So far, the 2019 offseason has gone mostly as planned for the Jets. New York went out and landed a pair of stud free agents in Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley, along with a handful of key role players such as slot receiver Jamison Crowder, to solidify the roster.
Now, the NFL draft awaits. Currently in possession of the No. 3 overall pick, the Jets are in a prime position to address an area of need high in the first round. If all goes well for on the final weekend of April, New York will have a roster that could contend as soon as this upcoming season.
What if things go wrong, though? There will be numerous scenarios at play throughout the draft, some of which can put the Jets in a bad spot. With that being said, here are four nightmare NFL draft scenarios that could bite New York.
Missing out on a pass rusher
Whether it’s taking Kentucky outside linebacker Josh Allen at No. 3 or trading for an established EDGE, the Jets need to make sure they address their pass rush at some point during the draft.
New York did the right thing by bringing back Brandon Copeland, but that move was not enough to solidify a position that has lacked consistent production in recent years. Allen looks like he has the potential to solve that problem, but what happens if he’s either not on the board at No. 3 or general manager Mike Maccagnan decides to pass on him?
On Day 3 of last year’s draft, Maccagnan acquired Henry Anderson from the Indianapolis Colts. At the time, the move was viewed as nothing more than a late-round pick in exchange for a depth piece on the defensive line, but Anderson wound up having a career-year for New York. Could another draft day trade be in store?
Either way, the Jets need to land a pass rusher or two at some point during the draft. Failure to do so could lead to disaster.
Maccagnan drops the ball at No. 3
Since taking over as Jets general manager, Maccagnan has done well picking in the first round. That doesn’t mean he is not susceptible to a mistake in 2019, though.
The way it looks right now, defensive end Nick Bosa will be off the board when the Jets pick at No. 3. That leaves Kentucky outside linebacker Josh Allen and Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams as New York’s two best options.
Much like Maccagnan needs to land a pass rusher at some point in the draft, he needs to nail the No. 3 pick. If he passes on both Allen and Williams for a player he became infatuated with throughout the draft process, it could be the kind of decision that costs Maccagnan his job at season’s end.
Failing to add depth at wide receiver
With Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa and Jamison Crowder holding down the top three spots on the depth chart, the Jets are in a solid, but not spectacular place at wide receiver. Past those three, things begin to get a bit murky.
Deontay Burnett showed flashes of promise in his rookie year, but is still a relatively unknown commodity. With that in mind, Maccagnan needs to be on the lookout for additional wide receiver depth in the middle rounds of the draft. Trading down from No. 3 to draft D.K. Metcalf, who is loaded with potential, might seem intriguing, but it is not a good idea. For New York, the right move is to target mid-round depth at the position.
The Jets don’t need to land a stud receiver in the draft, but a depth piece at the position is much-needed, especially after New York missed on ArDarius Stewart and Chad Hansen.
Patriots find their next franchise quarterback
No matter what he says, Tom Brady’s career is nearing an end. Before long, the Patriots will have to turn to someone new at quarterback. With the way things are shaping up, there’s a good chance New England finds its next franchise quarterback in this year’s NFL draft.
According to reports, the Patriots have shown strong interest in West Virginia quarterback Will Grier. Grier has a big arm and was smart with the ball in college, traits that appeal to Bill Belichick and company.
This is the one scenario on this list that the Jets have no control over. However, it also might be the most nightmarish scenario of them all. If the Patriots trade up to get Grier, or he falls into their lap, they could very well have their next franchise signal-caller learning from Brady beginning next season. Even if it’s not Grier, this seems like the year the Patriots make a concerted effort to find Brady’s successor — a frightening thought for the Jets and the rest of the AFC East.
