What a year it has been. I went from wild optimism about finally having a franchise QB, to possibly taking up soccer as on alternate sport. All hope is not lost though. We will have a top 5 pick next year, well over $100 mil in cap space, and sadly nobody that we need to resign to a large extension. So let's get into how we right this fast sinking ship. I also did not even want to do this, but Broadway insisted on me doing one. He told me this is all he finds entertaining this time of the year.
Disclaimer: This is a midseason mock, things will change. I am using overthgcap.com for cap space and cuts. I will be using a variety of mock draft sites, draft simulators, and big boards for where guys will go in the draft. This is also what I would like done, not necessarily what I believe we will do.
Starting at the top: Todd Bowles is fired directly after Mike Macc. It is done in this order, because I want Todd Bowles to last slightly longer, after Macc's pathetic attempt at saving his own butt.
New GM: Scot Pioli, Assistant GM, Atlanta Falcons- When I look at franchises I want to be like, the Falcons top my list. From a talent perspective, there are not many teams better. The have an equal approach to free agency and the draft. They also are not afraid to make a splash for elite talent.
New Coaching Staff: Eric Bieniemy, OC, Kansas City Chiefs. I go back and forth between him and David Shaw pretty much daily. My main concern is Bieniemy not calling plays in KC. However, he is learning from one of the best coaches in the NFL over the last 20 years. I will argue all day that Bieniemy is not only the best OC in football, but better that Pederson and Nagy, in regards to the offensive side of the ball. He began in the NFL as Adrian Peterson's RB coach. AP credited him with teaching him how to be a true running back, and not just a guy with the football . He currently creates the playbook, gameplay, leads team meetings, and is the voice in Patrick Mahome's ears on Sundays. His attention to detail is what really sticks out to me. Players will be held accountable and expect much better player development under him.
OC- Darrell Hazel, Wr Coach, Minnesota Vikings- A guy that may get some head coaching interviews this year. However, with a bad college coaching resume, he is a better fit as a coordinator right now. He has made everyone in the Vikings wr room better. Over the last year and a half the vikings have went from good to great, despite a poor running game. Hazel is the main behind much of that.
DC- Don Martindale, DC, Baltimore Ravens- The bright spot to the ravens this year has been the defense. The past 3 years its been the linebackers. Step in the guy that is responsible for both of those. He shakes loose, because Harbaugh is out the door at the end of this year. It also give Bieniemy a coach on defense with a lot of experience at calling plays on the defense.
Free Agency: According to Overthecap.com we have roughly $106.5 million in cap space heading into next year. The cap hit will be in ().
Cuts: Spencer Long and Brian Winter, Cap savings $6.5 mil each. Tweedle Dee and Dumb are 2/3 of the worst interior line in football. Long can't snap the ball. Winters is too inconsistent.
Isiah Crowell $3 mil savings- He is too much of an inconsistent player as well. When the holes are there, he can do what most RB's can do.
This leaves us with $122.5 mil in cap space. A huge number heading into signing players.
Resigning's: Henry Anderson, DE, 2 years $7 mil ($3.5)- Anderson has been solid along the line. He can generate pressure. He is not a great player, but he is solid.
Quincy Enunwa, WR, 1 year $8 mil ($8)- This is a 1 year prove it deal for a jet fan favorite. Injuries have decimated this poor guy's career. When he is out there he give 110%, and is clearly our most talented offensive player. You might think this is a high number, but this is similar to what Terrel Pryor got, and Enunwa is a much better player.
Morris Claiborne, CB, 3 years $32 mil ($11), club option for year 3- It is not saying much, but he is our best corner. heading into a week free agent class, and being razor thin at CB, we should not let our best guy walk away.
Rontez Miles, S, 1 year $1 mil ($1)- special teams guy. Is a decent bottom of the roster guy.
Kind of a sad list, when you only have to resign 4 guys. We currently have $99 million heading into the free agency mark. We have 30 guys under contract. We will head into free agency looking to add offensive talent, while adding the missing pieces to our defense.
Dee Ford, Edge, 5 years $60 mil, 30 mil guaranteed ($12)- We have not had an edge rusher in over a decade. I would preferably want clowney, but he is not shaking free. Ford has 9 sacks, 4 FF, 7 TFL. He is this missing piece to this defense. He is also only 27 years old.
Matt Paradis, C, 4 years, $55 mil, $28 mil guaranteed ($12)- Our biggest obstacle is surrounding Sam Darnold with Offensive talent. We need to keep him upright. Paradis is a very very good center. We currently have the worst center in the league.
Rodger Saffold, G, 4 years $65 mil, $32 mil guaranteed ($14)- Saying we need help along the offensive line is an understatement. We do not have a starting G on our roster heading in to 2019. Saffold is athletic, he is strong, he is big, and most importantly he is great in the run and pass game. He is currently the 2nd highest graded LG in the game.
Kevin White, WR- 1 year $3 mil ($3)- A very popular pick around here during the draft. A player that is projecting upward, but still has less than 300 yard receiving. I'd like to see him here on a prove it deal.
Greg Robinson OT, 1 year $2 mil ($2)- Purely a depth move here. A high draft pick that never lived up to his potential.
Ereck Flowers 1 year $2 mil ($2)- Another high draft pick that never got to where he needed to be. He has started many games, and provides good depth.
Bruce Irvin 2 year $6 mil ($3)- a situational pass rasher that can get to the qb. With a career high 8 sacks in 2017, he got cut by the raiders. I doubt he is Atlantas long term plans.
Landry Jones QB, 2 years $10 mil ($5)- at 30 years old Landry will never be a starting qb. However, in the case of Darnold getting hurt, he is a big armed smart QB that could start a few games.
Geronimo Allison, WR, 3 years $12 mil ($4)- a productive wr catching balls from Aaron Rodgers. He runs clean routes, and has soft hands.
Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB 1 year $1.5 mil ($1.5)- I realize this is a resigning. He will be brought back to add a bit of depth to the LB crew.
This leaves us with $40.5 mil in cap space and 40 players under contract. We head into the draft with 13 slots to fill.
NFL Draft: We currently hold the 5th pick in the Draft. our top needs at this time are OT, WR, OG, Edge, CB.
Trade: Jets trade pick 5 and Robby Anderson to the Jaguars for pick 9, 40, 106, and 199. Jacksonville falls in love with Daniel Jones, QB, Duke. They also get a speedy wr, that loves the Florida night life. We stay in the top 10 while adding serious draft capital.
Round 1, Pick 9: N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State- Great acceleration, best hands in football, and a human highlight reel. He does struggle against press corners, but most young wr's do. at 6'4" 220 pounds, 1100 yards 8 ads in 2017 and 942 and 9 ads thus far in 2018, he is a true number 1 WR. He and Darnold begin the Jets Dynasty.
Round 2 pick 40: Ross Pierschbacher OG, Alabama- If anyone has watched the Colts and Lions play, they now have a much better running game. Both teams spent a 1st round pick on elite interior linemen. Pierschbacher is elite in the run game, great in the pass game. He is a nasty guy to plug into the RG position.
Round 3 pick 69: Devin Singletary, RB, FAU- We have Mcguire, but Singletary is my favorite back in football. He is not just a 1 cut runner. He is shifty, he is elusive, and he has 1169 yards with 20 tds.
Round 3 pick 94: TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa- All of the craze is around Noah Fant right now. However, we already have a pass catching tight end. Hockensen fits more in the mold of Greg Kittle. He is a willing blocker, and underrated in the passing game.
Round 4, pick 102: Max Scharping, OT, Northern Illinois- He has a rating of 88.3, 99.2 in 2017. He is prototypical size at 6'6" 325 pounds. He is very athletic and fundamentally sound.
Round 4, pick 106- Keelan Doss, Wr, UC-Davis- A highly productive Wr with 3500 yards and 26 tds so far in his career. He runs clean routes. He is another big wr at 6'3" 209. He also has excellent control of his body.
Round 5, pick 133- Nasir Adderley, CB, Delaware- Another human highlight reel. 6' 198 pounds, he is perfect for the much needed slot role. Obviously he doesn't play the best competition. However, 9 ints in almost 2 years. He can cover anyone. He is the leader of one of the best defensive units.
Round 7, pick 197- Dru Samia OG, Oklahoma- a better pass protecting guard than a run blocker. However, he is a bit of a project that can ad depth to a depleted O-line.
Round 7, pick 199- Jon Runyan, OG, Michigan- When in doubt go with a big time school, that produces big time talent. Our line now has depth with players that could really play one day.
This leaves us with 49 players under contract with about $40 mil in cap space, not counting the draft class. Guys we should bring back after the draft are Bilal Powell for $5.5 million, Josh Martin $1.9 mil, and Rishard Matthews $5 mil. Leaving us with $27.6 mil in cap space. Let me know what your thoughts are.
