Waiting Game

Edition #1051: Jets formally announce the Justin Fields trade, Andy Dalton is off the market and we continue to look at our draft options.

Good Morning ☕

There were plenty of rumours linking Andy Dalton with a move to New York, but in the end the Red Rifle will head to Philadelphia instead.

It’s unclear if the Jets ever had real interest in the veteran, but considering their need for a QB2 and his links to Frank Reich, it was a logical match.

The veteran pool of QBs is dwindling with Russell Wilson, Tyrod Taylor, Cooper Rush, Carson Wentz and Jimmy G as the remaining options. Of course they could bring Tyrod Taylor back, someone who has spoken about his desire to return.

What does the trade for Andy Dalton say about the availability of Tanner McKee? The Eagles were apparently very high on Tanner and we wrote about that some time ago. I doubt trading for a 38-year-old has changed that.

Right now Darren Mougey seems content to wait this out. A veteran will almost certainly arrive at some point, but there is an argument that the difference between a lot of these QB2’s is minimal at best, and waiting for the right deal isn’t a bad idea.

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NEWS & NOTES

• Is David Onyemata the best signing of the off-season for the Jets? It is according to Connor Hughes who has heard from multiple defensive coaches: “David Onyemata is going to be a mainstay as a defensive tackle. By the way, I have now had four, no joke, four defensive coaches hit me up and say, ‘That’s the best signing the Jets have made this offseason.’ Four! Like to the point where I’m like, what the hell is going on with this? [These] were unsolicited [messages]. Now people know that I know around the league know that I cover the Jets, so when they pick up little Jets rumors and rumblings, they call me and stuff. That is one where they were like, hey, the best signing is Demario [Davis] is the obvious one, and then Onyemata is the one they are like that dude is a player, like [a] great person, really good football player, great locker room guy, like everyone keeps pointing that dude out.”

• Penn State RB Nick Singleton has confirmed that he will meet with the Jets privately this week. They’re certainly doing their work on the RB class. The 4th year starter only had 549 yards last year but he put up 13 TDs, in fact he has 54 total touchdowns over his four year career. There’s a lot to be said for RBs who have a nose for the EZ.

• According to Bucky Brooks, Jordyn Tyson is the #1 receiver in this draft: “Jordyn Tyson is a silky-smooth route-runner with outstanding ball skills and RAC (run after catch) ability. The 6-foot-2, 203-pounder makes a living coming down with difficult catches over the middle, exhibiting the toughness and concentration of a 10-year veteran, though he did have injury issues in college.”

• Are we about to see the NFL become more like the NBA when it comes to trading draft picks. The Cleveland Browns have proposed a new rule which would allow teams to trade draft picks up to 5-years in the future, an increase of 2 years on the current rules. It’s 7 years in the NBA which is a little ridiculous if you ask me.

• According to OTC, the Jets are currently not in like to receive any 2027 compensatory draft picks based on this years free agency action.

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Beau Stephens

We’ve officially hit that point in the draft cycle where I start putting some of my favourite prospects out there for the readers of TJW to discuss.

Today I’m talking Beau Stephens, as although we have the interior of that offensive line pretty set on paper with the signing of Parham, the re-signing of Myers and the presence of Tippmann, as well as some depth additions. I still think it’s an area we need to improve going forward.

There is no question that Olaivavega Ioane from Penn State is the cream of the crop when it comes to interior lineman in this draft and Emmanuel Pregnon and Chase Bisontis are being looked at as 2nd round options (although I personally think Bisontis is being overvalued).