The Jets had the #17 pick in the NFL Draft as of about fifteen minutes ago. A few minutes ago they picked fifth. Mark Sanchez is now a New York Jet. My phone has already rung three times and the texts and emails are starting to come in from buddies and family who know of my love for the draft and my tendency to torture myself as a Jets fan.Initial thoughts? I'm still trying to gather them, but I like it. I like the pick, I like the kid, I like the potential. You can tell from his first interview he's going to be just fine in New York. I don't think you can knock the pick at all. It is crystal clear that former and current Jets coaches and management do not believe there is a first-rate NFL starter on the current roster.
Neither Ratliff, Clemens or Ainge has done enough to make any Jets fan comfortable. It's why you took a flyer on Brett Favre, and, while the scenarios are different, this pick does the same thing with possibly much greater upside. If you listen to any of the pundits, if you've got enough talent to be chosen as a quarterback at number five overall, than enough folks think you could be a top-flight NFL starter. As a Jets fan, you have to jump on that opportunity of it presents itself. It's not like we hopped a dozen-plus spots to take a defensive tackle out of Kentucky at #4 or anything. This is a quartback out of USC.
As for the particulars of the trade, the Jets did give up a lot to move twelve spots. That said, Elam was a guy we'd already let go once. We've gone from three, young unproven quarterbacks competing for the starting job - to three again, one of whom is a #5 overall pick, which is another way of saying I'm cool with letting Brett Ratliff go. Ditto on Kenyon Coleman. Would it be great to have another pick in what is already a thin draft in terms of total Jets selections? Sure, but we're OK with it.
If Sanchez starts and is nearly as good as Flacco or Ryan in their respective rookie years, I can rest comfortably in knowing our offense can be consistently OK for a few years (a feeling I haven't had in awhile). Part of the reason for the confidence in the offense is the confidence Ryan already gives me in our defense. I think the Jets are going to be nasty, this year and for years to come.
The Jets could use some more beasts on D and a few more explosive players on offense. But I feel better right now then I did about a month ago. Probably more on this once I get a chance to let is marinate for a bit...
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