NY Jets: 3 former Mike Maccagnan draft picks facing make-or-break seasons

What will former NY Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan be remembered for? Will it be overpaying aging free agents? Could it be hiring Adam Gase as his head coach, then being let go months later?

There weren't many great moments from the Maccagnan era apart from the 2015 season. Because of that, he will be remembered for the lack of talent taken in the NFL Draft.

From 2015-2019, Maccagnan made 34 picks. None of them have received second contracts. Three of his first-round picks were traded away before finishing their rookie deals. And only nine even remain with the team entering training camp.

Clearly, the draft was not Maccagnan’s specialty. However, that is no knock against the actual players he selected.

Current general manager Joe Douglas has done an excellent job revitalizing the Jets talent pool in two and a half years. With his management though, those taken by Maccagnan are left without a connection to the current regime.

A handful of the nine remaining Maccagnan picks are not only entering make-or-break seasons, but training camps. With the Jets' influx of talent this offseason, competition will be the storyline as players look to make the final 53-man roster.

So, let’s take a look at three former Maccagnan picks who are fighting to finish out their rookie deals in Gotham green.

Honorable Mention: Blake Cashman, LB, NY Jets

A member of Maccagnan’s final draft class, Blake Cashman was taken in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Minnesota product had the potential to be a steal, thanks to his determination and football IQ.

However, it has been a struggle for Cashman to stay on the field.

In two years, Cashman has played 11 games, making 46 total tackles and just three tackles for a loss. He even saw his role diminish in year two, playing only three defensive snaps, and just 10 percent of special teams snaps.

As the Jets find themselves with a new defensive scheme and a questionable linebacker corps, Cashman has the chance to jumpstart his career.

He stands as one of the few experienced linebackers New York employs and will get every chance to earn a starting job. Then again, nothing is guaranteed in this business.