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Palladino: Jets' Draft Leaves Surprising Issues Looming Over Geno, Wilkerson

By Ernie Palladino
» More Ernie Palladino Columns

Given their relative contributions to the Jets the last two years, it's hard to write Geno Smith and Muhammad Wilkerson in the same sentence.

Yet, the ramifications of the NFL draft has left GM Mike Maccagnan with some surprising issues surrounding both players.

The fact that Smith remains Todd Bowles' No. 1 choice at quarterback would, on the surface, have been mind-boggling even if a franchise-type quarterback like Marcus Mariota had not been draft eligible. But he was, and Tennessee took Oregon's runner-thrower at No. 2 without, apparently, so much as a howdy-do from the Jets.

Maccagnan made three trades, including the one that allowed them to move up one spot in the fourth round to grab Baylor quarterback project Bryce Petty. But he needs much training, probably a good year of carrying around a clipboard, before Bowles will be confident enough to place him in competition with Smith.

bryce_petty.jpg
Bryce Petty #14 of the Baylor Bears reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to LaQuan McGowan #80 of the Baylor Bears against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

So, really, the draft did nothing to solve an improving offense's immediate problem at its most important position. Despite another trade that brought the Rams' young running back Zac Stacy, the guy throwing the ball to his backs and wide receivers like Brandon Marshall, Jeremy Kerley, Eric Decker, and second-round speedster Devin Smith is still named Smith.

That's not good.

One could counter that easily enough by citing the choice of USC pass-rush monster Leonard Williams, a move that had one draft analyst calling for Maccagnan's arrest for robbery. Given the hype surrounding the Trojan's "Big Cat," it's amazing enough that he fell into the Jets' laps at No. 6. Given their history as a franchise, it's just as startling they saw fit to take him.

Then again, the GM's name is Maccagnan now, not John Idzik.

Now, the defensive front has an alignment of Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison and Williams. That's destined to get the feet of even the heartiest of quarterbacks twitching wildly.

Leonard Williams
Leonard Williams with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen sixth overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Great, great pick, no doubt.

And yet, Williams could be the instrument which ultimately leads to the departure of Wilkerson. It probably won't happen this year, so Bowles will at least have 2015 to play around with his supercharged line. But that could be it. If he continues to pressure quarterbacks and run down backs as he has the past couple of seasons, he'll command huge free-agency numbers. And with Richardson due to get his payday after 2016, the Jets have to be mindful of monetary outlay.

Simply put, they can't pay everybody.

Maccagnan's words had an ominous ring when, just after drafting Williams, he described Wilkerson's situation like this:

"Right now, Muhammad's on our team," Maccagnan said. "I'm not going to speculate. We're not actively trying to shop Muhammad. Right now, he's part of us. At some point in time we're going to talk to him and his agent and kind of proceed forward."

To every action, even a great one like this, there is a reaction. Picking Williams was a move the Jets had to make, a move at least three of the five teams below them probably should have made for what many considered the top player -- a Reggie White-type player -- in the draft.

It's just a shame that the Jets may soon have to bid farewell to another player who became the heart and soul of the defense.

Still, even that doesn't compare to the quarterback situation, which at least for this year reads Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Simms and Petty.

Bowles had best make use of his defense of enriched plutonium because the draft did little to solve the problem on the offensive side of the ball.

Geno Smith is still Bowles' No. 1 quarterback choice, with only a journeyman Fitzpatrick to challenge him.

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