Palladino: Jets, Giants Need Draft To Solve, Not Compound, Their Mistakes
By Ernie Palladino
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The Jets have a couple of quarterbacks on their roster, but neither is worthy of a starting job.
The Giants have what was a premier pass rusher, but he's only got nine fingers and a cloudy future.
Among all the other usual issues facing the local football teams in this week's NFL draft, those two situations could figure in prominently when commissioner Roger Goodell kicks off the seven-round flesh-fest Thursday night in Chicago.
The Jets face quite a dilemma. It's not a real debate as to whether they have made a huge mistake in letting the Ryan Fitzpatrick free-agent saga drag on this long. They did.
Now, the question is whether they'll move up five or six spots from No. 20 to grab Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch.
If they do, the Jets would simply be compounding the problem. Though rated the third-best passer in a class headed by Cal's Jared Goff and North Dakota State's Carson Wentz, Lynch is no sure thing. Foreign to the pro-style offense, the Jets would be looking at Lynch sitting at least a year on the bench while he learns. And if the move to Lynch squashes whatever desire Fitzpatrick has left to rejoin the team he, Brandon Marshall, and Eric Decker led to 10 wins last season, Todd Bowles' starting options will be limited to Geno Smith and Bryce Petty.
MORE: Draft Preview: Jets Prepare While Fates Of Fitz, Mo Remain Uncertain
Not a pretty picture. Even uglier was the revelation last week that general manager Mike Maccagnan actually inquired about throwing three quarters of the Jets' future away with a move to the top spot.
Thankfully, the Rams made that mistake, and will now cross their fingers and toes -- and keep them crossed -- that Goff or Wentz will turn them into a winner.
Maccagnan said the inquiry was only him doing due diligence. Fair enough. But make no mistake, it was also part of a squeeze play on Fitzpatrick. So is the idea of drafting Lynch. So was their entertaining of middling veteran Brian Hoyer last week.
But squeezing too hard could cause Fitzpatrick to walk away from a situation that has gone on far too long and leave them with one more big hole on a roster that needs another outside pass rusher and help in the secondary.
The Giants have a predicament of their own. Now that the Rams and Eagles have thrown the top of the draft topsy-turvy with their trade-ups to the first two spots, a lot of talent is going to drift down to No. 10. They may see a quality offensive lineman in either Ole Miss' Laremy Tunsil, Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley, or Michigan State's Jack Conklin. A potentially great running back like Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott could be there, as could a stud cornerback in Florida's Vernon Hargreaves III.
All would be tempting picks. But the status of Jason Pierre-Paul's right hand could override all of that. For all the optimism over his offseason surgeries to improve his pyrotechnically-altered grip, the Giants still don't know what to expect from him.
With the Giants, a pick generally comes down to value over need. But it would be convenient if Jerry Reese's first row included a possibility like UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, who could well slip or, should he unexpectedly fall out of the top five, Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa. More likely, an all-around linebacker such as Georgia's Leonard Floyd will be there.
MORE: Palladino: It's High Time For Giants To Draft A Linebacker In First Round
MORE: Draft Preview: Free Agent Spending Spree Gives Giants Many Options
It all depends on what kind of grades Reese has given the other luminaries. He uttered the term "best available" numerous times in Thursday's pre-draft press conference, while also leaving open the possibility of an upward or downward move.
The only certainty is that the Jets and Giants had best choose wisely, especially for that expensive first-round pick Thursday. To miss on that one would bear lasting repercussions for both teams.
Follow Ernie on Twitter at @ErniePalladino
