Tackling the Draft

#530

Good morning! ☕

Who doesn’t love a little draft talk when your season is absolutely plummeting? We’re going to focus on some of the top tackles today, we’re also going to look at the latest NFL power rankings as well as some early mock drafts. Because looking to the future is a little more palatable than focusing on the present.

I’m going to presume your coffee has whisky in it as we hurtle towards another Jets gameday, so grab that and lets go.

🟢⚪ Aaron Rodgers confirmed on the Pat McAfee Show that any potential return this season will depend on both his health and the Jets’ playoff possibilities…so chances are we won’t see him this season.

POWER RANKINGS

NFL.com (27th) Last week 25th - The last time the Jets traded for a quarterback from the Packers only for their season to crater, it cost people jobs. Head coach Eric Mangini was fired following his third season in 2008, and Brett Favre eventually was released after one hopeful but fruitless year in New York. The situation in present-day Jetsdom feels strangely similar. Aaron Rodgers still remains on track to return in record time from his Achilles injury, but to what end? Could he throw Robert Saleh -- in danger of logging a third straight losing season -- a lifeline? Could Rodgers somehow light a fire under this torched group? That might feel like a far-fetched proposition, with the Jets at 4-7 and almost certainly out of the playoffs. Perhaps Rodgers sees a long-game purpose, rolling the momentum of a strong return into 2024, or maybe he wants to get something out of this campaign after the Jets sold out to cater to Rodgers' needs this past offseason. Either way, the hope of a potential Rodgers comeback is about the one big drama remaining for the Jets.

ESPN (28th) Last week 26th - The offensive ranking is an accurate reflection of a unit that is putting up historically bad numbers across the board. It has produced only 10 touchdowns in 11 games and ranks last in third-down conversions (24.1%) and red zone efficiency (28%) -- both by a wide margin. The defence is good, but the ranking here is high, especially after allowing an average of 148 rushing yards over the past three games. The special teams have ranged from great to poor, depending on the week.

The Athletic (29th) Last week 26th - No one needs to see the rest of this season, for their sake or for the Jets’. Having Robert Saleh do a television interview moments after New York gave up a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown on a Hail Mary attempt to end the first half against Miami felt cruel. Of course, the Jets bring a lot of this on themselves by doing things like starting Tim Boyle over Trevor Siemian (or a long list of other quarterbacks who could have been acquired during the season).

CBS Sports (28th) Last week 22nd - It doesn't matter who plays quarterback for this team. They can't score, so they can't win. Why would Aaron Rodgers even consider playing?

Yahoo Sports (24th) Last week 19th - In Nathaniel Hackett's past 19 games as a play-caller, his offences have scored one or fewer touchdowns 16 times, according to Andrew Mason of DenverSports.com. Hackett was hired when the Jets were trying to land Aaron Rodgers, but Hackett can't return next season even if Rodgers makes it a condition of his return.

Sports Illustrated (26th) - As we head into the potential opening of Aaron Rodgers’s practice window, I have shifted my opinion on the matter. I feel like it does make sense for Rodgers to try and play this year, even if the season is lost. The Jets need some kind of momentum, not blind faith, going into next year. And if Rodgers looks every bit of 40, the Jets need to know that, too. 

MOCK DRAFTS

CBS Sports

The 33rd Team

◼️ Not a lot is exciting me about football at the moment, apart from Texas making it to the Big 12 Championship Game. But when the strength of the draft matches a clear and obvious need, and you’re heading to be in a position to take the number one guy, that’s exciting.

Now I’m going to make an exclaimer right at the start of our draft process here at TJW. Like many people, Joe Alt at Notre Dame is my guy. I watch Joe and I think that’s a starting left tackle for the next 15 years. I hate making pro comparisons for college players but think of some good technically sound perennial pro bowlers, and you have my thoughts on Joe Alt.