Jets insider claims Joe Douglas made a bigger mistake than trading Sam Darnold

Super Bowl LX is going to be quite difficult for New York Jets fans to watch. Not only did the New England Patriots make it back, but the Seattle Seahawks are doing so on the back of former New York castoff Sam Darnold revitalizing his professional career in the Pacific Northwest.

Even though Jets fans will be rooting for Darnold, who the team took No. 3 overall in 2018 and traded before the 2021 season, to beat the Patriots, they must also throw their support behind Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who could have been a Jet in an alternate timeline.

Former GM Joe Douglas had the opportunity to pair Smith-Nigba with college teammate Garrett Wilson in an offense that would have been led by Aaron Rodgers, but the deposed executive decided to use that pick on Iowa State pass rusher Will McDonald.

SNY's Connor Hughes believes the decision to take McDonald at No. 15 overall instead of adding Smith-Njigba to a wide receiver room that already had Wilson in it was a bigger mistake than trading for Darnold, especially considering where the Jets were picking in 2021.

Connor Hughes rips Jets for drafting Will McDonald over Jaxon Smith-Njigba

McDonald has been a productive player for the Jets, tallying 18 sacks in the last two seasons despite often trailing. However, McDonald has graded out as the league's worst run defender for multiple seasons in a row, limiting his value to someone who can exclusively rush the passer.

Meanwhile, Smith-Njigba has been the best receiver in the league this year despite playing in an offense that lacks great depth at the position. Smith-Njigba is a future All-Pro, while there is no guarantee that McDonald is with the team beyond this season due to how limited a player he has proven to be.

Getting rid of Darnold made sense at the time. He had thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in his third season, and the Jets had the opportunity to select a franchise quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. They botched the pick with Zach Wilson, but the process made sense.

While many have tried hard to rehabilitate the Douglas regime's image in a year where the Jets have been equally bad without that front office in place, the way in which Douglas drafted should be held to the highest state of criticism imaginable after Smith-Njigba has flourished in Seattle.