April 20, 2023 • 23 mins
It's episode eight of NFL Draft Preview Presented by Verizon. Host Ethan Greenberg and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler begin by talking about risers and fallers of the 2023 Draft (00:43), who Dane believes the Jets should draft (3:18) and why mock drafts having Georgia’s Broderick Jones over Ohio State’s Paris Johnson (5:19). The two continue discussion about Tennessee T Darnell Wright (8:18), how this offensive tackle class compares to others (11:14) and what other positions the Jets could draft at No. 13 (13:14). Lastly, they discuss offensive tackle vs. defensive end in the first round and which has more value for the Jets (19:19).
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to another episode of NFL Draft Preview Ethan Greenberg
Dane Brugler. The draft is creeping up day by day
around the corner, so I want to hit the reset
button a little bit. And the first thing that I
think we should jump immediately right out of the gate
is risers and follers because we've gone so much. We've
talked about from the combine to now. There's been pro DA's,
(00:25):
there's been medical clearance, non medical clearance across the board.
This is part of the process as we record this
right now, a couple of weeks out, but still very
close in your mind, who have been the biggest risers
and or fallers of the twenty twenty three pre draft process.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, you know, it's always tough when you talk about
risers followers because I don't know how much guys are
really rising and falling up draft boards. But you know,
guys that those of those things outside have been talking
about there are teams that like them more. And one
of those guys could be Hendon Hooker from Tennessee, who
the quarterback widely believed to be the fifth quarterback drafted,
(01:08):
you know, now being talked about his potential top twenty
five pick in this draft. You know, coming off the ACL,
he's already twenty five years old, coming from a non
traditional offense in terms of making whole field reads, and
you know, just doing a lot of things you're asked
to do at the NFL level. It's is I can
(01:29):
understand why you'd come to the conclusion that Hennon Hooker
is a future NFL starter. Very intelligent guy. The toughness
is outstanding, good size, he's six ' three almost two
hundred twenty pounds. He's a good athlete, guys a good arm.
But to take that risk in the first round, that's
that's an awfully big risk. And so it'll be interesting
where exactly Hendon Hooker ends up, because we know quarterbacks
(01:52):
they're a little bit different than every other position, right.
You know, if you can get that fifth year option,
a lot of teams are gonna jump at that, especially
with a guy like Kennon Hooker who is going to
missed probably the first half of the year as he
works his way back from his ACL injury. So you
want to get that fifth year option, just one more
year to have him in the building. So you better
be convinced that Hendon Hooker is going to come in
(02:13):
twenty twenty four and compete for starting reps immediately. So
Hendon Hooker is a complicated prospect in this draft, but
for teams that are looking forward and feel that comfortable
about him, it wouldn't be a surprise if he ended
up going in the first round.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
I think it's going to be fascinating to see how
all of the quarterbacks come off the board. I mean,
I think that's where most of the storylines lie most years,
but specifically this year, considering the amount of talent at
the top of the draft and the quarterback needy teams
that are sitting at the top of the draft.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
But for the Jets, not the case.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
They own the thirteenth overall selection right now, I would
say almost every single mock draft, asides from one wanting
to change it up a bit, have the Jets selecting
it offensive tackle, which is the direction that I kind
of want to hit the reset button today, because again,
you had your list. Has it changed at all since
(03:09):
the first time you drafted your list whenever that was
maybe it was November, maybe it was January.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
What was your like initial list and where is it now?
You know?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I think with these tackles. There hasn't been a ton
of movement, but I think I felt better about where
some of them stack up. Paris Johnson's always been one,
Broder Jones has always been two. Feel it better and
better at about Darnell right there at number three. And
then you get to the next tier of guys, which
(03:40):
is your Anton Harrison from Oklahoma, your Matthew Berger on Syracuse,
Dewan Jones, Ohio State. Dwan Jones might be the one
where I was actually higher on him during the year
and then kind of cooled off now that we got
to the draft process. You know, we only saw one
day of him at the Senior Bowl before he had
to bow out, only did the forty year at the Combine,
(04:01):
didn't do any other drills, and then decided not to
work out as pro day. So some question marks there
that we didn't get answered. And I know it's a
frustration with a lot of teams with Duwan Jones and
then some of the other guys that maybe are outside
the top two tiers that I think really established themselves
as Hey, we're you know somewhere in that third fourth
(04:23):
round range, whether it's Tyler Stein from Alabama, Nick Seldaveri
from Old Dominion. These are guys that NFL teams look
at and say they're future starters, and in order to
get those guys, we probably have to take them on
day two.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
So for Paris Johnson, I feel like maybe this is
just my own perspective. I don't feel like I know
as much about his game right, Like people say, oh,
Broderick Jones, freak athlete, darnell right, left.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Side, right side, big guy, light feet, dancing bear, What
is the deal with Paris Johnson?
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Like again, I know I said this about Michael Mayer
and last episode, but it feels like, is he just
like rock solid?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Right?
Speaker 1 (05:03):
He's like battle test at Ohio State thirteen at right guard,
thirteen at left tackle, which is his more natural position
to use your words, So, like, what's the problem here,
Like what's the negative? And why do some mock drafts
have Broderick Jones ahead of Paris Johnson.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I think you're betting on the traits. Broderick Jones moves
so well for his size, and so does Paris Johnson.
I think with Paris he tends to drift at times,
especially at the top of the rush, where he'll get
his weight just a little bit outside of where it
should be, and that will create some inconsistent inconsistencies with
(05:41):
his hands, with his striking points, but that a lot
of that stuff is coachable and stuff you can work at.
He's just he's a fluid big man, and that's what
you want from a tackle. A humongous wingspan over thirty
six inch arms. Wish we could have seen him work
out as well do so of the testing he decided
he did the broad jump and that was it. Decided
not to do any other testing or us of the process.
(06:03):
And he's one of those guys I think knew he
didn't have to. You know, I'm gonna be a first
round tackle. I don't need to run the forty yard
dash if if I don't want to, and so I.
But I do think he has athleticism to his game.
And there's something to be said about how often he
was he really tested, you know, I Ohio State playing
that left tackle spot. There were a few times on
the Georgia tape the final game of the year where
(06:26):
you could tell he was facing the best competition he
had seen all year, where guys were giving a little
bit of trouble and he had to. You know, there
were times where he got beat by some of Georgia's
you know, really good up and coming pass rushers, So
it's a it's a case of a player that's good,
but to put him in the top ten as a
(06:46):
blue chip type of type of prospect not quite ready
to do that.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
So would you say that the ceiling for Broderick Jones
is higher considering he hasn't played as much.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Played the fewest amount of snaps among any of these
FBS tackles in this draft. Yeah, I think that's fair.
I think he's he moves so well with those feet,
and he has the body control where he can recover
very easily, So I think that's that is fair to
say he has the higher ceiling. And that's why some
teams have Broderick Jones as OT one on their draft boards.
(07:18):
And what thinking about because only really just a one
year starter. He played some left tackle last year in
twenty twenty one, but really didn't become the full time
left tackle until this year. And you can just thinking
about where he's going to be two years from now
can get you really excited about his future. So can
understand why teams are gonna bet on the ceiling with
(07:38):
Broderick Jones.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Another guy we really haven't talked about I feel like
is Darnell Right.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
And it's interesting to me.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Brian Baldinger did a breakdown for our TV show and
he was showing tape from Darnell Right against Trayvon Walker
and Will Anderson. And one right was at left tackle
against Walker, then he was at right tackle against Will Anderson.
So there's versatility and the two clips he showed he
(08:09):
handled his own well. So why is he a first
second round grade to you? And compared to maybe being up.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
There with guys like Broderick Jones and Paris Johnson.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Well, and some teams do have him in that mix.
For me, I would push back a little bit on
the versatility. His tape last year at left tackle was
not great. It was it was below average, I would
say as a whole. And that's why coming into the
year he was barely looked at as a prospect. He was.
He was viewed as a late round or PFA by
(08:43):
almost every team that I talked to coming into the year.
And this is a former five star guy, you know,
highly recruited. Just he did not click at left tackle.
It just didn't happen last year for him. This year
there was a right tackle and everything clicked. He settled
in and from day one had an outstanding year start
to finish, and he put himself in that first round discussion,
(09:05):
no doubt. But it does create questions is he just
a natural right tackle and moving him to the left
tackle be a little troublesome. You know, we've talked about
this kind of thing before, right you know, with Tristan
Wurf's coming out of Iowa, this is a hot debate.
Tristan Wurfs I thought was more of a natural. He
could play left tackle, could play right tackle, did both
(09:26):
his final year at Iowa, and I thought he did
at a high level. With Darnell Wright, we have below
average statement left tackle and then above average statement at
right tackle. And I think it's it'd be really hard
to project Darnell Wright as having true either tackle versatility
when that's not quite what the tape says. So, you know,
I think that's part of the reason why he's more
(09:48):
of a back half of a Round one guy as
opposed to a top ten player.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
It's gonna be interesting because I think that's a great
comparison in terms of abilities and whatnot because some worve
Scott drafted.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
He's been playing right tackle for the Bucks ever since.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Where a couple of picks earlier with Jederick Wills, who
had played right tackle for Alabama now is playing left
tackle for the Cleveland Brown So and there was no
I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, there was no
left tackle tape on Jederick Wills.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Right. It was all right tackle the whole time.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
That's its one hundred percent right. And that's and that's
where the the O line workouts. When you know, teams
will send their O line coach to go work out
a player. You know, you work them out in these
different stances. And that's where this is this part of
the year, the calendar that on March early April, that's
what teams are focused on, is trying to figure out
those nitty gritty details about a player. And so who knows,
(10:40):
maybe you know, after a team worked out Darnell Right,
they became a little more optimistic that he can move
to left tackle. But you watch that twenty twenty one
tape and it does definitely gives you a little bit
of pause.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Okay, So Darnell Right, I think is this class compared
it all in your similar to the class we were
just talking about in twenty twenty when it was Andrew Thomas,
Jedrick Wills, Makai Beckton, Tristan Wurfs. I feel like there's
a lot of good tackle prospects, but it feels like
it is kind of similar.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
But maybe that's just like a lazy take. No.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
I mean I think that that class I thought was
maybe a little bit higher, just because I thought all
four of those guys you could make a case belong
to the top ten. Jedrick Wills, he was my top
tackle that year. I sold on him. McKai Beckton all
the ability he had. Tristan Wurss was my second tackle
that year and he ended up being the fourth of
(11:38):
the group, and you can make the argument he's been
the best of the group. So I think that class
was a little more top heavy than this group, which
is good. It's a solid first round if you need
to tackle in the first round. I think you feel
pretty good about the options that are going to be
available for you, but not quite the top heavy heaviness
(11:58):
of that class.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
So is there a scenario in your mind where the
Jets don't go offensive tackle in the first round. Like
I feel like not to speak for you or any
of the draft ex wheres it's like the Jets taking
a left tackle or not a left tackle, excuse me
taking a eight tackle.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
They have a left tackle in Dwayne Brown.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
They have mckaie Beckton, who hasn't played right tackle in
a regular season game because he was the Jets left tackle.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
So but both of.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Those guys on the final year of their respective contracts.
Dwayne Brown gonna be thirty eight years old by the
time the season starts. Mkay Beckton's taken forty eight snaps
over the past two seasons, hasn't finished the game in
the regular season because he got hurt in Week one
in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Twenty twenty two, he got hurt in training camp.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
And if you follow McKay Beckton on social media, you'll
see that he looks like he is in phenomenal shape.
He looks like he's in a great headspace. And so
the Jets, if they lined up tomorrow fully healthy, could
have Dwayne Brown and mckaie Beckton as their tackles. Now
if they add one of these guys, because betting on
the future, I think that's the direction A lot of
people think the Jets are going to go. If they
(13:04):
don't go this direction on draft night, what or who
was on the board that would cause them to go
in a different direction in your eyes.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Well, let's talk it out. I don't think that there
is a center that I would feel comfortable taking at thirteen,
so it's cross center off the list. Would probably think
they're not going to take a guard with who they
have on the roster and how you know their guard
situation setting up? I think tight ends probably, you know,
(13:36):
it's too rich to take a tight end at that point.
Could they take you know, with you know, running back there?
I think they're set quarterback there. You feel like they're
they're going to be in a good spot. Wide receiver?
Is that something they feel like they need to add another, uh,
you know, another talent to the mix. Do they like
one of these wide receivers enough to take them there?
(13:57):
Like a Jackson Smith and Jigba you plug him in
to the slot, reunite him with Garrett Wilson, Like, is
that's something that might tempt them? On offense? That's the
one position where you could you could squint and say,
maybe you know, like, I could see why you'd want
to do that make your offense even more explosive. Okay,
let's let's let's help our quarterback as much as possible.
(14:19):
On defense, you know, you can never have too many
defensive linemen. If they have a high grade on whether
it's a Nolan Smith or you know, Lucas van Ness,
whoever it may be. If they have a high grade
on one of those players and he falls to the
thirteenth pick, you can never rule that out. We think
they're probably not going to go linebacker there and secondary
(14:42):
we feel like there's you know, they feel pretty good.
Brian Branch is one of my favorite players in the draft.
Would you take him at thirteen? Probably not. I mean
I feel like I'm not many places have him as
a top twenty player on their boards. I know I'm
one of the few. I know, the four five, eight forty,
the one hundred and ninety pounds that's scared off a
(15:02):
lot of people. All I know is tape is phenomenal,
and I'm gonna trust that tape all day long. But
a lot of teams, in an analyst, they don't see
him as a top twenty value. So I mean, now
that we're talking it out, would come down to what
maybe a defensive lineman, maybe Jackson Smith, the Jigba, I mean,
not many other obvious spots where this Jets team could go.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah, I think it's a great point.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
And with the Jets and receiver, the Jets well documented,
were scheduled to visit with Odell Beckham, and then the
night before he was supposed to come to one Jets
drive and go on a tour and visit and everything,
he signs with the Baltimore Ravens. So, if you're reading
the tea leaves, seems like the Jets were interested in
a player like Odell Beckham junior obviously is a very
(15:47):
talented receiver now in the draft. I don't know if
there is a good comparison or someone that you think
could be as impactful as now I'm saying as Odell.
I'm just saying from the jump the Jets struck gold
last year with Garrett Wilson. To your point, like it
is it if Jackson Smith and Jigba's on the board,
(16:07):
and if you're if you're in charge of the Jets, Dane,
you have your option of JSN or I don't know,
let's say Paris. Johnson's gone already, so you have your
option of Jasn or Broderick Jones. And with the way
this twenty twenty three Jets team is shaping up, which
direction do you go?
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I invest in the tackle and what that means for
I mean, I love any optimism when it comes to
Mackay Beckton, when it comes to Dwayne Brown, but the
likelihood of them both starting seventeen games just doesn't seem
very high based off of their histories. And you hope
they do. It'd be awesome if they do, but you know,
(16:47):
you got to play the odds, and chances are they
probably won't. And so not only are you thinking about
next year, you're thinking about this season as well, giving
yourself tackled depth, you know, just in a guy like
Broderick Jones who can be the future, but also add
depth right now from day one. That's that's off the appealing.
But you know what, it add a guy like Jackson
Smith the jig because I think you're right. Your point
(17:08):
is a good one about immediate contributions. That's if you're
gonna draft a receiver there at thirteen, this is a
guy that needs to come in from day one and
make an impact. And I think that's why I mentioned
Jackson Smith and Jig but over the rest of these
receivers because he is ready. He is NFL ready from
day one. His ability to find space work the middle
(17:29):
of the field is tremendous. He'd be the type of
you know, it doesn't matter who's that quarterback, He's the
type type of receiver that can get open and you
know that defenses have to worry about. So you spread
out a defense with Garrett Wilson and Jackson Smith and
Jig But just like they did at Ohio State two
years ago. That'd be a lot of fun. It'd be
really appealing. But I think I'd have to stick with
(17:49):
the offensive line and investing in you know, the guy's
blocking from a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
And then defensively in the similar vein is there. Look,
the Jets love defensive line, they love offensive linemen, So
either one of those picks would make sense in your mind,
like tackle and defensive end to very valuable positions. Similar like,
let's take a look at the Jets landscape right now
from a pass rusher perspective. You're looking at Carl Lawson,
(18:17):
John Franklin, Myers in your base JFM. By the way,
if there were JSN and j FM on the same team,
that would give people including me fits similar to Michael Carter.
Michael Carter, similar to Elijah H. Tucker and Elijah Moore
when he was here, and similar to Bryce and Breis Hall.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
So yeah, it's a shame they didn't sign Paris Campbell
and condect Paris Johnson and Paris Campbell. And I mean,
no matter who they draft, I'm sure we could find
some some type of connection.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Yeah, that's a great point regardless Jets defensive ends. Carl
Lawson enters the final year of his contract. Jermaine Johnson
had a promising rookie season, so he's back in the mix.
Michael Clemens as well, so maybe and Bryce Offf as well.
So maybe the Jets want to add a defensive end
because it's a premium position. You know, the coaching staff
(19:07):
values the position between offensive tackle and defensive end, assuming
they have a similar grade on two guys who are
available at thirteen. Do you place a precedent on one
position over the other.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
For this team, Yes, offensive tackle, I do, because I
just watching the Jets last season. I feel good about
the defense. I don't feel good about the offense. And
you know, I think no matter who you put a quarterback,
it's not all a be all, fix all solution. You
need a lot of help on offense to help make
that machine go, and I think adding offensive tackle help
(19:41):
will help do that. Where on defense, I feel pretty
good about who we're going to line up tomorrow and
go play.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Would I love to add a Nolan Smith to that group, Absolutely,
that'd be a ton of fun, add his four to
three speed out there, or Lucas van Ness a guy
that can grow. And I feel like with Lucas fan Nests,
you're buy low and he has a chance to be
a big time player in this league. So I could
understand if that's a direction they went. But if I
have to choose between offensive line defensive line for this team,
(20:10):
I'm going with the offense.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Okay, there you go.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
The Dane Brugler stamp of approval on offensive tackle at thirteen.
I'm guessing that's also where you think this is heading, right,
Like I think in that camp and.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
It seems like when it's something seems so obvious that
there's no chance it's going to happen. But I mean,
I don't know, I mean, did any of that. Do
you disagree with any of you know, the reasoning that
we talked.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Out, Absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
I think if you're a Jets fan and you're paying
attention to the tea leaves of the team, it seems
like like as unsexy as it sounds to talk about
offensive linemen every year, you know, it's something that the
Jets want to do. Take a look at the Eagles
in the Super Bowl. Take a look at the Chiefs
in the Super Bowl. They invested in the offensive line.
You know, Joe Douglass comes from the Philadelphia Eagles camp,
(20:57):
and how with Howie Roseman, he is a fum were
offensive lineman himself. So I think that if the Jets
can set themselves up well at the tackle position, not
only for the future, but also knowing what happened last
year where not only did Mkai Beckon and Dwayne Brown
get hurt, so did George Fance, so did Max Mitchell.
(21:19):
Like there were a lot of tackles and a lot
of offensive line shuffling that created problems where the Jets'
final game in Miami in Week eighteen was a makeshift
offensive line. And I think that you're gonna want to
avoid that at all costs, especially because.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
It seems top of mind. And I think it's interesting though.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
What we haven't discussed is the trade back, because if
there is a scenario where potentially, you know, let's say
Hendon Hooker is on the border, one of the quarterbacks
is there at thirteen, someone wants to trade up to
get him, how far back would you be willing to
go to obtain more draft capital Because you don't have
a third round pick any more. You might not have
(22:02):
all your picks on day two or day three, depending
on what happens between now.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
And the draft and on draft night. So where do
you is too far to move back?
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That almost like screws yourself over and drafting one of
these top tackles.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I think the question needs to become, are we okay
with not drafting a tackle? Then if we're going to
trade back, I think if we really want to tackle,
that's priority number one. Unless you're moving back two spots,
three spots, you take the tackle. If you're okay not
getting your tackle, and you know, if you feel good
about the second round tackles or you know whatever, you've
(22:38):
got those second round picks to play with, you can
go get an Anton Harrison, you know, go get Matthew
bergeron to help your tackle depth. If you're okay with that,
then yeah, trade back, add more draft capital, add more players.
I'm almost always in favor of that strategy. So but
you know, it would be interesting to see if their
phone rings, is there anybody looking to move up to
(23:00):
get a Bijon Robinson trading up to get one of
these quarterbacks? So yeah, it's I think that they'll be
open to trading back if the opportunity arises.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Okay, it's almost draft week. It's gonna be fantastic. It's
Christmas in April for Dane Brugler. As always, he gets
two Christmases guys selfish. Anyway, that's all we have for
this episode. Next week we're going full seven round mock draft.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Dane. Thanks lot, We'll talk to you next week, all right.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Thanks you
Welcome to another episode of NFL Draft Preview Ethan Greenberg
Dane Brugler. The draft is creeping up day by day
around the corner, so I want to hit the reset
button a little bit. And the first thing that I
think we should jump immediately right out of the gate
is risers and follers because we've gone so much. We've
talked about from the combine to now. There's been pro DA's,
(00:25):
there's been medical clearance, non medical clearance across the board.
This is part of the process as we record this
right now, a couple of weeks out, but still very
close in your mind, who have been the biggest risers
and or fallers of the twenty twenty three pre draft process.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, you know, it's always tough when you talk about
risers followers because I don't know how much guys are
really rising and falling up draft boards. But you know,
guys that those of those things outside have been talking
about there are teams that like them more. And one
of those guys could be Hendon Hooker from Tennessee, who
the quarterback widely believed to be the fifth quarterback drafted,
(01:08):
you know, now being talked about his potential top twenty
five pick in this draft. You know, coming off the ACL,
he's already twenty five years old, coming from a non
traditional offense in terms of making whole field reads, and
you know, just doing a lot of things you're asked
to do at the NFL level. It's is I can
(01:29):
understand why you'd come to the conclusion that Hennon Hooker
is a future NFL starter. Very intelligent guy. The toughness
is outstanding, good size, he's six ' three almost two
hundred twenty pounds. He's a good athlete, guys a good arm.
But to take that risk in the first round, that's
that's an awfully big risk. And so it'll be interesting
where exactly Hendon Hooker ends up, because we know quarterbacks
(01:52):
they're a little bit different than every other position, right.
You know, if you can get that fifth year option,
a lot of teams are gonna jump at that, especially
with a guy like Kennon Hooker who is going to
missed probably the first half of the year as he
works his way back from his ACL injury. So you
want to get that fifth year option, just one more
year to have him in the building. So you better
be convinced that Hendon Hooker is going to come in
(02:13):
twenty twenty four and compete for starting reps immediately. So
Hendon Hooker is a complicated prospect in this draft, but
for teams that are looking forward and feel that comfortable
about him, it wouldn't be a surprise if he ended
up going in the first round.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
I think it's going to be fascinating to see how
all of the quarterbacks come off the board. I mean,
I think that's where most of the storylines lie most years,
but specifically this year, considering the amount of talent at
the top of the draft and the quarterback needy teams
that are sitting at the top of the draft.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
But for the Jets, not the case.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
They own the thirteenth overall selection right now, I would
say almost every single mock draft, asides from one wanting
to change it up a bit, have the Jets selecting
it offensive tackle, which is the direction that I kind
of want to hit the reset button today, because again,
you had your list. Has it changed at all since
(03:09):
the first time you drafted your list whenever that was
maybe it was November, maybe it was January.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
What was your like initial list and where is it now?
You know?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I think with these tackles. There hasn't been a ton
of movement, but I think I felt better about where
some of them stack up. Paris Johnson's always been one,
Broder Jones has always been two. Feel it better and
better at about Darnell right there at number three. And
then you get to the next tier of guys, which
(03:40):
is your Anton Harrison from Oklahoma, your Matthew Berger on Syracuse,
Dewan Jones, Ohio State. Dwan Jones might be the one
where I was actually higher on him during the year
and then kind of cooled off now that we got
to the draft process. You know, we only saw one
day of him at the Senior Bowl before he had
to bow out, only did the forty year at the Combine,
(04:01):
didn't do any other drills, and then decided not to
work out as pro day. So some question marks there
that we didn't get answered. And I know it's a
frustration with a lot of teams with Duwan Jones and
then some of the other guys that maybe are outside
the top two tiers that I think really established themselves
as Hey, we're you know somewhere in that third fourth
(04:23):
round range, whether it's Tyler Stein from Alabama, Nick Seldaveri
from Old Dominion. These are guys that NFL teams look
at and say they're future starters, and in order to
get those guys, we probably have to take them on
day two.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
So for Paris Johnson, I feel like maybe this is
just my own perspective. I don't feel like I know
as much about his game right, Like people say, oh,
Broderick Jones, freak athlete, darnell right, left.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Side, right side, big guy, light feet, dancing bear, What
is the deal with Paris Johnson?
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Like again, I know I said this about Michael Mayer
and last episode, but it feels like, is he just
like rock solid?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Right?
Speaker 1 (05:03):
He's like battle test at Ohio State thirteen at right guard,
thirteen at left tackle, which is his more natural position
to use your words, So, like, what's the problem here,
Like what's the negative? And why do some mock drafts
have Broderick Jones ahead of Paris Johnson.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I think you're betting on the traits. Broderick Jones moves
so well for his size, and so does Paris Johnson.
I think with Paris he tends to drift at times,
especially at the top of the rush, where he'll get
his weight just a little bit outside of where it
should be, and that will create some inconsistent inconsistencies with
(05:41):
his hands, with his striking points, but that a lot
of that stuff is coachable and stuff you can work at.
He's just he's a fluid big man, and that's what
you want from a tackle. A humongous wingspan over thirty
six inch arms. Wish we could have seen him work
out as well do so of the testing he decided
he did the broad jump and that was it. Decided
not to do any other testing or us of the process.
(06:03):
And he's one of those guys I think knew he
didn't have to. You know, I'm gonna be a first
round tackle. I don't need to run the forty yard
dash if if I don't want to, and so I.
But I do think he has athleticism to his game.
And there's something to be said about how often he
was he really tested, you know, I Ohio State playing
that left tackle spot. There were a few times on
the Georgia tape the final game of the year where
(06:26):
you could tell he was facing the best competition he
had seen all year, where guys were giving a little
bit of trouble and he had to. You know, there
were times where he got beat by some of Georgia's
you know, really good up and coming pass rushers, So
it's a it's a case of a player that's good,
but to put him in the top ten as a
(06:46):
blue chip type of type of prospect not quite ready
to do that.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
So would you say that the ceiling for Broderick Jones
is higher considering he hasn't played as much.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Played the fewest amount of snaps among any of these
FBS tackles in this draft. Yeah, I think that's fair.
I think he's he moves so well with those feet,
and he has the body control where he can recover
very easily, So I think that's that is fair to
say he has the higher ceiling. And that's why some
teams have Broderick Jones as OT one on their draft boards.
(07:18):
And what thinking about because only really just a one
year starter. He played some left tackle last year in
twenty twenty one, but really didn't become the full time
left tackle until this year. And you can just thinking
about where he's going to be two years from now
can get you really excited about his future. So can
understand why teams are gonna bet on the ceiling with
(07:38):
Broderick Jones.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Another guy we really haven't talked about I feel like
is Darnell Right.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
And it's interesting to me.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Brian Baldinger did a breakdown for our TV show and
he was showing tape from Darnell Right against Trayvon Walker
and Will Anderson. And one right was at left tackle
against Walker, then he was at right tackle against Will Anderson.
So there's versatility and the two clips he showed he
(08:09):
handled his own well. So why is he a first
second round grade to you? And compared to maybe being up.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
There with guys like Broderick Jones and Paris Johnson.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Well, and some teams do have him in that mix.
For me, I would push back a little bit on
the versatility. His tape last year at left tackle was
not great. It was it was below average, I would
say as a whole. And that's why coming into the
year he was barely looked at as a prospect. He was.
He was viewed as a late round or PFA by
(08:43):
almost every team that I talked to coming into the year.
And this is a former five star guy, you know,
highly recruited. Just he did not click at left tackle.
It just didn't happen last year for him. This year
there was a right tackle and everything clicked. He settled
in and from day one had an outstanding year start
to finish, and he put himself in that first round discussion,
(09:05):
no doubt. But it does create questions is he just
a natural right tackle and moving him to the left
tackle be a little troublesome. You know, we've talked about
this kind of thing before, right you know, with Tristan
Wurf's coming out of Iowa, this is a hot debate.
Tristan Wurfs I thought was more of a natural. He
could play left tackle, could play right tackle, did both
(09:26):
his final year at Iowa, and I thought he did
at a high level. With Darnell Wright, we have below
average statement left tackle and then above average statement at
right tackle. And I think it's it'd be really hard
to project Darnell Wright as having true either tackle versatility
when that's not quite what the tape says. So, you know,
I think that's part of the reason why he's more
(09:48):
of a back half of a Round one guy as
opposed to a top ten player.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
It's gonna be interesting because I think that's a great
comparison in terms of abilities and whatnot because some worve
Scott drafted.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
He's been playing right tackle for the Bucks ever since.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Where a couple of picks earlier with Jederick Wills, who
had played right tackle for Alabama now is playing left
tackle for the Cleveland Brown So and there was no
I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, there was no
left tackle tape on Jederick Wills.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Right. It was all right tackle the whole time.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
That's its one hundred percent right. And that's and that's
where the the O line workouts. When you know, teams
will send their O line coach to go work out
a player. You know, you work them out in these
different stances. And that's where this is this part of
the year, the calendar that on March early April, that's
what teams are focused on, is trying to figure out
those nitty gritty details about a player. And so who knows,
(10:40):
maybe you know, after a team worked out Darnell Right,
they became a little more optimistic that he can move
to left tackle. But you watch that twenty twenty one
tape and it does definitely gives you a little bit
of pause.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Okay, So Darnell Right, I think is this class compared
it all in your similar to the class we were
just talking about in twenty twenty when it was Andrew Thomas,
Jedrick Wills, Makai Beckton, Tristan Wurfs. I feel like there's
a lot of good tackle prospects, but it feels like
it is kind of similar.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
But maybe that's just like a lazy take. No.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
I mean I think that that class I thought was
maybe a little bit higher, just because I thought all
four of those guys you could make a case belong
to the top ten. Jedrick Wills, he was my top
tackle that year. I sold on him. McKai Beckton all
the ability he had. Tristan Wurss was my second tackle
that year and he ended up being the fourth of
(11:38):
the group, and you can make the argument he's been
the best of the group. So I think that class
was a little more top heavy than this group, which
is good. It's a solid first round if you need
to tackle in the first round. I think you feel
pretty good about the options that are going to be
available for you, but not quite the top heavy heaviness
(11:58):
of that class.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
So is there a scenario in your mind where the
Jets don't go offensive tackle in the first round. Like
I feel like not to speak for you or any
of the draft ex wheres it's like the Jets taking
a left tackle or not a left tackle, excuse me
taking a eight tackle.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
They have a left tackle in Dwayne Brown.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
They have mckaie Beckton, who hasn't played right tackle in
a regular season game because he was the Jets left tackle.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
So but both of.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Those guys on the final year of their respective contracts.
Dwayne Brown gonna be thirty eight years old by the
time the season starts. Mkay Beckton's taken forty eight snaps
over the past two seasons, hasn't finished the game in
the regular season because he got hurt in Week one
in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Twenty twenty two, he got hurt in training camp.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
And if you follow McKay Beckton on social media, you'll
see that he looks like he is in phenomenal shape.
He looks like he's in a great headspace. And so
the Jets, if they lined up tomorrow fully healthy, could
have Dwayne Brown and mckaie Beckton as their tackles. Now
if they add one of these guys, because betting on
the future, I think that's the direction A lot of
people think the Jets are going to go. If they
(13:04):
don't go this direction on draft night, what or who
was on the board that would cause them to go
in a different direction in your eyes.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Well, let's talk it out. I don't think that there
is a center that I would feel comfortable taking at thirteen,
so it's cross center off the list. Would probably think
they're not going to take a guard with who they
have on the roster and how you know their guard
situation setting up? I think tight ends probably, you know,
(13:36):
it's too rich to take a tight end at that point.
Could they take you know, with you know, running back there?
I think they're set quarterback there. You feel like they're
they're going to be in a good spot. Wide receiver?
Is that something they feel like they need to add another, uh,
you know, another talent to the mix. Do they like
one of these wide receivers enough to take them there?
(13:57):
Like a Jackson Smith and Jigba you plug him in
to the slot, reunite him with Garrett Wilson, Like, is
that's something that might tempt them? On offense? That's the
one position where you could you could squint and say,
maybe you know, like, I could see why you'd want
to do that make your offense even more explosive. Okay,
let's let's let's help our quarterback as much as possible.
(14:19):
On defense, you know, you can never have too many
defensive linemen. If they have a high grade on whether
it's a Nolan Smith or you know, Lucas van Ness,
whoever it may be. If they have a high grade
on one of those players and he falls to the
thirteenth pick, you can never rule that out. We think
they're probably not going to go linebacker there and secondary
(14:42):
we feel like there's you know, they feel pretty good.
Brian Branch is one of my favorite players in the draft.
Would you take him at thirteen? Probably not. I mean
I feel like I'm not many places have him as
a top twenty player on their boards. I know I'm
one of the few. I know, the four five, eight forty,
the one hundred and ninety pounds that's scared off a
(15:02):
lot of people. All I know is tape is phenomenal,
and I'm gonna trust that tape all day long. But
a lot of teams, in an analyst, they don't see
him as a top twenty value. So I mean, now
that we're talking it out, would come down to what
maybe a defensive lineman, maybe Jackson Smith, the Jigba, I mean,
not many other obvious spots where this Jets team could go.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah, I think it's a great point.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
And with the Jets and receiver, the Jets well documented,
were scheduled to visit with Odell Beckham, and then the
night before he was supposed to come to one Jets
drive and go on a tour and visit and everything,
he signs with the Baltimore Ravens. So, if you're reading
the tea leaves, seems like the Jets were interested in
a player like Odell Beckham junior obviously is a very
(15:47):
talented receiver now in the draft. I don't know if
there is a good comparison or someone that you think
could be as impactful as now I'm saying as Odell.
I'm just saying from the jump the Jets struck gold
last year with Garrett Wilson. To your point, like it
is it if Jackson Smith and Jigba's on the board,
(16:07):
and if you're if you're in charge of the Jets, Dane,
you have your option of JSN or I don't know,
let's say Paris. Johnson's gone already, so you have your
option of Jasn or Broderick Jones. And with the way
this twenty twenty three Jets team is shaping up, which
direction do you go?
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I invest in the tackle and what that means for
I mean, I love any optimism when it comes to
Mackay Beckton, when it comes to Dwayne Brown, but the
likelihood of them both starting seventeen games just doesn't seem
very high based off of their histories. And you hope
they do. It'd be awesome if they do, but you know,
(16:47):
you got to play the odds, and chances are they
probably won't. And so not only are you thinking about
next year, you're thinking about this season as well, giving
yourself tackled depth, you know, just in a guy like
Broderick Jones who can be the future, but also add
depth right now from day one. That's that's off the appealing.
But you know what, it add a guy like Jackson
Smith the jig because I think you're right. Your point
(17:08):
is a good one about immediate contributions. That's if you're
gonna draft a receiver there at thirteen, this is a
guy that needs to come in from day one and
make an impact. And I think that's why I mentioned
Jackson Smith and Jig but over the rest of these
receivers because he is ready. He is NFL ready from
day one. His ability to find space work the middle
(17:29):
of the field is tremendous. He'd be the type of
you know, it doesn't matter who's that quarterback, He's the
type type of receiver that can get open and you
know that defenses have to worry about. So you spread
out a defense with Garrett Wilson and Jackson Smith and
Jig But just like they did at Ohio State two
years ago. That'd be a lot of fun. It'd be
really appealing. But I think I'd have to stick with
(17:49):
the offensive line and investing in you know, the guy's
blocking from a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
And then defensively in the similar vein is there. Look,
the Jets love defensive line, they love offensive linemen, So
either one of those picks would make sense in your mind,
like tackle and defensive end to very valuable positions. Similar like,
let's take a look at the Jets landscape right now
from a pass rusher perspective. You're looking at Carl Lawson,
(18:17):
John Franklin, Myers in your base JFM. By the way,
if there were JSN and j FM on the same team,
that would give people including me fits similar to Michael Carter.
Michael Carter, similar to Elijah H. Tucker and Elijah Moore
when he was here, and similar to Bryce and Breis Hall.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
So yeah, it's a shame they didn't sign Paris Campbell
and condect Paris Johnson and Paris Campbell. And I mean,
no matter who they draft, I'm sure we could find
some some type of connection.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Yeah, that's a great point regardless Jets defensive ends. Carl
Lawson enters the final year of his contract. Jermaine Johnson
had a promising rookie season, so he's back in the mix.
Michael Clemens as well, so maybe and Bryce Offf as well.
So maybe the Jets want to add a defensive end
because it's a premium position. You know, the coaching staff
(19:07):
values the position between offensive tackle and defensive end, assuming
they have a similar grade on two guys who are
available at thirteen. Do you place a precedent on one
position over the other.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
For this team, Yes, offensive tackle, I do, because I
just watching the Jets last season. I feel good about
the defense. I don't feel good about the offense. And
you know, I think no matter who you put a quarterback,
it's not all a be all, fix all solution. You
need a lot of help on offense to help make
that machine go, and I think adding offensive tackle help
(19:41):
will help do that. Where on defense, I feel pretty
good about who we're going to line up tomorrow and
go play.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Would I love to add a Nolan Smith to that group, Absolutely,
that'd be a ton of fun, add his four to
three speed out there, or Lucas van Ness a guy
that can grow. And I feel like with Lucas fan Nests,
you're buy low and he has a chance to be
a big time player in this league. So I could
understand if that's a direction they went. But if I
have to choose between offensive line defensive line for this team,
(20:10):
I'm going with the offense.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Okay, there you go.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
The Dane Brugler stamp of approval on offensive tackle at thirteen.
I'm guessing that's also where you think this is heading, right,
Like I think in that camp and.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
It seems like when it's something seems so obvious that
there's no chance it's going to happen. But I mean,
I don't know, I mean, did any of that. Do
you disagree with any of you know, the reasoning that
we talked.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Out, Absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
I think if you're a Jets fan and you're paying
attention to the tea leaves of the team, it seems
like like as unsexy as it sounds to talk about
offensive linemen every year, you know, it's something that the
Jets want to do. Take a look at the Eagles
in the Super Bowl. Take a look at the Chiefs
in the Super Bowl. They invested in the offensive line.
You know, Joe Douglass comes from the Philadelphia Eagles camp,
(20:57):
and how with Howie Roseman, he is a fum were
offensive lineman himself. So I think that if the Jets
can set themselves up well at the tackle position, not
only for the future, but also knowing what happened last
year where not only did Mkai Beckon and Dwayne Brown
get hurt, so did George Fance, so did Max Mitchell.
(21:19):
Like there were a lot of tackles and a lot
of offensive line shuffling that created problems where the Jets'
final game in Miami in Week eighteen was a makeshift
offensive line. And I think that you're gonna want to
avoid that at all costs, especially because.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
It seems top of mind. And I think it's interesting though.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
What we haven't discussed is the trade back, because if
there is a scenario where potentially, you know, let's say
Hendon Hooker is on the border, one of the quarterbacks
is there at thirteen, someone wants to trade up to
get him, how far back would you be willing to
go to obtain more draft capital Because you don't have
a third round pick any more. You might not have
(22:02):
all your picks on day two or day three, depending
on what happens between now.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
And the draft and on draft night. So where do
you is too far to move back?
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That almost like screws yourself over and drafting one of
these top tackles.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I think the question needs to become, are we okay
with not drafting a tackle? Then if we're going to
trade back, I think if we really want to tackle,
that's priority number one. Unless you're moving back two spots,
three spots, you take the tackle. If you're okay not
getting your tackle, and you know, if you feel good
about the second round tackles or you know whatever, you've
(22:38):
got those second round picks to play with, you can
go get an Anton Harrison, you know, go get Matthew
bergeron to help your tackle depth. If you're okay with that,
then yeah, trade back, add more draft capital, add more players.
I'm almost always in favor of that strategy. So but
you know, it would be interesting to see if their
phone rings, is there anybody looking to move up to
(23:00):
get a Bijon Robinson trading up to get one of
these quarterbacks? So yeah, it's I think that they'll be
open to trading back if the opportunity arises.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Okay, it's almost draft week. It's gonna be fantastic. It's
Christmas in April for Dane Brugler. As always, he gets
two Christmases guys selfish. Anyway, that's all we have for
this episode. Next week we're going full seven round mock draft.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Dane. Thanks lot, We'll talk to you next week, all right.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Thanks you
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