LISTEN | Jets Draft Podcast | Daniel Jeremiah Reviews the 2021 Draft Class (5/11)

comparison and why is it a good one? If you think it is, yeah, I like it. I actually had a conversation with David Cutcliff about this at Duke, who is one of the best quarterback teachers there is having you know, talk to Manning's coming up and and also had Daniel Jones under his tutelage. But guys have gone to him forever with quarterback stuff. And we talked about kind of where the game was going and what maybe

is more important now than it ever was before. And he talked about hand quickness, like if you think about all the r P O stuff we have uh in the NFL right now, we're just right back and then boom ball comes out. And he said, it's it's like a shortstop. You want shortstops, they all just have. There's just super quick hands. If you think of like an

Omarvis scale. You know some of those great defensive players at that position, Ozzy Smith going back dating myself a little bit, but those guys all just had dynamic, quick hands for those middle infielders. And I think when you watch Zack Wilson, you see some of those those same things. I tell people keep an eye with Zach once his left hand comes off the football and then how quickly the ball is out of his hand. I mean that

to me is what shows you how dynamic he is. Uh. Speaking of a dynamic what about that arm, because it seems to not only is he have the quick hands, but it explodes off his hands, doesn't it. Yeah, he's got a strong arm. I mean it's it's uh, it's definitely a plus arm. And I don't think I would put it quite in that you know, Aaron Rodgers, Pat Mahomes, Josh Allen type type arm. But it is definitely in the in the upper echelon. And there's not a throw

out there that he can't make. And the crazy thing to me is he can make those throw was with so much velocity without even having his feet really in the ground. I mean you'll see him on the move both feet up in the air, even in the pocket, similar to Rogers, where you'll see both feet come up. And then he's able to generate so much torque from his upper half and and and to be able to

get juice on the ball. As a weenie arm quarterback, I know very well how you have to have your feet grounded in order to be able to get as much on it as you can. So I always made sure that I hit my back foot. It was like a crow hop. I mean I was. I was planted in the in the uh in the ground to be able to get all my cleats in there to drive and throw. He didn't need to do that. Do you like that pairying with Mike Lafleur in the system He's going to run the Shanahan system here in New York. Yeah.

I think it's the it's look, it's the most quarterback friendly system we have and that's why you're seeing it all over the league right now. And with some of the movement stuff, some of the boots Um under center play action back to the defense. We've seen Zack do that at b y U. I think he's very comfortable doing that. And I think what it's gonna do. It's gonna kind of define the field form and uh, and it's going to simplify some things for him. So that's

what's so great about that offense. And and and I think people focus so much on the passing aspect of this offense, but you go back to Mike Shanahan and those Broncos teams. This this offense has always produced good, good run game. So when you have a good run game, obviously, you know that's gonna that's gonna increase the numbers you're gonna see down in the box. It's gonna simplify your your vision and field of view down the field. So that to me is gonna be key. I think they

built up the offensive line nicely. Um over the last couple off season has done some nice work there. I think this is gonna a team that can really really run the football. You just munched the run game real quick. He's very good with the deception as well, isn't he? Because you know this that the Jets are gonna try to dial some things up down the field after they get that run game going with the play action. Yeah,

and I think that's one of the things. Well there was trust me that you guys know there's a lot of things missing for that offense the last couple of years, but explosives. You know, being able to run the ball is what's gonna that up your explosive plays down the field. And you want to be able to pay that off. You know, you gotta run the ball successfully. You don't want to pay that off with a fifteen yard game. You want to be able to pay that off over

the top for some big chunk plays. And I think that's one of the beautiful things about Zach. He's a he's a really good deep ball thrower. Now you've got two guys on the outside who can go up and get it in in Corey Davis and Denzel Mims. And now you've got somebody else who can just run away from everybody on the field and lie to you more. So, it's gonna be fun. It's gonna be watching the fun

to watch this whole thing come together. Well, you kind of answered my next question, So let's let me pivot now, you look at Day three of the Jets draft, heavy on defense, and the three corners that they selected Michael Carter the second, Jason Pennock, and Brandon Ecles all very good athletes. What do you think about that approach where it seems like, you know what, like we're just gonna take a flyer on the athlete and we'll see what

happens come training camp. Yeah. I mean, I just remember being in college and you maybe go to the gas station, you get like three scratchers, right, you know, he's hoping that maybe you get five bucks out of that thing, Um, that you could you could afford to go get some dinner the next night. That's what these are their glorified lottery tickets with these defensive players they took on Day three, heightweight, speed,

you know, explosive players. Um, they don't have it all figured out just yet, but they can all really really run. So to me, if if if I'm the Jets and one of those dudes ends up hitting, that's that's gravy. Um. I thought they did a nice job of just taking some shots on some kids with not only with traits, but real competitive kids too. Um. And I like to you know, Michael Carter number two. Have you figured out

how you guys are calling these guys? By the way, Michael Carter one, Michael Carter too, what's the what's the plan? I think the corner will go Carter too, and the running back would just go Carter. Biggest surprise for you in the two thousand twenty one draft you mentioned Elijah more before. How shocked were you that he was sitting there at the top of the second and um, how much do you love his versatility? Yeah, he's easy player

to love. The more I watched him, the more I liked him, and I just did not think there was any chance we get out of the first round. And talking to folks kind of in the last couple weeks, Um, everybody seemed to be on him, and uh, and hey, that's what happens in the draft things. You know, a move here there, a trade here there, and everything kind of falls out of sequence. And I thought, man, the Jets were the benefactors there. Um, you know, to me,

it was him and Kadarius Tony were close. I ended up putting him over Kadarius Tony, and then the Giants felt otherwise, so they like Hidarius Tony and they pull a trigger on him. Um, But to me, Elijah More, I thought it was a little bit more natural hands and a little bit more reliable. They're both guys are you know, excellent in terms of the ball in their hands. But uh, I thought he was just a little bit better, a little more precise as a route runner, and just

had a little more confidence in his hands there. So yeah, I was I was a little bit shocked, to say the least, that he was still there in the second round. You know, DJ, you mentioned before one of the three corners, if if the Jets were to hit on one of those guys to be selected in round four or five and six. Excuse me, what is hitting on those players mean through a scouts I, Oh, my gosh, it's huge.

It's huge because you're gonna get a cheap starter for for you know, four years here, which is enormous, and that's what helps you be able to round out the rest of your roster. And I think that's the other thing that does is once you start to prove you can hit on these players, and Joe knows this from from all of his years in Baltimore, where you know you're not gonna be able to resign all these guys.

Then when you when you take a you know, fifth round, sixth round guy, he develops into a player and maybe you don't even sign him to a second contract, but he goes and gets big money elsewhere. Then you get the comp picks, and then you get more picks in this range of the draft. And it's just this wheel, the cycle that just keeps going and you can really, uh, you know, add that volume and and that's that's the

key to me. On day three. You know, if you if you have one team that comes into Day three and they've got six picks, another team comes into Day three and they've got two picks, dodds are in the favor that the team that's gets six shot shots at it's gonna come away with a couple of gems. So, um, I think having those numbers is huge and and showing that you can scout and produce players with those picks is huge. You know, Joe very well, how much did you like his move going up from twenty three to

fourteen and getting Elijah vera Tucker. With that being said, after your answer to that one, what do you think about the potential of that left side of the line with McKay Beckton and possibly Vera Tucker to the right of them. Yeah, I know he was. He was. He was really excited about that and have been thinking about that for a long time. So I was happy for him. I thought Elijah Vera Tucker was one of the cleanest players in the whole draft. You know exactly what you're getting.

And in such a weird year with not having a combine and not having as much interaction with these players, not having scouts on keep us, when you can find safe players in this draft, I think you do get aggressive and and you go get him. Now. He could have sat and and maybe tried to, you know, get something done it maybe it was pick sixteen and at the Cardinals. But I I admire the fact, Hey, we want him, let's just where do we need to go to make sure we get him. Let's not take any chances,

uh and lock him in. And now, when you look at the left side of that line, and a lot of people say, man, you can just run left, run left, the other thing is and uh, when you have that type of power, if you want to run right, you have that left side of the line, it's gonna be like an avalanche. Just collapsing down the line of scrimmage and you're gonna have cutbacks for days. So uh yeah, they're they're gonna be able to really really do some things in the run game with those two guys. DJ

last question before we let you go here. Last off season, we spoke to you before the draft and you use the analogy for the Jets to jumping in a pool. Joe Douglas was jumping in the pool. You go down to the bottom, you launch yourself up, and you were focused on this offseason. Now that this offseason is essentially behind us and you look ahead to two thousand twenty two as well, what do you think about what Joe Douglas has done and what he's gonna be able to

do moving forward, not only this year but next year. Well, I think they've got some foundation pieces which they didn't really have, and I think these foundation pieces are on the line of scrimmage when you look at what they've done with these two guys on the offensive line we just mentioned, you know, you know, one of the one

of the jewels that he had on this roster. There weren't a lot, but Quentin Williams has got chance and you talk to people around the league, he's got a chance to be the second best defensive tackle on football this year. You know, Aaron Donald, he gets that play, he gets that room all to himself. We're not gonna mess with him. But I think Quinnin really has a chance to be that second guy. So you've got some some foundational pieces. Then you go out in free agency

and accomplish what they did. Um, you go out and get a big time pass rusher to put on the outside of Quentin Williams and Carl Lawson. Now you know, you look on the offense, they've got some weapons, there's still work to be done. And you look on that defense. I think when you look in the secondary, that corner position, hopefully some of those guys hit, but they're still work to be done there. And if there's some other another piece or two along that offensive line, maybe a premier

tight end. But I feel like the foundation has been laid now and you're gonna start to see the progress here with this football team. DJ hull of a job throughout this draft process. Hopefully you get some rest coming up, and good luck to your padres. Appreciate it. Man. We gotta beat up in the San Francisco Giants for a couple of days here. Great stuff. Always nice having Daniel Jeremiah. Usually we have him on the podcast before the AFT.

This time we got a draft recap, which is different insight from DJ but also another fan of the Jets draft. I'm glad you brought that up with him your last question. I know that resonated with you last year, that the Jets were at the bottom of the pool. Maybe now they're coming up and we're seeing that, and he just said it. I think the foundation is being a lady.

The Jets are certainly have more pieces that have more talent on this roster, and Joe Douglas has done a fantastic job I think navigating throughout this offseason, free agency and the draft. I think we've talked about this before,

but wide receiver might be the most improved position. I know Pro Football Focus recently put something out that said the Jets have the most revamped receiving corps out of all thirty two NFL teams, and I think there's definitely an argument to be made when you look at who was on the roster this time last year compared to now. Corey Dave. I mean, there's like considerable depth there, Corey Davis,

Denzel Mims, Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder, Keelan Cole. That right, there are six receivers and then we get two guys like Braxton Barrios, Vincent and Jeff Smith. And there's a couple other guys as well who are on this rock a lot of speed the wide receiver position. To uh, you look at Elijah Moore, he's a sub four four guy. He joins the crew that it's sub four that includes sub for four, that includes Denzel Mims, both the Smiths

that you just mentioned before. It's gonna be interesting to see how all that shakes out throughout training camp as far as the reps are concerned. And also the personnel package is employed by Michael la Fleur. But that was the biggest surprise of the entire two thousand and twenty one draft class. Daniel Jeremiah said that Elijah Moore sitting there for the Jets at the top of the second round.

That's huge for young quarterback in Zach Wilson. Yeah, And and what I liked most about the Jets draft, you addressed all three supporting casts that you could up for out wide in the backfield, Michael Carter in the back, Elijah Moore out wide, Elijah Vera Tucker up front, and it's a good situation. I think that Zack Wilson walks into and we're gonna have a couple more episodes on the draft class and then we're gonna put a bow

on it and then we'll we'll look ahead. But kind of I want to focus on what you said talk about personnel packages. Let's flip to the defensive side of the ball for a minute here. Do you think about Jamie and Sherwood and Hams and Nosrel Dean playing box safety in college? The Jets turn in the card as a linebacker, so they're gonna be linebackers with the Jets.

They're transitioning. And the and the analogy or the comparison that coach Sala used, How about Fred Warner at b y U. He said he didn't he didn't say that either one of those guys would play or become the same player. Fred Warner is now in the NFL. But Fred Warner was mostly an in space coverage linebacker for b y U. And now he's one of the best

linebackers in the NFL. And he was the third round pick. Interesting, uh anecdote or story I should say from Albert Breer there recently when he said the Jets coaching staff, Robert Sale of course there at the B y U pro day, asked him to go up and hug Zach Wilson to see how they compared as far as the heights were concerned. But yeah, Warner did a lot of good things under Robert Salo. But we got great insight on the Jets

philosophy the linebacker position. Because it's funny. I was thinking about the positional previews that we did prior to the draft, and we talked about nes uh Hams as UH safety, but the Jets viewed him all along as a outside linebacker much like uh Jamian Sherwood. And you know Sherwood, I would imagine is gonna play a lot for the Jets. Um Hobbsa thinks that the Jets got first round value there and then you look at that position group, how

that's improved in the offseason. Jets got a former first round pick in Jared Davis, and also C. J. Mosley is on this roster and Blake Cashman as well, and I think the linebackers room is the most interesting unit because I don't think we really know what to expect Jared Davis. Do you look at his track record in Detroit. He's got all the measurables, He's got the speed. Then he gets the reduced role in two thousand and twenty

but has a better year. Many people would say. Then you think about c. J. Moseley question mark there because he's essentially played two quarters two and a half quarters in two years. And then Blake Cashman has been hurt, but when he's healthy, he's one of the fastest players on at the linebacker spot. And then you add these two guys as well. I just think that it's gonna be I'm very fascinated to see what happens in training camp when those guys actually touched the field. Listen, run

and hit right. He wants solo, wants these guys to move very well laterally and and playing space. And those guys fit that mold. And it all starts for the Jets up front when you run in a four three And like DJ said, Quinn and Williams, you know, as we go ahead with this year, many people might think that he is the second best defense attacker in football and that's great as a start. You had Sheldon Rankins and free agency, a former first round pick who can

push that pocket as well. Carl Lawson's your headliner on the outside. We talked about him numerous times. Vinny Curry gonna provide some depth there at the edge position. So it all starts up front and then we got insight and as far as the philosophy is concerned at the linebacker position, I'd flip it to the offensive side of the ball. We didn't talk to DJ about him, but Michael Carter there at the fourth at the beginning of the fourth round great value as well. I really wanted

to ask DJ if he had more time yet to go. Unfortunately, everyone talks about Michael Carter not being a burner but being a good fit for the system. I wonder what he would have thought about le Michael p Ryan in this system, because I think DJ was a fan of Michael p Ryan and I think they got similar speed.

I'm not saying they have similar skill sets, but everyone is so gung hol on Michael Carter being such a great fit, and a lot of that, A lot of that has to do with his vision, his patience, his start, stoppability, and I'm just curious what he thinks about p Ryan's fit in this system because I feel like Michael p Ryan is almost the forgotten running back on the roster. I think it's fair, But if the Jets do do

this by committee, they have a lot of options. Now, Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman, who's done some good things throughout his career. You mentioned uh La, Michael p Ryan, you got Ty Johnson still on this roster, Josh Adams, so you have a lot of options in an offensive backfield. What I like about Carter that's different than a lot of college players coming out is he's so adept coming

out of the backfield catching it. And you talk about maybe he doesn't have this great time speed, Well, nobody was is explosive as he was in college football last year in terms of explosive runs. And he also is a sturdy blocker, So you like that entire package. Yeah, I think Michael Carter outside of the first two rounds, I think Michael Carter might have been one of the most popular picks in the draft in terms of where he was selected fit and I think that he checks

a lot of boss for what the Jets needs. I will say one last thing before we wrap up. The one position or in terms of the draft that we haven't really talked about is the reported undrafted free agents. And I don't know if if there's a couple of guys that stand out to you that you want to talk about, but there are some intriguing prospects that are

going to be involved in rookie minicamp. And then obviously you know every year there are a couple of guys who make the fifty three or they joined the practice squad and then they get activated later in the years. Well, i'll just look at position groups. You can talk about names, but you just mentioned it. Every year there's a couple of guys, and most recently was jeff Lyn Gidrey, Lamar Jackson.

Lamar Jackson started a little bit for you. Giddrey really came on down the stretch when Brian Pool was banged up. Pool remains a free agent. Giddrey will be in the mix to be your nickel this year. So I mean, that's what you're talking about. So for me and we talked, we touched upon this with DJ was the cornerback position. Who's going to step up at the cornerback position could be some of these young veterans, could be some rookies getting their chance. Here you can talk about the undrafted

free agent. I'm looking more at position groups um as far as where is their opportunity maybe and the other guys. Last year, I think one guy made the fifty three undraft as an undrafted free agent, that was Bryce Huff out of Memphis, and then the guys that you mentioned, Lar Jackson Javelyn Gidrey, both were practice squad players who got called up. Same thing with Lawrence Cager, who was a popular undrafted free agent at the time that he signed.

A couple of guys stand out. I spoke to Dame Bruegler of the Athletic and he gave me three names. He said, Kenny you Boa, a tight end out of All Miss who went to Temple. Originally he was going to commit to Baylor, and then Matt Rule ends up taking the Panther's job opens back up and he goes to All Miss with Lane Kiffin there, he averaged nineteen point four yards per reception down in Oxford, Mississippi, which is fourth among tight ends in FBS. And Elijah Moore

is probably giving him some field right for sure. I think Kenny Eboa. I mean, when you think about the tight ends, there's a lot of guys on the roster, but Kenny Eboa, the way Brugler was saying his night, if you got a roll for him, he might he

might carve a path on a roster that way. Another guy extremely intriguing is hamilcar Rashid Jr. Oregon state pass rusher leads the nation in two thousand nineteen and tackles for loss, has fourteen sacks, and Dane said, had he declared for the draft, I don't even know if he was eligible at the time, but had he gone to the NFL last year, you're probably looking at a mid round selection. And then he becomes an undrafted guy because he only has two tackles for lost in zero sacks

this past season, which is just a wacky year. So those are two guys that definitely you should keep your eye on. The Other one is Tristan had the b y U right guard. No, I'm just saying, Zack Wilson has a college teammate out here. Uh this weekend, Uh listen. But bottom line, these guys are just gonna get defeat wet. It's not a traditional rookie mini camp. At least we have a rookie mini camp this year. Didn't have a

rookie Mini camp last year due to the pandemic. But these guys are gonna be out there on the field, but it's separated as far as biggs have a session on the field and then the skill position players will have a session on the field. It's just a start. They're getting their playbooks. We have our technical director Matt Sickoff, pacing and looking inside the studio. I think we have to exit on all right, Fine, that then we will leg it. That is how we will elect it on

the Official Jet Podcast. We'll be back with some more draft next episode.