New York Jets: The 2018 NFL Draft Report Card
By Erik Lambert
The New York Jets 2018 NFL draft report card may be short, but it reveals more than enough about what this team could be long-term.
This is one of those drafts where the franchise has but one goal in mind. GM Mike Maccagnan did everything in his power to execute that goal. It cost the team a lot in terms of money and draft capital but the feeling was that the prize was worth the stake. No team wins in the NFL these days without a quarterback. That was proven in how quickly they fell apart when Josh McCown got hurt.
Now they’re hoping McCown can serve a role he knows all too well. One of being a mentor and good teammate to an upstart talent. Granted, he tried that already with Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty. So far it hasn’t worked out. Still, this hasn’t stopped the Jets from trying. Is their latest attempt their best yet?
1st Round: Sam Darnold (QB, USC) – A
Everybody knew the situation. The Jets traded up to #3 overall for one purpose. That was to get a quarterback. They had to get this decision right or the rest of the draft would mean nothing. Everything depended on what happened with the first two picks. Cleveland would take a QB at #1 but what would the Giants do at #2? Would they also take one or would they trade to a team that would? In the end, things could have broken more perfectly for Gang Green.
Sam Darnold had a hiccup in 2017. He turned the ball over way more than he should’ve. To say he’s the first top quarterback to go through this though would be a lie. Matt Ryan and Dan Marino did the same in their respective final years of college. They turned out just fine. Darnold is the real deal. He’s got size, arm strength, accuracy, and mobility. Yet what sticks out most is his natural charisma and his ability to play in pressure situations. He was made for New York.