Jets Fly High In The Draft

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

The list of past New York Jets draft busts is longer than the drought of the team’s last Super Bowl victory in 1973 over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. Remember Johnny Mitchell? Vernon Gholston? Blair Thomas? When it comes to drafting quarterbacks, Gang Green hasn’t had much success there either. Christian Hackenberg, Geno Smith, Browning Nagle and Kellen Clemens to name a few. The organization thought they had secured the position when they drafted Sam Darnold out of USC three years ago. We saw how that ended as they dumped him right before this year’s draft. Last Thursday night in Cleveland, General Manager Joe Douglas went all in knowing his selection at #2 would determine the direction of the team, not only now but in the coming years. Douglas went out on a limb hiring defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as his head coach from the San Francisco 49ers despite having no previous head coaching experience. Douglas’ task now was to surround him with players that would give him a chance to succeed. Based on the draft choices that Douglas made, the Gang Green faithful has a lot to look forward to when the team takes the field to start the 2021 season.

 

After getting rid of Darnold, it was a no-brainer that the #2 pick at the Jets disposal was going to be a quarterback. The 2021 class was as loaded at that position as any draft in recent history. It was a lock that Jacksonville with the #1 pick was taking Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson which they did. Now the Jets were on the clock. In the waiting was Justin Fields (Ohio State), Trey Lance (NDSU), and Mac Jones (Alabama). The team could not blamed for picking any of those players as they established themselves among the elite coming out of college. Douglas chose big arm Zach Wilson out of Brigham Young University. At the end of his college career, Wilson threw for over 7,600 yards, 56 td’s and 15 int’s. Said Douglas of Wilson, “I think the pro day really helped solidify the decision. Watching the tape and watching his unbelievable junior year. I think ultimately that Pro Day really, really cemented it.” 

 

 

It sure will be culture shock for Wilson coming from a city (Provo, Utah) population 116,000 to a city of more than 8 million. Wilson is not intimidated. “This is what l was hoping for, he said. “This is what me and my family were partying for us to be in this situation and go play for the Jets. I’m so excited that I get to go and be in New York City. I know there’s so many opportunities there and some great fans so I can’t wait to be able to represent that city.”

 

Knowing that the success of a quarterback is based on his protection, Douglas made what many thought was the best move of the draft. Instead of waiting for his second first round pick at 23, he shrewdly made a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to get the 14th pick taking offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC. The highly touted player was the First Team All PAC player at left tackle. Saleh expressed excitement when talking about Vera-Tucker. “He’s another guy that just loves playing football,” Saleh began. “He’s got a lot of versatility and he’s a nasty, finish you off, go through the whistle type of football player.”

 

As in past drafts, there was much riding on who the New York Jets would pick and what kind of immediate impact the players would have. History has not been kind in that regard. The division will be tough as no one thinks the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick will have back-to-back sub-par seasons. Buffalo will be the front runners again and Miami will be right behind them. 

 

Joe Douglas made a statement at the end of the draft with his picks. It is now up to neophyte head coach Robert Saleh to put all the pieces together. The Gang Green faithful are hoping these will not be the same old Jets.