New York Jets' general manager Joe Douglas has some heavy lifting ahead of him this upcoming week at the NFL Combine.
Unlike last year, Douglas needs to identify potential first-round draft picks capable of making immediate impacts as rookies. With the Jets slated to pick at No. 10 overall, the need for a plug-and-play prospect, preferably on the offensive side of the ball, is as important as ever for Gang Green at this point in time.
Whether one cares to admit it, when an NFL team makes an offseason trade for a 39-year-old future Hall-of-Fame quarterback with a $60 million annual salary cap hit, that team is in win-now mode.
Only days after introducing Aaron Rodgers as the New York Jets' QB1, Douglas used the No. 15 overall selection to draft Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald. The pick was a bit of a head scratcher then, and looks even more so now.
Despite flashing impressive get-off ability, McDonald played sparingly as a rookie and still needs to add body mass to his somewhat slender frame. Active for 15 of 17 games, the rookie edge rusher played fewer than 20 percent of defensive snaps. He totaled 3.0 sacks and five quarterback hits over 184 plays on defense.
Sure, McDonald may become a regular contributor for New York and it could happen even as soon as 2024. Even if he follows a Jermaine Johnson-type trajectory, and blossoms in Year 2, McDonald was not what the Jets needed last year. The team was stacked with edge rushers, making McDonald somewhat of a luxury pick. Meanwhile, the team lacked foundational pieces on the offensive line and could have used another reliable weapon in its passing game.
Although all highly-touted offensive tackles were gone by the time the Jets made their first-round selection last year, there were a handful of offensive playmakers available. Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Boston College receiver Zay Flowers, USC receiver Jordan Addison and Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid were all selected in between picks No. 20 and No. 26 and all proceeded to make significant rookie contributions.
Despite a slow start for Seattle, Smith-Njigba finished with 63 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns, numbers that would've made him the Jets' second-leading receiver. Flowers led the Baltimore Ravens in catches (77) and receiving yards (858). Addison put up 70 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in Minnesota. Kincaid ranked second on the Bills in receptions (73).
Whether it's a franchise left tackle or top-tier pass-catcher, the Jets must add to Rodgers's arsenal in hopes that it all comes together the second time around.
The 40-year-old Rodgers, who is battling back from an Achilles tear, is entering the twilight of his storied career. With this season likely being the Jets' best chance to contend for a title as currently constructed, Douglas needs to draft a Week 1 starter to help his aging future Hall-of-Fame field general.
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