At least one team in the NFL is not entirely convinced that the Jets select Zach Wilson with the second overall pick. And maybe a few more.
This is at least a thought worth considering. And an option worth entertaining at the very least for a football franchise that has done such an awful job of developing a top-notch compass. What if the Jets pick Justin Fields? Is it really out of the question? Is it crazy in some way?
Anything goes in this time of year in the NFL, with the concept less than two weeks away and a silly season in maximum exaggeration. And at a time when there was suddenly a bit more wrapping space in Mock Draft Nation – and in Vegas – when it comes to San Francisco taking Fields and not Mac Jones with the third overall pick (readers of this space already knew that comes), well, why isn ‘t it worth investigating the possibilities that the Jets are not grabbing for Wilson?
Keep in mind that the narrative that the Jets would take Wilson absolutely positively started well before the quarterly evaluation process was completed. In fact, it started to take shape before all the quarterbacks completed their workouts. Count me now among those who heard weeks ago from proven, reliable sources that Wilson was the Jets’ man at the time and that they were watching him all the time … But that does not mean that they had to make the decision, and they have to not yet to make.
Fields looked like a stud last week in his last chance to do wow teams; he did his job against a much tougher competition than the child of BYU, and as much as there are so many people trying to break him down, there is no shortage of teams that absolutely love the child and believe he is the first overall choice would be in many concepts (just not this one, because of Trevor Lawrence and all). Let’s just keep in mind again that the Jets are not contractually bound to take Wilson.
“Are we all sure Wilson will be second?” said a longtime AFC manager. “Was it written somewhere in stone? Seriously, did they come forward and say that? Maybe Wilson is the choice, but you can ‘t tell me he’s an absolutely better prospect than Fields. We would take Fields there on 2 “What if they do take Fields? Then San Francisco takes Wilson. Then New England comes on 4 and gets Jones. Is there no way that can happen?”
Um, does not seem completely crazy to me. Not in the least.
Teams did the unexpected and surprised us before, just when we thought we had all figured it out. This is one of the many things that makes this event so wonderful. And while I understand that one could make the case that the Jets have nothing to gain by pulling the okay doke and coming up with an extensive scam, I would counteract that by saying what the Did the Jets do exactly that? Are we really sure of all the things we believe we are sure of?
I’m as guilty as falling into that trap like anyone else. And I may have done it in this case. But I’m definitely going to keep sniffing and sniffing at the quarterback roulette, because the wheel is definitely still spinning and it may not stop at all the places we think it will.
Do not count on the Steelers taking a first round
Color me in among the skeptics that the Steelers are going to make a turn in the first round. They have abundant holes, and it can be impossible to lose, and unless that offensive line is really fixed and improved, the pass-and-run game is going to suffer.
I get the feeling anyway that the Dolphins are very serious about Najee Harris at 18 anyway, and although someone like Travis Etienne wants to intrigue them, an RB choice is so high a luxury they probably can not afford . Etienne on day 2, I could probably see, but this team needs help in the trenches, and at the pass rusher, and on the corner, and needs matters if you want to win one last time with a quarter that all past its expiration date. I take a quarterback in front of a running rugby when I execute the draft, and I take at least another position or two before I go with an RB, given how plentiful they always are.
Ravens may be looking to pull back in the draft
There was not much noise about the Ravens trading during the first round, but I could see it. They need a lot of passion and a wide receiver help, but that’s a very deep concept at WR, and just a year ago the need was just as sharp, and they pulled off in the second round to get an RB take, when it was already deep. position on paper. Of course, they run the ball a lot more and throw it less than any team in the NFL, and that doesn’t change anytime soon.
They have already invested a lot of concept capital in the WR position and they are traditionally not good at setting up receivers. So I could see them doubling up on that spot on that second day, like a year ago.
As for pass-rush, it will pick up slim through selection 27 and a whole bunch of boom or bust. They can not afford it, given the composition of their fringe group, and they can still sign a veteran like Justin Houston. Is there a fringe they absolutely fall in love with? Maybe not.
Landon Dickerson, offensive linebacker in Alabama, is perhaps the safest choice when he’s there. They like to take players out of the program, and the child will also fit and provide perfectly. They certainly like him a lot, but at the end of the day it’s an inside line.
So if there is a team that is in love with a quarterback, who wants to move up late in the first round, or maybe a corner or whatever, I would be very surprised if a team from Ravens did not have the choice no, not theirs buy.
Nine teams to watch Aaron Rodgers
If you think teams are not yet thinking at the beginning of 2022 about what it would cost to land Aaron Rodgers, you would be misleading yourself. To begin with, I could be interested in Denver, New Orleans, Seattle (if he trades Russell Wilson), the Giants, New England (depending on what it does in this draft), Miami, Washington, Chicago and Minnesota. The Packers will never trade him in the division, but you’re kidding if you do not think Rodgers can control the process by having the ability to play the retirement card and rework his contract.