Football never sleeps.
It might be the depths of a chilly February and although the hits don't keep coming this time of the year, the news does not stop. And when we're talking about drafts in the dead of winter, really the only one that counts is the NFL Draft. With the Jets, currently in the No. 7 spot, situation at quarterback, analyst Leger Douzable weighed in with team reporter Eric Allen on a new edition of "The Official Jets Podcast."
QB is Topic #1 after the Jets announced their intention to move on from Aaron Rodgers.
"I think having Tyrod Taylor there to be the consummate pro, to be the bridge quarterback works," Douzable said. "The rapport that Tyrod had with [WR] Garrett Wilson was out of this world, right? So I think that says a lot, too."
The two collaborated for a red zone TD pass late in the Jets' loss at Buffalo.
With only Taylor, Adrian Martinez and second-year Jordan Travis (who was sidelined all last season after sustaining a broken leg at Florida State) currently on the roster, the Green & White could look to the coming draft. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders could go high in Round 1, the Jets might have to look at alternatives.
"I do believe they will draft somebody, whether that's the second round, maybe even the first round," Douzable said. "I mean, Jaxson Dart [Mississippi] is a guy I love a lot, and there's been some buzz that a lot of teams potentially might like him as QB, too."
He also likes Kyle McCord, who left Ohio State and led Syracuse to 10 wins last season. "He's a name people aren't talking about enough."
Beyond QB, he handicaps the Jets' needs so:
Safety -- "Three safeties [Chuck Clark, Ashtyn Davis and (RFA) Tony Adams] are free agents, so that's going to be a need. Draft or maybe find one in free agency."
Defensive tackle -- "We need to find someone to grow with Quinnen Williams. This is probably the deepest defensive tackle group that I've ever studied. Maybe 15 guys that could be considered top 50 picks." Douzable likes Michigan's Mason Graham as a possibility.
Tight end -- "Love Conk [Tyler Conklin], he's a free agent (as is Kenny Yeboah). So right now you have [Jeremy] Rucker, who you know I have an affinity for, but they can get a little bit more dynamic at the position." Douzable likes Penn State's Tyler Warren, who he calls "a slower George Kittle. He will rip your face off in the run game."
Right tackle -- The veteran Morgan Moses is poised to be a free agent at the only O-line position that doesn't appear to have an incumbent starter if he goes. "You need a guy that's going to be able to help you in the run game blocking."
Wide receiver -- With Rodgers gone, Douzable believes the Jets could make a pair of cost-cutting moves at WR. "We potentially are going to lose two guys, Allen Lazard and also Davante Adams, depending on what their contracts look like. I don't see the Jets with Davante staying on the roster. And then also Allen Lazard doesn't have any more guaranteed money on this contract. I could see the Jets potentially moving on." He mentioned Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) as a potential selection at No. 7.
NFL Combine: The 40-Yard Dash Is 'the Underwear Olympics'
More than 300 players have been invited to next week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis (Feb. 24-March 3), a much-picked over and highly scrutinized event. And perhaps the marquee event will be the 40-yard dash, a test of speed, running in a straight line.
"To me, it's their temperament," Douzable said. "That's what I'm going to watch the most. And then again, like the on-field, things are bigger for me than the actual 40 times. I think people just get too caught up in the 40 times too often. Some of the agility drills are big, too, because those kind of translate to what you can do athletically. But as far as running in a straight line, it's like in football, you're never running in a straight line, barely,
"The 40 is, quote, unquote important, but that's the last thing I look at. I call it the underwear Olympics, right? I watch the game film, and then also how the temperament of the player is. That's the biggest thing for me, especially when they're out there competing in agility drills."
Along with the Senior Bowl earlier this month and scattered pro days at colleges and universities across the country, the Combine is the middle event ahead of the NFL Draft in Green Bay (April 24-26).
"I'm not the biggest guy when it comes to the on field, like 40 times and bench and all that stuff," he said. "Again for defensive linemen, I'm trying to see traits when it comes to the on field, like bag drills and stuff like that. But you know what I like the most? Talking to the players, because you get a temperament of who they are. It's a lot different in the Combine, not like the Senior Bowl, where you get to see them for like two or three days and how they interact with their teammates and everything."
That Senior Bowl connection is big for Douzable in his evaluation of two players: LT Grey Zabel (North Dakota State) and DE Mike Green (Marshall).
"He [Zabel] literally played all five positions at the Senior Bowl, took snaps to center, and looked like he had done it his whole life, which is crazy," Douzable said. "Some people are now talking about him maybe going in the back of the first round, and I wouldn't be surprised."
On Green, he said: "The other guy I love. He's a dude. At the Senior Bowl, he ran through [OT] Josh Conerly of Oregon, who is probably going to be a first-round tackle. So he's a guy that people were talking about at the back of the first. People are saying Top 10 now for Mike Green, and he might be edge guy No. 2 in this draft class."
