The 2003 NFL Draft is over, and although it’s way too early to draw any conclusions, as none of the selected players has played a single down in the NFL, I’ll still try to analyze what the New York Jets did over the past weekend.
In the first round the Jets selected DT DeWayne Robertson from the University of Kentucky, a fast, powerful run-stopper who can also penetrate the offensive line and get to the quarterback. Many experts are projecting him to be the next Warren Sapp. In order to get Robertson, the Jets traded their two first round draft picks (#13 and #22 overall) along with the 4th round draft pick for the Chicago Bears’ #4 overall. Jets GM Terry Bradway sure made a bold move, which will be justified if, and only if, Robertson does become an impact player in the near future. DeWayne Robertson is expected to replace DT Jason Ferguson in the starting lineup. Ferguson, whose contract runs through 2004, has a large salary cap figure, and the Jets will most likely release him next year at the latest if the Robertson project does pan out.
Last season it became quite obvious that the Jets’ linebackers were too slow and this unit had definitely to be upgraded. So, in the second round the Jets selected Victor Hobson from the University of Michigan. He’s an undersized (6’0”), slow (runs 40 yards in 4.85) linebacker who will most likely never become more than a decent backup. WRs Kelley Washington and Tyrone Calico, raw players with a huge upside, were still on the board, but the Jets decided not to take a chance on them. Instead, they drafted a backup player, the need they could have filled via free agency.
In the third round the Jets selected another Michigan player – B.J. Askew, a RB in college who’s expected to switch to FB in the NFL. However, according to many scouting reports, Askew is just an average blocker that also lacks power and pass-catching abilities. Do the Jets project Askew to take Richie Anderson’s place? This could be it, but was it necessary to address the fullback issue in the 3rd round, especially considering that the Jets didn’t have a 4th round pick at all? There were still big wide receivers on the draft board, as well as solid offensive guards and speedy linebackers, but once again the Jets decided to play it safe and not to take any chances.
In the fifth round the Jets had two selections, which they spent on a safety and a defensive end. DE Matthew Walters from the University of Miami will replace on the bench recently released Steve White. Also, Shaun Ellis’ contract is due to expire in 2005, and the Jets might as well try to groom Walters to become Ellis’ replacement in the starting lineup. S Derek Pagel is going to be a backup for McGraw and Garnes.
Having made two sensible picks in the fifth round, Bradway and Co. went back to their strange ways in the 6th where they drafted Brooks Bollinger, a quarterback from the University of Wisconsin. Do the Jets expect him to become Chad Pennington’s backup after Testaverde retires or is released? Or do the Jets want to start another Scott Frost project? If it’s the former, then Bollinger will more than likely spend the 2003 season on the practice squad. Can’t the Jets sign an undrafted free agent to perform this duty???
Finally, in the 7th round the Gang Green selected Dave Yovanovits, an offensive tackle from Temple. Is he the next Ryan Young? Hardly, because of his size, 6’3”, 294 lbs, Yovanovits is more suited to play OG in the NFL.
As I said above, it’s too early to grade this draft, but we can clearly see the pattern that Bradway and Co. have now followed for two years – they do not take chances on raw players with tremendous upside. Instead, they make safe picks most of which are destined to spend their careers on the bench or at best fill in for injured players. No guts – no glory!