Mike Maccagnan’s tenure as Jets general manager has had some bright spots, but there have been plenty of blemishes on his resume throughout the years as well.
From failed free agent signings to head-scratching draft picks and trades that simply did not work out, Maccagnan’s run with the Jets has featured a little bit of everything. No general manager is perfect, but Maccagnan has drawn frequent criticism for missing the mark a bit too often.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of Maccagnan’s biggest mistakes as Jets general manager.
The Darrelle Revis contract
As one of his first big moves with the Jets, Maccagnan brought Darrelle Revis back to the big apple on a five-year deal worth $68 million and $39 million in guaranteed money in 2015.
At the time of the deal, Maccagnan was lauded for his aggression and bringing one of the best players in franchise history back home. However, the move wound up backfiring and the Jets were left with an overpaid, regressing cornerback.
Revis wasn’t terrible in 2015, but his 2016 season was a downright disaster. He was routinely burned in coverage and was a liability on the field. Revis’ fall from grace was dramatic and he was released at season’s end, only two years into the five-year contract Maccagnan gave him.
Drafting Christian Hackenberg
Arguably Maccagnan’s biggest lapse in judgment in his time with the Jets came in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. In need of a quarterback, Maccagnan reached and selected Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, who wound up never seeing regular season action with the team.
For some reason, Maccagnan thought Hackenberg could overcome his turnover-happy ways at Penn State and poor mechanics to succeed in the NFL.
Regardless of why Maccagnan liked Hackenberg, picking him was a flat out awful decision. Hackenberg could not hit the broad side of a barn with his throws and was a disaster in his time with the Jets.
A string of free agent busts
While the Revis signing was Maccagnan’s first big free agent miss, it wasn’t his last. Since his first free agency with the Jets, Maccagnan has swung big with plenty of signings. More often than not, he has missed.
Antonio Cromartie only lasted one season opposite Revis at cornerback, while the often-flagged Buster Skrine underwhelmed in the slot. The jury is still out on $72.5 million dollar man Trumaine Johnson, but so far, he looks like a mistake as well.
Maccagnan’s track record on offense isn’t any better. Two of New York’s supposed top signings from last offseason, running back Isaiah Crowell and center Spencer Long, were released after only one season with the team. Wide receiver Terrelle Pryor didn’t even make it to the end of the season before he was released.
The hope is that Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley buck the trend and succeed with the Jets instead of going down as big-money busts. If Bell and Mosley struggle, Maccagnan will be on the chopping block.
No EDGE
It’s been four years and Maccagnan has yet to find a consistent pass rusher. Given New York’s struggles at the position, that is inexcusable.
The fact that Maccagnan has not spent the money to bring in a big-time EDGE is mind-boggling. Plenty of good pass rushers have been available for the taking both in free agency and on the trade market, but Maccagnan has yet to sufficiently address the need. Jordan Jenkins, Brandon Copeland and Frankie Luvu are nice players, but the Jets need a dominant force coming off the edge if they want to contend moving forward.
Jachai Polite has the potential to develop into that player, but that’s not a given. New York’s hopes for pass rush help should not be centered around the development of a third-round draft pick. Maccagnan has failed to address a major position of need here and should have to answer for it.
