Predicting Jets first-round pick

The first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft carries many implications for Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan whose minds are already made up. Let’s take a look at the New York Jets pick which seems like an obvious choice despite what the masses believe.

There’s an adage that proves true season after season. Indeed, defense wins championships. Todd Bowles is of a defensive pedigree and completely understands the gravity of his decision with the first-round pick of the New York Jets. This pick will set the tone for a future Jets team who will also soon prove the age-old belief that the best offense is a great defense.

Surely, general manager Mike Maccagnan will give Bowles players that he needs to run an effective defense capable of stopping even the best offenses dead in their tracks.

A quarterback doesn’t always have to be perfect, but the defense must always be the best team on the field. If Bowles and Maccagnan are to forge their names into a winning future, the best quarterback on the board is, in fact, the quarterback of the defense who led the Alabama Crimson Tide to a second title in three years.

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Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Swiss Guard for the Alabama defense is unquestionably the best investment the Jets will make this year. Instantaneously, he transforms the Jets defense as they become smarter, faster, and more effective. Sorry, the hype around the Big 4 of quarterbacks is just that, hype. Fitzpatrick is guaranteed to turn the Jets into contenders in the future.

How does Fitzpatrick improve the Jets?

If anyone is going to out-smart Tom Brady or run down Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson, such person would be Fitzpatrick.

Throughout his collegiate career, Fitzpatrick has not only remained as the epitome of a leader but is often the smartest player on the field.

Thus far, there hasn’t been any question marks as to whether Fitzpatrick makes an immediate and lasting impact in the NFL. He gives the Jets defense a linebacker, edge rusher, strong safety, free safety, and a return specialist.

The Jets become an elite defense

Even so, for teams like the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills who may also believe Baker Mayfield is their franchise quarterback, facing a deadly combination of Fitzpatrick, Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye becomes a lethal cocktail even for the more seasoned quarterback.

Fitzpatrick is an elite defensive player now. Joining the Jets morphs the organization into championship caliber. Make no mistake about it, none of these Big 4 at quarterback are set in stone to even be good starting quarterbacks in the pros. Fitzpatrick? He has the potential to be a defensive superstar and a household name for years to come on the Jets.

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