For those who must be saying to themselves "THE SEASON HASN'T STARTED. HOW CAN YOU TELL" I am not talking about who's better player. I am not even going to make this point on how the picks will eventually turn out to be. I am saying that For the New York Jets, Pryor was the better pick based on what each draftee showed the teams. Brandin Cooks could go on to be a 5 time Pro Bowler...and it wouldn't matter. Cooks could also go on to fail miserable... I am saying that it's much much harder to come by a competent safety than a guy you can use at WR. When you truly think about, the WR position IS important, but not so much an individual (unless they're Megatron or Dez Bryant) That's because most teams have at least 5 usable receivers...and theres only so much one guy can do in a game. Most WRs are able to catch the ball....Cooks was about YAC and post-catch speed. I am saying that I doubt what Cooks would be able to deliver with his YAC on a couple catches a game would be more helpful than Calvin Pryor playing safety for 4 quarters. The position ALONE of Safety is harder to improve than the position of WR. A safety is constantly reading the defense, making tackles, playing coverage and is overall more involved in the game. A WRs play is contingent upon running a good route, a QB not getting pressured, them getting open, and then MAYBE they catch the ball. Most competent WRs are able to do everything up to this point. The ones that stand out are the ones that can gain yards after the catch. (And make spectacular deep catches...but Brandin Cooks isn't that guy). WRs are also so much more of a crapshoot when it comes to the draft. There's so many guys that have talent but can't seem to transition. The Free Agent market is loaded with speedy guys who won't necessarily be the next Michael Irvin, but could fill in the "brandin cooks" role. Heck...the Jets got Jalen Saunders who's often been called "A poor man's Brandin Cooks." Jalen is very speedy and returns the ball. He was worth a Fourth round pick. I am not saying Brandin Cooks won't be a weapon or a good player...I'm not even saying Pryor will or will not be a good player. I am saying that Brandin Cooks wasn't worth the first round pick at 18 overall. The Jets already have Kerley and now Saunders. I don't think the difference between not having Cooks and having Cooks will be greater than a Calvin Pryor. With what each player showed, and the situation that the Jets were in...they made the smart pick. Whether it pans out or not remains to be seen. But it was the smarter choice and risk/reward ratio. ****NOTE. Since I know some people can't read...I will say it AGAIN. This is not at all based on either players' performances post draft. It is preseason for goodness sake.*****
Definitely> I am talking about what Brandin Cooks showed he could bring. Watkins and Evans are completely different playmakers. I am specifically talking about the "Brandin Cooks Role"
Cooks is in a great position in New Orleans. Because of that I think he will set the league on fire this year. If we selected him it would be a work in progress.
So you're basic argument is that good safeties are harder to come by than a good WR, and a first round Safety brings more individual value to a team than a first round WR does? thats very subjective, and honestly varies in truth from team to team. For the 2014 Jets it might be true. Pryor from a prospect perspective fits Rex's defense like a glove, Cooks would be an upgrade to the WR corps, but may not bring as much as to our team as he does to Brees and the Saints. I think this years jets passing game is more about finding stability and setting itself up for the future. a star rookie wideout could help and grow with the offense but theres less assurance of him paying off like he would in NO seeing as how its not and element of our game that we'll be leaning on. (at least on paper) Pryor fulfills a position of need about as much as Cooks would have honestly. although his being on the defensive side of the ball, the one we actually ARE leaning on, might provide a bigger impact than Cooks would have being on our offense. MAYBE. it kind of depends on how privy to his role on defense he is, and if he can translate his physical play to the pro's. Still it seems like the better decision if all things are equal, given the way the jets are built. We'll just have to see.
Not quite what I was saying. I didn't make it as clear as I would have liked....but I am saying the safety role that Calvin Pryor brings will be more involved and make more of a difference than the WR role that Cooks could bring. I am also saying this for the jets. They happen to already have Jeremy Kerley and were able to draft a guy like Jalen Saunders in the 4th round. The differences Pryor would be able to make on the jets are greater than Cooks. Maybe it would be different on another team.
Of course he does. Safety and secondary in general was a weak spot last year. I like Allen but hes still a project. The rest of our safeties are old and mediocre.
Benjamin made a nice concentration TD catch. Stumbled as he was nearing the endzone, caught it as he was falling with a defender on him. _
No one will understand this logic until Pryor shows his skill set on the field. It's hard for people to understand when Pryor has been out with a concussion. Next preseason game should settle all of this.
All ive heard is positive things from Pryor. Concussions aside, it sure sounds like he is one of those very rare safeties that comes like once every 5 years. (Reed-Polomalu-Earl Thomas-Pryor?)
I agree with you, because Eugene is going to stink again and this offense will struggle, hence the defense will be on the field more so they will need Pryor to make plays.
not sure I agree. You could turn out right, but you might not. If Cooks IS a perennial pro bowl type player as you posit, he would definitely be more valuable than Pryor even if Pryor is also a pro bowler. We are completely unbalanced and making yourself even more unbalanced does not make us a better team. I would say instead that upgrades to offense for the Jets are much more valuable than additional upgrades to defense.
I agree with the premise which is a safety can bring more to a team regardless of the players around him than a wide receiver can which depends on numerous factors. And yes we needed a good backstop in our defense more than a shifty wide receiver at this point. I hope ur right. It's too early to say though....
We needed to get tougher on the back end more then we needed a slot receiver, our safety's aren't good Landry and Allen can't give that smack that is needed I just hope Pryor is as good as kam chancellor not more to be a good pick.
I agree based on the premise that a premier safety can mask a lot of defensive deficiencies. On the flip side - a premier WR can make a minimal impact based on QB and scheme.
