In countless threads, I have seen this phrase being thrown around. Someone will express their dissappointment in our lack of FA spending, and someone else will respond by saying that we are building through the draft, and how this is the way good teams do it. Now, I'm the biggest draft fan ever- it's my favorite day of the year, but I don't think that statement is entirely true. In the last few years, it seems like we have traded away as many picks as just about anyone-- and clearly weren't bulding through the draft as much as you all make it seem. 2nd for McCareins 1st for Jolly and a 2nd 4th for Barlow 6th for Ramsey 6th for Pete Hunter? 2nd for Jones and a 2nd (like the move) Now, we have been (un)fortunate to have some high picks, and acquired some extras from Abe, Herm, and some compensatory picks, so yeah, we have had some good drafts, but it seems like all those trades don't really reflect a team that is building through the draft as much as some of you claim. Side note-- I don't think it's a good argument when defending the non-signing of big FA to say we are building through the draft. If we signed Eric Steinbach to 50 million-- we would still have all of our draft picks-- that argument just doesn't seem to make sense in that situation. About the only team in the NFL that doesn't seem to build through the draft is the Skins, and that is because they trade away all their picks, not because they sign free agents- the two are mutually exclusive. Aside from them, everyone builds through the draft- weather they sign big names or not.
The current front office has traded a conditional 4th for Barlow and moved back in the 2nd round to pick up Thomas. They traded back last year to acquire extra picks and there is a still a possiblity they will trade J-mac and/or Barton for picks this year. Trading 6th and 7th round picks are pretty meaningless since the chance of those players making a roster is about the same as a free agent rookie. Jolly and McCareins have nothing to do with the current regime. Building through the draft has multiple positive aspects. 1. Having a player signed for 4 or 5 years at a drastically lower price then if you signed a free agent. Look at the cost of signing a guard this off season vs drafting one in the 2nd round. 2. When you draft a player you then have the opportunity to develop him into what you want from scratch. The player wants to do whatever you ask so that he can keep his job and get that elusive second contract. 3. When you draft a group of players they tend to bond together and develop together since they are all in similar situation. When you sign a free agent the player may not be welcome in the new locker room because of his contract compared with incumbent players and the fact that he has been part of an entire other organization and fitting in can be difficult. The bottom line is that is takes 2 to 3 years of drafting well with good coaching and some cheap free agent signings to put together a team that can compete year in and year out. They key imo is drafting offensive lineman, front 7 defensive players and finding a great qb. If you look at the teams constantly competing they have good lines, a good qb and a good coach. Free agency is a quick fix that historically doesn't work. That's not to say that signing a big name player is always a mistake but when your team has as many holes as the Jets currently do it's better to use the draft. Once you have the lines in place then you can use free agency as a luxury to make your team better.
Want to talk about building through the draft... how does this sound. Last year by trading down a few spots we achieved the following: -Acquired Nick MAAAAANGOLLLLLD -Acquired Kellen Clemens -Acquired a 2nd Round pick in the 2007 Draft -Used that 2nd Round pick in 07 to trade down and acquired Thomas Jones from Chicago and we still have another player. So, one move by Tangini got us at least three reliable players and most likely a fourth. You mean to tell me we're not building through the draft? You craaaaazy maaaan
Well, that would have been great had that been the case- however it wasn't. It was a nice move trading down, but Mangold was an entirely different pick- that came from trading our best defensive player- remember him? Another guy we drafted, and let go. Much like Jordan, Moss, Mackenzie, Coles etc. This team lets it's draft picks walk as much as anyone, so I don't see how everyone swears we are somehow more dedicated to the draft than other teams.
You totally missed the point-- did I say I didn't want to build in the draft? No. Did I say I wanted to sign a bunch of FA? No. I said that I think some may be over rating just how dedicated this team is to the draft, by trading picks away.
I don't see how you can use the previous regime's decisions to characterize the current philosophy regarding our players. Jordan, Moss, McKenzie, and Coles all left, and in one case returned, under the watch of Edwards and Bradway and just because Tannenbaum happened to hold a position in that system doesn't mean he is going to make the same mistakes.
He already traded away a 4th and a 6th + the Jones trade (which I liked) that doesn't look like a team that values draft picks as much as some on here make it seem.
Well, everything is about balance and priorities. No team is going to totally ignore free agents or the possibility of trades and only bring players in via the draft. Likewise, nobody is going to trade all their draft picks every year and only sign free agents. Everybody mixes it up and the revealing factor is the balance. The Jets seemed to avoid the big name free agents (and big contracts) this offseason. It looks like they value draft picks as a way of building a team. That doesn't mean they would ignore the chance to add a quality running back, a big area of need, simply by trading down in the second round. This Jets management team seems to be smart and creative. It's too early to make sweeping generalisations because we only have a small body of work to draw from, but I'd say they lean towards the draft.
Let me ask you. Do you like the direction you see this team going? I ask because to me the FO needs to build a championship calibur team and I don't care if that is by managing the draft better or by a combination of trades, Free agency, and the draft. So your point about are we really building through the draft is moot! Who cares! as long as we are getting closer to a championship i'm happy!
The Cotch strikes again........ Granted abe didnt play much for atl last year, but he still was our best defender...just injury prone. We do trade away a lot of our draft picks tho.
That all had more to do with the past regime than this one. They traded Abe away because he was injury prone and a headache in the locker room. The CURRENT regime didn't want to shell out the huge contract, and he was out most of the year, so we got the better end of that deal. Great defensive player or not, unless he is on the field it is meaningless. Jordan, Moss, McKenzie, Coles all were from the PAST regime. THIS regime just spent the season resigning Thomas and Cotchery, so I don't know how you can say they are letting the picks walk. Tannenbaum and Mangini have both said they want to build through the draft, so people are just repeating what the current regime has been saying. The Barlow trade was out of desperation since Blaylock wasn't going to be playing and Martin went on the IR. They also got a pick back in the Jones trades, so the FO kept the total number of draft picks they have this year the same. They also GAINED picks by trading away Abe, and trading down last year with the Skins. So they have gained as many picks as they have traded away. You have to differentiate between the current regime and the previous one. Because Tanny and Mangini clearly are focusing on the draft. Herm/Bradway is a different story.
Big Cotch, I think you're the one missing the point. This Regime, NOT THE TERRY BRADWAY HERM EDWARDS REGIME, does in fact value draft picks nad keeping you own players. We'll start with the keeping your won players part, where you have used a bunch of players Bradway/Edwrads let go and Abe "our best defensive player". Forget the guys the last regime let go ( I misss McKenzie and Thomas myself, I have to admit) and lets look at our "best defensive player". Abe was franchised due to the fact that his contract had expired and he was unwilling to sign a new one during the old regime. Abe was unwilling to sign a reasonable contract. Tannenbaum did not want to over pay for someone who missed considerable time due to phantom pulled groins and stomach sickness during key games. Thus they traded their most talented, not their best defensive player for a 1st round pick. Abe only played a handful of games for the Falcons, just as he had done the last several seasons for us and will continue to do for Atlanta. With that DRAFT PICK, they drafted a Center will, barring injury, start for us for atleast the next decade. Plus Bryan Thomas ended up playing the same role Abe would have and did very very well, reserecting his career. As for them trading away late round picks, they have. However, they have also aquired them back. Last year we ended up with 1 (#4) Ferguson, D'Brickshaw T Virginia 1 (#29) from Den Mangold, Nick C Ohio State 2 (#49) from Dal Clemens, Kellen QB Oregon 3 (#76) from Phi Schlegel, Anthony LB Ohio State 3 (#97) Smith, Eric SS Michigan State 4 (#103) Smith, Brad WR Missouri 4 (#117) from KC Washington, Leon RB Florida State 5 (#150) from Dal Pociask, Jason TE Wisconsin 6 (#189) from Was Coleman, Drew CB TCU 7 (#220) from Phi Adams, Titus DT Nebraska Thats 10 draft picks, 3 more than each team normally has. Also notice that most say "from..." this is because this regime trades picks for vets and then reaquires the picks through various means. They do very much value draft picks, but also value role players through trade of late round picks. While the Jets are lacking 4th and 7th round picks this yeasr, they do have an extra 2nd, which means that as of the moment they are only down 1 pick. I am sure that they will reaquire this "missing" pick as well as a few others by moving around in the draft and by trading vets who no longer fit their plans such as Barton and McCareins.
