Why the Jets Don?t Need Darren McFadden By Joe Caporoso | April 16th, 2008 There is a particular buzz around this year?s draft because of the potential for the Jets to grab an elite level talent despite having the number 6 overall pick. Yet, Jets fans seem particularly divided over the idea of drafting the top running back in the draft, Arkansas? Darren McFadden.There is a fair argument that could be made for both sides of the debate. Personally, I think the Jets have to take McFadden if he is still on the board at 6, however that is an article for another day. Today I am going to play devil?s advocate and argue the point that the Jets don?t need to spend such a high pick for Run-DMC. First off, the Jets already have a considerable amount of talent at the running back position. Thomas Jones ran for over 1100 yards last year behind a pathetic offensive line. He is a capable lead back and will be for another 2-4 seasons. Leon Washington led the team in rushing his rookie season, and when given the opportunity last season was very productive rushing the ball. The two are a good combination of power and speed, and both have the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Washington also has the quickness to split out, and occasionally work out of the slot. Behind the two of them they have Jesse Chatman, who ran for over 500 yards last season and has shown that he can manage 15 carries a game if one of the two get hurt. If the Jets were to draft McFadden, there simply wouldn?t be enough touches to go around for all those backs, and either Jones or Washington would have to go after next season. Washington wouldn?t be going anywhere because he is an elite kick returner and much younger, which means the Jets would have to take a cap hit by getting rid of Jones with 2 years remaining on his contract.The Jets have bigger needs, notably at cornerback and improving their pass rush. If Vernon Gholston or Chris Long is still on the board, the Jets would be better served with one of them instead of McFadden because Jones and Washington are higher quality players than Bryan Thomas. Even if both OLB?s are off the board, the Jets would still be better served by taking the top corner in the draft, Leodis McKlevin. Yes, he is a slight reach at 6 but the Jets need someone opposite Revis and with McKlevin alongside him and Kerry Rhodes, the Jets would have one of the best young secondaries in football. The bottom line is one of the few strengths on this team right now is running back and the Jets don?t have a complete enough roster to ignore their needs at other positions.
"If the Jets were to draft McFadden, there simply wouldn’t be enough touches to go around for all those backs, and either Jones or Washington would have to go after next season. Washington wouldn’t be going anywhere because he is an elite kick returner and much younger, which means the Jets would have to take a cap hit by getting rid of Jones with 2 years remaining on his contract.The Jets have bigger needs, notably at cornerback and improving their pass rush. If Vernon Gholston or Chris Long is still on the board, the Jets would be better served with one of them instead of McFadden because Jones and Washington are higher quality players than Bryan Thomas. Even if both OLB’s are off the board, the Jets would still be better served by taking the top corner in the draft, Leodis McKlevin. Yes, he is a slight reach at 6 but the Jets need someone opposite Revis and with McKlevin alongside him and Kerry Rhodes, the Jets would have one of the best young secondaries in football." Brilliant, lays out where the naysayers are coming from in a nutshell.
This tells me all I need to know about taking this guy seriously or not. Regardless of what anyone wants to believe McFadden is a massive upgrade to the running game if he reaches his full potential and fills a major need. He is a far superior prospect than McKelvin, who indeed would be a major reach at 6. He is not as good a prospect as Revis was who went 14th. I could understand taking Gholston or Long over McFadden but no freaking way would I take McKelvin over him.
Your McKelvin comment makes sense- the only way I take a look at him is by trading down at least 4 or 5 spots, and even that is pushing it.
Now that Steve McNair has retired...the speculation that the Ravens will trade up to grab Matt Ryan is intesifying....which i think is good for us for 2 reasons: 1) we could be one of the possible trade partners. 2) The Raiders needs more picks...and would probably love to trade down. If Baltimore picks in the #4 spot....that will increase our chances of grabbing McFadden if he's still on the board. Oh god...I'm actually sick of reading about all the scenarios....10 more painful days till we can see what happens at the draft for ourselves :jets:
The only way I would be able to feel like we did the right thing if we drafted McFadden at #6 is if the guys like the Longs and Gholston were gone and nobody wanted to trade up. I know a lot of people would be disappointed if we traded out, but there seems to be a lot of very good value in the mid-first round this year. You could make a very strong argument that we would pay less and get more...........
BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE... say it with me... BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE... If the Jets select McFadden it has nothing to do with need...The Jets need to take the BPA on their board and McFadden, if he is there, would be just that.
i agree with you about the talent we have at the rb position but as far as production is concerned, 6 rushing tds in 07 in my book will not cut it. we do not scare anyone at that position and maybe thats why our qbs are always getting killed.
While the Raiders are a possibility, I think that the Chiefs at #5 is a much more likely trading partner for the Ravens.
if Jones starts to decline in a year or two (which is not unlikely), then McFadden will have already been groomed for when we're ready to make a real SB run. i know the OL was pathetic last year, but Jones had 1 TD. Washington had 3 on less touches. this is wild speculation, but I'll venture to guess that McFadden would have scored more TD's than Jones behind the same line. i'm not writing off Jones, because I think he's a solid back, but McFadden has potential to be much much better than Jones. and if he's the best player available at #6, we'd be foolish to pass on him,
In a certain sense, we have a Catch-22 situation because from the article's standpoint, he is right about not taking McFadden, but in the same sense, how can we let someone like him slip by, ESPECIALLY with the patriots picking right behind us. I would be happy with certain selections in this draft but if it has to come down to it, McFadden will have to be taken if no other viable options are available. Also by the way people seem to discredit Ryan, Baltimore honestly might not have to worry about trading up to get him.
Baltimore will have every reason to worry....the Falcons and Chiefs are both high on Ryan....if he slips by the Falcons...I can see the Ravens trading up to the Raiders spot to nab him.... Hopefully...that will allow McFadden to drop to us....because i believe the Raiders are the only real threat to us grabbing him.
In the event that Dmac comes as billed he would be an Adrian Peterson or Lt talent. Can anybody justify not taking LT or Adrian Peterson and Getting rid of Thomas Jones if we had the chance. That doesn't make sense. We have how many other picks and trade possibilities to address our other positions? Is it a crime to have a superstar caliber player on this team. We have not had one since Joe Willie left!
The funny thing is this same article can be written about any player in the draft, just plug in the name. The exact same article can be written as to why they DO need McFadden or any other play in the draft. In fact there have been many as to why the Jets need McFadden. That's how writers make their money.
We can't. If he's available and Gholston and Long are not, we can't pass up on him. It's a situation I'd prefer not to be in, but it's also not something I'd complain about. It would be hard to complain about having him in the backfield.
The only way Baltimore trades with us if Ozzie believes that someone else is threatening to do so. We won't take Ryan. The Pats won't take Ryan. If one of our NE/NY shared prospects is on the board, you can expect BB to spread a rumor that he's considering trade offers from other interested teams. That would get Baltimore to put pressure on our front office as BB attempted to get us out of the way. Thankfully, I seriously doubt we drop out if Gholston or Long is available at 6.
i am not sure on the pats not taking ryan, he is a home town boy and the way the pats were all over him during the bowl games would'nt surprise me.
