2014 NFL Draft: What the New York Jets Should Not Do

Dec 8, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets general manager John Idzik walks off the field with the ball after the game against the Oakland Raiders at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Raiders 37-27 Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 NFL Draft is looming, in approximately four weeks time. There is a lot of talk and speculation about what John Idzik is going to do. Does he go offense on the first round? Is he going to get Rex Ryan a cornerback early? Will the Jets move from number 18? How about the rest of the draft? How are they going to handle those picks? The debate will go on, and continue to do so until May 8th, and the 2014 NFL Draft commences.

This morning I have a bit of a different question to ask. What shouldn’t the Jets do in the 2014 NFL draft? I have an answer too.

Go with me on this analogy if you will: you are a new employee, working for company X. You got the job right out of college, in your chosen field of expertise, whatever that may be. You have been there for a full year, and it started out rough, but you have learned to do the job better and better every day.

After year one, you read in your employment newspaper that a well-known employee, that happens to do the same job as you, has been fired from company Y. Your company brings this employee in, and sits them next to you. They tell you that this person is there to help you if you have any questions. You see the writing on the wall. Yes, they can help you, but you know that if you stumble, the new employee can do your job. You work hard, to keep your job.

Then, just a few months later, they hire another guy that can do your job. This one is fresh out of a business school, and studied your job. Now you have the veteran employee and a new employee as well, both of whom that can do your job. Yes you are going to work hard, but isn’t your confidence hurt a bit? Why are they bringing in multiple guys, if they think you could do it?

It would drive all of us crazy, and make us think we aren’t any good.

And that is why the Jets should absolutely not draft a quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Bringing in Michael Vick is one thing. You need someone who has experience, just in case something happens to Geno Smith. A guy like that will keep Geno working hard, because he knows Michael Vick can play if he can’t. But, he can still know that the Jets are invested in him.

But, if you bring in ANOTHER candidate for the QB position, you are going to hurt Geno Smith. If you have two guys gunning for his job, Geno is going to wonder if the team has confidence in him or not. And if he perceives a loss in confidence, he will SUFFER a loss of confidence. That would be no good for anyone at all.

It’s just human nature. As we said in the analogy, if two guys are coming after you, it is natural to lose confidence in yourself. Then Geno will be done. And that is to nobody’s advantage.

Please, John Idzik. Don’t take a quarterback. There are more than enough holes to fill without creating that type of problem.