CHICAGO, ILLINOIS- And… the Todd Bowles era has officially begun. Entering the draft Thursday night the Jets owned the 6th overall pick. With no shock to anyone, Jameis Winston was selected with the first overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but after the Jets weren’t sure what was going to happen between Winston and the 6th pick. Was Tennessee going to take best overall? Was Philadelphia going to trade up for Mariota? Were the Raiders going to do something Raider like?
Among many of my questions was THIS IS IT? THESE ARE THE ONLY JETS FANS HERE? I must admit after attending the draft in New York each year, it was very weird having those J-E-T-S chants replaced with a thousand Mike Ditka’s walking around, but then the Jets pick came in and things got even weirder. Leonard Williams. Did the Jet’s just make a great pick? Right after Williams name came up a few New York fans were saying to me how the pick was bad for the Jet’s and “why that pick, it does’t fit our needs”.
I could see that if you’re looking at need, but I responded very easily. “He’s the best player in the draft!”
The New York Jets selected the best rated player in the draft and he’s a defensive lineman! First of all New York just made a statement to Buffalo and Miami by implying that their own Jet’s D-line wasn’t fully boarded yet for flight this year. Second, it automatically makes both Sheldon Richardson and Mohammed Wilkerson dispensable. Big money contract releases and a possible trade may be in the future.
Williams (6-4, 302) notched 74 tackles and six sacks for Southern Cal in 2014. He can play inside or outside, which will add to the Jets’ schematic flexibility under new head coach Todd Bowles.
An unexpected surprise for Jets fans, but this year at least it was in a good way.
Division Watch:
MIAMI selected #14 selected WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
NEW ENGLAND #32 selected DT Malcom Brown, Texas
BUFFALO did not hold a first round pick this year