Will McDonald, a heavily criticized draft pick until recently, has the second best pressure rate out of edges in his draft class. 2 players selected before him are below him, and many thought Nolan Smith should go higher. It was a bold pick that seemed questionable but seems smart now especially considering injuries, hold outs, and lost free agents have left the jets thin at the position.
JD still needs to put together a playoff team, but I think it’s getting safe to say he’s been a pretty pragmatic and skillful talent evaluator and drafter (not perfect but no GM is). I personally do not want to go back to the days of Macagnan and Idzik drafting.
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WMD has been fire. Such a shame we lost JJ, would’ve loved to see them as a duo for more than two games.
2020 was a dud draft, Ashton Davis is a rotational player, and even that took years.
2021 was hit or miss. MCII is a top slot corner. AVT is a good starter who missed half his games. ZW is, unequivocally, an all time QB bust (at least JaMarcus Russell and Ryan leaf didn’t ruin playoff caliber rosters).
2022 was elite.
2023 was Mcdonald, who is definitely the only bright spot with pass rush unit this year.
2024 is TBD (they don’t even bother to play their “prize gem” in Corley.
So yeah, all things considered I guess it’s above average? He’s never going to be able to have the draft capital he had at his disposal in 2022, so it’s not necessarily repeatable.
Does this excuse the completely unacceptable approach to the HC position, sticking with Saleh for so long? After sticking with Zach for too long? The general amount of bad FA moves? The fact that this team has a 1, maybe 2 year window before the elite players need to be resigned and Rodgers is gone?
Facts are JD is 30 games under .500 for a reason. Is he that bad of a GM? No. But he’s not that great lol. Not by anyeams
23 was also tippman who looks like a long term starter