
but he's just good across the board as an inline blocker,
as a guy that is not going to drop the football,
very strong at contact. UH, can run routes, can get open,
give you enough space for the quarterback. So McBride is
snall around good player and someone that's gonna play in
the league for a long time. Duld Chick has a
(20:56):
little more explosive. This to him a little more after
the catchability, so you feel like a guy that's going
to help you put points on the board. Um as
a blocker leaves a little to be desired. He he's
more of a move tight end. UH, you know that
f tight end and so different, a little bit different
type of tight end. And then with Jeremy Rucker, the
same type of thing with UH. With McBride, a guy
(21:19):
that has a lot of ability, just maybe not one
thing that you look at and say, okay, that's gonna
separate him from other tight ends just a really solid
player who has yet to play his best football. But
he's a solid blocker. Uh, he's a very good pass
catcher when he's targeted. So uh and with the foot
injury you might be getting a little bit of discount
with Ruckert. But all three of these players should be
(21:41):
off the board somewhere on the back end of day two.
So let's just let's talk about this tight end group. Rather,
let's focus on day three because that's more seemingly where
the Jets could at a tight end, figuring that they
just signed to guys. So if the Jets want to
go in that direction on day three. We've talked about
Jake Ferguson before. I know you like him as a
(22:04):
as a reliable player, But who are some other guys
that should be in that mix as well for the Jets.
One guy that's really cut my eye throughout the process
of Daniel Bellinger from San Diego State, A big guy
six five two or fifty three pounds, ran a four
six three at the combine, which is an outstanding time
for a guy that size seven oh five and a
(22:24):
three cone is terrific. Uh. Did not have a ton
of production receiving production in college just wasn't targeted all
that much. But a guy that you know had five
touchdowns over his career, uh, and you know when he
was targeted, you know, it's something that uh, good things
usually happened. And so again you look at the receiving
(22:45):
production and it's nothing that's gonna blow you away. He
never reached three hundred and sixty yards in a season. Um.
He never he got past sixty five yards in a
game once in his career forty three career games. So uh,
not doesn't have to high end for induction. But he's
a big, big athlete who can move and he can block,
and so uh there are some I think instinctive issues
(23:07):
there with his route running in terms of just getting open,
but natural body control, he cleanly catches the football. Um
as a blocker, strong minded, competitive um assignment sound. So
you know, a guy that's not gonna blow you away
when you just look at what he did at San
Diego State on paper. But a detailed blocker, natural ball skills, toughness.
(23:30):
I think it brings versatility. He's gonna come in and
be that immediate backup why tight end, and then maybe
he ascends to being more later on in his rookie contract.
Where do you stand on someone that we have not discussed,
who's at the Senior Bowl in Isaiah likely Yeah, a
really athletic player who is uh you know, likely to
(23:51):
go somewhere in that late late day two, early day three. Uh,
he's more of that. Again, that moved tight end at
f tight end six four and a half two and
forty five pounds. Uh, he had almost a thousand yards
receiving this past year. Uh. He's a thread at all
three levels. So he can take a screen and be
a threat after the catch. He can work the middle
of the field, he can work the seam track the
(24:13):
ball over his shoulder, so a productive catching run target
for big plays all over his tape. I think he
had five catches of at least fifty five yards this year.
So uh, you know, usually you don't you're not getting
that from a tight end. But with with likely fluid
adjustments on the football. Uh, he'll give effort as a blocker,
but that's just he doesn't have the frame for that
where he's going to routinely snap and snap out give
(24:36):
you movement in the run game. That's not necessarily his game.
But he's just a productive player through the year, playmaking potential,
a loose athlete, uh, and a guy that can come
in and compete for snaps as that f tight end.
All right, I'm gonna wrap up the tight end talk
with give me your best blocker in this draft class.
(24:56):
And if your best blocker, let's say, you're gonna say
Jeremy Ruckert to say your best blocker on Day three,
somebody who really can handle himself in the run game,
because if the Jets were to draft a tight end,
wouldn't be surprised if his prowess were in the run
game considering what they want to do up front. I
think that Kate Doughton from Washington, Um, it deserves a
(25:18):
little more attention. Um if he were healthy. I mean,
he got hurt late in the season. Um it was
a left ankle injury, first time he's ever been hurt
in his life. UM. And that knocks him out of
the Senior Bowl, sidelines them for the combine. Um. If
not for that injury, we'd be talking a lot more
about Kate Doughton. He could be one of the top
three tight ends. He is my fourth tight end in
(25:39):
this class and still a guy that has a chance
to go top one hundred. But uh, you know he's
a guy that six five two or fifty pounds. He
takes his blocking responsibilities very very seriously. Um. And you
know he has uh that inline competitiveness where he can
latch and drive. Um, he can hold himself at the
point of attack, resets himself on the move so he
(26:01):
can sustain his blocks. Uh. And then he also has
the instinct so both in the run game in the
passing game, he knows what angles that he needs to hit,
he knows his landmarks. So as a blocker, I think
Kate Doughton is uh an ascending player. Then as a receiver,
I could say the same thing. Uh. You know he
is uh good route runner check that box, a good
(26:22):
catchpoint finisher, check that box. Um. I think there's there's
nuance to what he's doing out there. So Kate Doughton
uh is going to be a terrific value forever whoever
drafts him. And it's a shame we haven't been able
to see him yet throughout this process. That's a perfect
way to put a bow on this episode of NFL
Draft Preview. Dank, thanks a lot. We'll talk to you
next week. All right, thanks Evan,
The New York Jet and are now on the gored
in New York has been one of the greatest questions.
Zack spit out on the brand that one right now
the New York Jet flick. Welcome to another episode of
NFL Draft Preview Ethan Greenberg, joined every week by the
(00:22):
athletics Dane Brugler. Free agency underway, which is kind of
the first domino, or maybe not the first domino, but
it's a big domino, let's say, in the pre draft process,
because maybe things start to crystallize in about a month
or so. It's March. That means that the draft is
just over a month away. We're coming in hot into April.
It's fifty degrees in Ohio, Dane said off the air.
(00:43):
It's about fifty degrees here in New Jersey, so the
warm weather is coming. Where's the b stat By the way,
where are we are? Do you feel confident in where
you are? You feel like you're ahead of schedule, behind schedule?
Give us a little peak behind the curtain here until
it's out into release it into the y. I always
feel like I'm behind and there's no way I'm going
to get it done. But every year find a way. Um,
(01:05):
but it's uh, this is the point of the season
of the process where Pro Days are happening, and so
I pride my myself or my my guide on having
all of the pro day, verified Pro Day information, not
just what people are posting on Twitter, but the verified
numbers from teams. So, um, you know, it's it's important
to get all those numbers. And that's kind of where
I'm at, gathering all those names, all those numbers, finding
(01:28):
out Okay, who are some of the Combine snubs that
tested really well, who have a chance to get drafted.
They just you know, they were involved with some of
those guys last year. So uh, it's it's definitely a
process and something that you know, you give me a
little bit of anxiety when you mentioned how close the
draft is, but we're gonna get what what I just
(01:49):
want to be clear when you said release it into
the wild, do you mean the fans like Twitter? Yeah,
that's the wild right there. Well, it's it's one of
the career easiest days of the year for me is
the day it comes out and the moment I hit
send and it's out there. Um, I just I'm waiting
for my phone to blow up. From from agents, from
(02:11):
uh you know, text from are on the league, from
you know, Twitter reaction for fans. So it's it's a
lot of fun, but you know, I'm also kind of
guarded against uh, you know what what people are saying.
But it's it's something I'm very very much looking forward to.
You have to enjoy a nice beverage right after you
hits end and it gets released into the wild like
that same day. You first first thing I do is
(02:33):
take my dog for a walk, just get some fresh air,
get some you know, get some exercise, and then come
back to the computer deal with whatever is coming at
me at that point. So but yeah, it's good to get, uh,
just a breather after I hit send on and it's
just like a it's just like a phone stays at
home type of walk, Like you press send, you grab
(02:55):
the leash, you just go and you and you just
kind of roam for maybe an extended walk and then
you come back and see who who blew up your
phone about what that's That's exactly it just clear my mind. No,
just give me a half hour away just to you know, reset,
re calibrate, uh, and then dive right back in because yeah,
there's still plenty of work to do before we get
(03:15):
the draft weekend. Alright, well, let's talk about this free agency,
the first wave, I'd say, right, that's pretty much what's
what's behind us now. There obviously be moves that trickle
between now and the draft, but the first wave is
behind us. The Jets made a number of moves I'd
say none that really broke the bank according to the reports.
But you know, some things do change based off free
(03:37):
agency from an evaluation standpoint, So, Dane, where you sit
based on the Jets signings like Lake and Tomlinson, D
J Reid, c j Uzama, Jordan's whitehead Tyler Conklin, what
is your picture for the Jets draft right now? Like
has what was the picture before free agency? And do
you think it changed at all as we record here
in late March. I think the best teams they always
(04:02):
attack free agency so they can go into the draft
without a clear need where they have to go reach
for a position. And I think that's what we saw
the Jets do. Uh during that first wave of free agency,
where they address corner, they addressed safety, they addressed tight end, Uh,
they addressed that offensive line. They find that right guard,
they've been looking for um and that way they go
(04:22):
into the draft and saying, Okay, we don't have to
go offensive line early, we don't have to go corner. Uh.
They've positioned themselves well based on these free agent signings
that it really keeps the board open. And you know,
especially in the first round with two picks in the
top ten, who falls to you at those two picks
and they're not, you know, handcuffed to a certain position
(04:43):
where they have to address it or they're gonna end
up leaving a hole on their roster going into the
summer and into training camps. So from the jet perspective,
I think they did, uh you know exactly what you know,
kind of from from a fast perspective, you hope they
would do address several of these needs. And now you
can really attack the draft and go based off of
your board and you're not reaching, you're not overvaluing certain positions.
(05:05):
And so, you know, I think we've talked so much
about tight end and Okay, well they they signed two
tight ends, two guys that are maybe not elite Pro
Bowl types, but guys that are functional starters, can help
you in the passing game, can help you as blockers. Uh,
they address the secondary with two guys back there who
are plug and play guys, and and then a critical
(05:28):
piece on the offensive line who you know, you expect
to step in and really fortify things up for you
for you upfront. And so those are big pieces for
this franchise and as we go look forward to the draft,
it really gives them a lot of options. You know,
I was just thinking about this c J Usama, Tyler Conklin.
We'll talk about this tight end group in this year.
(05:50):
But Conklin and Usama both senior BAWL guys, both fifth
round picks. I'm just curious, like, what do you remember
about them from college when you were studying them coming
to the pros, because now are on their second contracts
and suppolsedly gonna be pretty big pieces to this Jets offense. Yeah,
I mean both athletic guys America. Conklin I believe was
a basketball player. Uh, that was kind of his his pedigree,
(06:12):
and you saw that on the football field with the
body control, the balance, his ability to win body position
down the field. So you know, Tyler Conklin, I think
that you know, we've seen that up to this point
of his NFL career. And then c Jozamba, a guy
that could stretch the scene, a guy that you know
could be a not just a a reliable pass catcher,
(06:34):
but a guy that could be a little dynamic down
the field and someone that the defenses have to account for.
So both these guys coming out of the college level
going to the Senior Bowl, uh, and I think there
are two prime examples why you don't have to draft
a tight end in the top one hundred picks. You
can wait to Day three and get a quality player.
And that's that's absolutely the case this year, where the
(06:54):
sweet spot of this tight end draft that the draft
class is gonna be third, fourth, fifth round. You're going
to find excellent value in those in those rounds. And
even though they did make these additions at tight end,
there's a good chance we can still see the Jets
draft at tight end. And I think that these two
guys are examples that even if they wait till the
fourth and fifth round, you can still get a pretty
good player. That's a great point. We're going to talk
(07:17):
about these guys that could be options for the Jets
later on in this episode, but let's continue talking about
free agency and the picture changing with free agency. So
when we did your mock draft a couple of weeks
ago for NFL Draft preview, you had Sauce Gardner at four, right,
and I'm just with the dj Read acquisition. Do you
(07:39):
think that that changes at all or you think that
that's still very much in play with Sauce Gardner at
four and the caveat to all this is with the
signing at safety and Jordan Whitehead and the resigning of
LaMarcus Joyner. I know you have not believed that Kyle
Hamilton's would be a Jet at four, But between Sauce
(08:02):
and Kyle Hamilton's, where do you think the Jets would
go between those two right now? Honestly, I think it
really depends less on who's on the roster and more
depends on how Joe Douglas and his staff how they
view these players. Because if you're drafting with the fourth
overall pick, you need a draft one of the top
four players in the draft according to your board. Forget
(08:25):
the position, need forget everything else. Just ranked the top
four players in this draft, and you're gonna come away
with one of those guys. And if that ends up
being a pass rusher. If that ends up being a corner,
if that ends up being a safety, then so be it.
But I think it's important when you're drafting that early
to not necessarily think about, Okay, what's best for two
this season, what's best for the current makeup of this roster.
(08:48):
It's more important to think about the long term, more
important to get the best player available at that point
um and and that that will that strategy will change.
Maybe when you get later in the first round, maybe
even at ten, that strategy changes a little bit. But
I think it's very important with that, with the top
four pick, that make sure you're getting one of the
top players in this draft. So if that ends up
being sauce Gardner, then I then so via dj re
(09:09):
should not change your thinking on that, because you know,
corner is one of those positions where, uh, you know
you're playing with three four corners out there at a time.
I know they addressed the position quite a bit last year.
It's something that you know they feel like they're in
good shape there right now. But if you have a
chance to get an impact guy like sauce Gardner, who
you believe is one of the top four players in
(09:30):
this draft, Uh, could be a future pro bowler, then
by all means, I think you should do it. Now.
Kyle Hamilton's same type of thing. Uh. There's obviously the
value of safety that early that factors into the discussion,
But I think it just comes down to, again, who
are the top four players in this draft that are
going to make an impact for your team and just
(09:50):
making sure you're coming away with one of those guys.
Are the other positions that I feel like One position
I don't feel like has been discussed a ton in
terms of the Jets has been linebacker. They have c. J. Mosley,
they have Quincy Williams, they have a number of other
players like Jamie Sherwood and Holms and noz Rel Dean,
and the Jets hope that they can develop into into
(10:11):
good players for their team. Sherwood's coming off the Achilles injury,
nozzle Dean, I believe Robert Salas said, was adding some weight,
so which should not surprise anybody. But that's a position
not a lot of people have talked about with the Jets. Now.
I we discussed Devin Lloyd being a good schematic fit
for the Jets. Long limbed former safety similar to Sherwood
and noaz Rel Dean in college. So Devin Lloyd potential
(10:36):
top ten pick, how do you see? Well, first of all,
would you be surprised if the Jets went in that direction?
And second of all, like I know this, I know
that you're not supposed to draft for need. But do
you think that maybe free agency could have shifted at
all the way that the Jets potentially view Lloyd in
terms of a top ten pick. No, I mean I
(10:58):
think that, Uh with Louy, you know, he's you can
make an argument he's one of the ten best players
in this draft. Um, And so I think that it
would make sense for him to be in a discussion
there at number ten. A guy that is explosive, Uh.
He can help you in coverage, he can help you
downhill as a blitzer, he could do everything you want
for a linebacker. Didn't blow up the combine, uh like
(11:18):
some people thought he might. But he's still an explosive
player that is gonna step in from day one and
be a a three down player for you. Doesn't have
to come off the field. So there's value in that certainly, um.
And so at number ten, there there's a there's a
scenario out there where I think that he might be
the best fit for the Jets at that point. Um
Now do I think that that's necessarily maybe the ideal scenario,
(11:41):
maybe not, But I still think that he is that
caliber of player where he belongs in that discussion as
a as a possible top ten guy. Also, another two
positions that have been commonly mocked to the Jets before
free agency, edge wide receiver. Based on what's transpired, it
so far feels like those are pretty much in play
(12:02):
wherever in the draft, as early as the first round,
as late as undrafted free agency, So I don't really
want to talk about that. The one position I do
want to focus on before I get your best case
scenario in the first two rounds is a very unique one.
I think it's really a split one on Twitter right now.
It's offensive line, particularly offensive tackle, with ikey a Kwanu
(12:24):
and Evan Neil both popular picks to the Jets at
number four if they were on the board in those
specific mock drafts. Now that the Jets have signed Lake
and Tomlinson, where do you stand on potentially either one
of those guys, meaning a kwan O'Neil even Trevor Penning
if it were picked ten or Charles Cross or whoever
it is, where do you stand on them as being
(12:45):
potential Jets? Knowing that the Jets right now Robert Sale
has said that McKay Beckton and George Fan competition at
left tackle. Also knowing that George Fant is in the
final year of his contract, despite the fact he doesn't
have a lot of tread on the tire and it
feels after last season he's a scheme fit and an
ascending player for the Jets. Yeah, I think the offensive
(13:07):
lines a really interesting UM discussion point here when it
comes to the draft, because it's a position they've gone
the last two years UM, and it's a position that
you know, we could see them realistically address at four
or ten. Because you look at the tackle situation with
McKay Beckton, we just it's a little unsettled. We just
(13:28):
don't know what that's going to look like the next
few years of his rookie contract. Will he lock down
the left tackle job and be the high upside guy
that we think he is, or at least that he's
capable of. It's it, you know, hopefully he That's how
it turns out, but it's that's no guarantee that it will. So, uh,
it's a little unsettled. And because of that, uh, there's
(13:48):
there's absolutely a chance we could see one of those
top offensive linement off the board at number four. They
give you position flex, tackle or guard. Uh they can uh.
You know, you bring all those guys to camp, what
the best man win? And I know you know the
the doubters would say that you know you don't need
to it. You know you have the offensive line set
right now with your two tackles, your two guards. Um,
(14:09):
but you know it's offensive lines of position where you
just never have enough depth and you don't know how
the future of that positions, uh, of that unit is
going to look. So if you have a chance to
draft the guy you're very high on who has a
high grade from you, it might be tough to pass
him up at that point. If Evan Neil or Icky Kuan,
who are there at number four. So it's a really
tough discussion that I think, you know, we have our
(14:30):
opinions on the outside, but you know that the coaches
and Joe Douglas and that you know, the front office,
they've got their own opinion on that the state of
that offensive line is and there might be some disconnect there,
so there's a little bit of unknown. Obviously, what happens
on draft weekend will give us a little bit of
a tell of how the what kind of shape they
see that offensive line right now. So let's just wrap
(14:51):
up this free agency talk with I'm just kind of
kind of hand over the floor to you. I'm curious
what you view as possible scenarios overall at four and ten,
by position or specifically by player, and I want you
to tell us, in your opinion, what is the best
case scenario for the Jets at pick number four and
pick number ten. Yeah, and I think that there's no
(15:16):
like obviously answer here in my opinion where okay that
it's clearly this, this and this. I think that you
can make a case for several of these different directions,
especially at number four. Uh, they could go defensive line
with Travon Walker. I think you know the at a
Georgia tools the player who has high upside um. You
know we mentioned Sauce Gardner. Uh, you know, the corner
(15:37):
position is in much better shape now than it was
a couple of years ago. But still, if you have
a chance to add a guy like Sauce Gardner who
you feel could be a future Pro bowler, you absolutely
do it. So I think that that's certainly a case
for that. We just talked about offensive line there at
number four, Um is for a place where you talk
about these receivers. Uh. In my opinion, that's a little early.
I think that you feel good about receivers being there
(15:59):
at ten if you really want to go that direction
in the first round. So I think right now where
we are, I could make a case for defensive line,
could make a case uh for for pass rusher, certainly,
But I think that you know, offensive line or Sauce Gardener.
I think I'm leaning on the thing. I'm leaning Gardner
at this point. Just again, I'm getting a chance to
(16:20):
fortify the back end of my defense. A guy that
is going to compete for snaps right away and you
feel is going to make Pro Bowls. Um. And so
I feel good about my offensive line is gonna play
itself out. Um. You know, I at pass rusher, I
think that you know, we could go travon Walker, we
could go Cabon Thibodeaux, maybe even talk about Jermaine Johnson
at that point, if if you're worried, he's not gonna
make it to you attend um. So I I feel
(16:41):
good about U, you know, getting someone on defense, getting
an impact player right now, I think I lean Gardner
at that point over over a pass rusher and then
a number ten. This is where, Okay, do one of
those pass rushers fall to you? Uh, just Jermaine Johnson there.
If Jermaine Johnson is there, I think that's too good
to pass up. But I think I'm going sauce Gardner
Jamaine Johnson. Get you a guy that's gonna help you
get after the quarterback. Then the guy's gonna pick off
(17:02):
the quarterback. But I think the one scenario that kind
of disrupts that is getting a wide receiver, a key
guy that's gonna help your your sophomore quarterback. It's gonna
help your offense go. And whether that's Garrett Wilson, who
I believe the top receiver in this draft, or say
that's uh, you know Drake London, who brings sides, who
brings uh maybe you know fits your identity a little
(17:24):
bit more. I can understand that as well. So again,
I this is my way of saying, there's so many
different directions they could go. I'm not sure there is
a one exact way that they should be going. I
think there are several When you talk about ideal scenarios,
I think there are several different options you could look at.
All Right, one last question about this at four, just
I'm curious you're reasoning behind let's say Sauce Gardner over
(17:46):
Kyle Hamilton's. And let's say, you know, we've seen some
freaky stuff happen during the draft. Let's say somehow, some way,
Kyle Hamilton's there at number ten. What do you think
about the Like, is that almost too good to be
true and you're running that card up? Or that also
depends Jeremaine Johnson is there. Yeah, it depends on who
is there um, And because if Jermaine Johnson is there
(18:06):
or the receiver that they want is there, that might
be the pick um instead. But Kyle Hamilton's you know,
we we've said it before, he might be the best
talent in this draft, just overall talent, and not just
physically with what he can do for a guy that's
six four to twenty, but his his intelligence, the way
he sees the field, his red reactability. I mean he
(18:26):
is as instinctive as it gets. For a player that
can play single high, that can walk down on the box,
I mean, he can just do everything. So at that point,
you're looking at a guy that's gonna help your defense
in a big way if you believe that he's worth
the value at there at that point, if he fits
your defense in your scheme. So that that's an important
part of this. But with Gardner, I just think the
(18:46):
value of the cornerback position is so high. And you
know what it means, Uh, it's for a guy that
you put out there that can hopefully take away one
side of the field. There's just a lot of value
with that. So that's why I would lean Gardner in
that scenario. It all right, that was a great synopsis
right there. Let's shift our focus now to the tight
end position at the NFL Draft, the position as a whole. Obviously,
(19:08):
this conversation was a lot different in January when we
were in Mobile, Alabama. We're talking about guys like Trey McBride,
Jeremy Ruckard potentially as future Jets as early as at
that point, potentially the second round. And then you said,
you know what, I'm not really comfortable taking any guys
in the second round, so then in this case for
the third round. But after the signing of c j
U Sama, the signing of Tyler Conklin, I would imagine
(19:31):
that you would believe it doesn't seem as likely that
the Jets are probably gonna go tight end in the
first two days of the draft. Is that right? I
think that's fair because, and again, like we touched on
earlier there, you know, these two guys both being Day
three picks are prime examples that you don't have to
go that direction that there, and especially in this draft
class where there's some good tight ends who will go
(19:54):
on Day two. Trey McBride is still a solid player,
Great Dold Chick from u C l A still a
good player. Jeremy Ruckert has kind of been out of sight,
out of mind because of that foot injury at the
Senior Bowl. Still a really good player. But you can
afford to wait fourth, fifth round, you're still get a
good good player. And again, especially in this draft class
where a tight end uh not a top heavy position
(20:15):
this year, but once we get into the third, fourth,
fifth round, it is one of the deepest positions in
this draft. So how do you rank the top three
tight ends let's say right now on your board, and
where do you think that they'll go in terms of
round It would be McBride, Dolchick, and Ruckert Um McBride
(20:35):
being a guy that is does not have one elite trade,
but he's just good across the board as an inline blocker,
as a guy that is not going to drop the football,
very strong at contact. UH, can run routes, can get open,
give you enough space for the quarterback. So McBride is
snall around good player and someone that's gonna play in
the league for a long time. Duld Chick has a
(20:56):
little more explosive. This to him a little more after
the catchability, so you feel like a guy that's going
to help you put points on the board. Um as
a blocker leaves a little to be desired. He he's
more of a move tight end. UH, you know that
f tight end and so different, a little bit different
type of tight end. And then with Jeremy Rucker, the
same type of thing with UH. With McBride, a guy
(21:19):
that has a lot of ability, just maybe not one
thing that you look at and say, okay, that's gonna
separate him from other tight ends just a really solid
player who has yet to play his best football. But
he's a solid blocker. Uh, he's a very good pass
catcher when he's targeted. So uh and with the foot
injury you might be getting a little bit of discount
with Ruckert. But all three of these players should be
(21:41):
off the board somewhere on the back end of day two.
So let's just let's talk about this tight end group. Rather,
let's focus on day three because that's more seemingly where
the Jets could at a tight end, figuring that they
just signed to guys. So if the Jets want to
go in that direction on day three. We've talked about
Jake Ferguson before. I know you like him as a
(22:04):
as a reliable player, But who are some other guys
that should be in that mix as well for the Jets.
One guy that's really cut my eye throughout the process
of Daniel Bellinger from San Diego State, A big guy
six five two or fifty three pounds, ran a four
six three at the combine, which is an outstanding time
for a guy that size seven oh five and a
(22:24):
three cone is terrific. Uh. Did not have a ton
of production receiving production in college just wasn't targeted all
that much. But a guy that you know had five
touchdowns over his career, uh, and you know when he
was targeted, you know, it's something that uh, good things
usually happened. And so again you look at the receiving
(22:45):
production and it's nothing that's gonna blow you away. He
never reached three hundred and sixty yards in a season. Um.
He never he got past sixty five yards in a
game once in his career forty three career games. So uh,
not doesn't have to high end for induction. But he's
a big, big athlete who can move and he can block,
and so uh there are some I think instinctive issues
(23:07):
there with his route running in terms of just getting open,
but natural body control, he cleanly catches the football. Um
as a blocker, strong minded, competitive um assignment sound. So
you know, a guy that's not gonna blow you away
when you just look at what he did at San
Diego State on paper. But a detailed blocker, natural ball skills, toughness.
(23:30):
I think it brings versatility. He's gonna come in and
be that immediate backup why tight end, and then maybe
he ascends to being more later on in his rookie contract.
Where do you stand on someone that we have not discussed,
who's at the Senior Bowl in Isaiah likely Yeah, a
really athletic player who is uh you know, likely to
(23:51):
go somewhere in that late late day two, early day three. Uh,
he's more of that. Again, that moved tight end at
f tight end six four and a half two and
forty five pounds. Uh, he had almost a thousand yards
receiving this past year. Uh. He's a thread at all
three levels. So he can take a screen and be
a threat after the catch. He can work the middle
of the field, he can work the seam track the
(24:13):
ball over his shoulder, so a productive catching run target
for big plays all over his tape. I think he
had five catches of at least fifty five yards this year.
So uh, you know, usually you don't you're not getting
that from a tight end. But with with likely fluid
adjustments on the football. Uh, he'll give effort as a blocker,
but that's just he doesn't have the frame for that
where he's going to routinely snap and snap out give
(24:36):
you movement in the run game. That's not necessarily his game.
But he's just a productive player through the year, playmaking potential,
a loose athlete, uh, and a guy that can come
in and compete for snaps as that f tight end.
All right, I'm gonna wrap up the tight end talk
with give me your best blocker in this draft class.
(24:56):
And if your best blocker, let's say, you're gonna say
Jeremy Ruckert to say your best blocker on Day three,
somebody who really can handle himself in the run game,
because if the Jets were to draft a tight end,
wouldn't be surprised if his prowess were in the run
game considering what they want to do up front. I
think that Kate Doughton from Washington, Um, it deserves a
(25:18):
little more attention. Um if he were healthy. I mean,
he got hurt late in the season. Um it was
a left ankle injury, first time he's ever been hurt
in his life. UM. And that knocks him out of
the Senior Bowl, sidelines them for the combine. Um. If
not for that injury, we'd be talking a lot more
about Kate Doughton. He could be one of the top
three tight ends. He is my fourth tight end in
(25:39):
this class and still a guy that has a chance
to go top one hundred. But uh, you know he's
a guy that six five two or fifty pounds. He
takes his blocking responsibilities very very seriously. Um. And you
know he has uh that inline competitiveness where he can
latch and drive. Um, he can hold himself at the
point of attack, resets himself on the move so he
(26:01):
can sustain his blocks. Uh. And then he also has
the instinct so both in the run game in the
passing game, he knows what angles that he needs to hit,
he knows his landmarks. So as a blocker, I think
Kate Doughton is uh an ascending player. Then as a receiver,
I could say the same thing. Uh. You know he
is uh good route runner check that box, a good
(26:22):
catchpoint finisher, check that box. Um. I think there's there's
nuance to what he's doing out there. So Kate Doughton
uh is going to be a terrific value forever whoever
drafts him. And it's a shame we haven't been able
to see him yet throughout this process. That's a perfect
way to put a bow on this episode of NFL
Draft Preview. Dank, thanks a lot. We'll talk to you
next week. All right, thanks Evan,
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