Neil Miller/TheNYExtra.com
The Robbins Nest/TheNYExtra.com
The most important three days in the building of a Super Bowl caliber NFL team is here, and not a moment too soon if you’re a Jets or Giants fan. Man was 2023 a super punch in the gut.
First, Aaron Rodgers went down in the season opener with a torn Achilles tendon. Rodgers couldn’t help himself. He had to make himself the story. For the better part of the season, he teased Gang Green fans with speculation that he might not miss all 17 games, a scenario which has never happened.
The Jets went 7-10, scoring a pathetic 268 points.
Later in the season Giants starting QB Daniel Jones, tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 9. Jones was already struggling through the worst of his five seasons with Big Blue, having thrown two touchdowns and six interceptions.
In the New Jersey version of Rudy, former Don Bosco Prep star Tommy DeVito emerged as the starting quarterback. He busted the over/under by winning three games as a starter (he also lost three).
The Giants went 6-11, scoring a miserable 266 points.
The Giants have the sixth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft which begins tonight. Rumor has it they’ve been exploring the chances of moving to select one of the top three quarterback prospects – USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jaylen Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye – but are more likely to select an elite wide receiver.
The Jets have the 10th pick and have been linked to Georgia’s Brock Bowers, considered one of the most complete tight end prospects in years. They also would love to find a complement to Garrett Wilson, giving Rodgers two game-breaking wide receivers.
Whether you’re a fan of the Jets, Giants, or the forever disappointing Dallas Cowboys or two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City, the next three days could change the fortunes of any of the league’s 32 teams.
After consulting psychics, fortune cookies, palm readers, reading way too many mock drafts on CBSportsline and watching college football more than recommended by the surgeon general, we offer our prediction for the draft, which begins Thursday night (8 p.m.; ESPN).
- Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams, QB, USC – There’s Williams and everyone else. Yes, he was picked apart the last season after winning the Heisman Trophy the previous year. Let’s hope he can play in cold weather.
- Washington Commanders – Jaylen Daniels, QB, LSU – The Commanders new O.C. is Kliff Kingsbury, who coached Patrick Mahomes in college and Kyler Murray in the NFL. This one makes too much sense.
- New England Patriots – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina – Ladies and Gentlemen, start your comparisons. Every move Maye makes will be compared to Tom Brady (or Daniels). Unfair. Maye is a big-armed QB, which accounts for the 63 interceptions.
- Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison JR, WR, Ohio State – This WR filthy rich draft is just what the WR poor Cardinals need. Malik Nabers is faster, and Rome Odunze is a contested-ball champion. But Harrison is the complete WR.
- Minnesota Vikings (from Los Angeles Chargers) – J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan – C’mon now, you didn’t think the Vikings were going to transform former Jets QB Sam Darnold into a star. But they might be able to do it with national champion QB.
- Giants – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington – Going on record: Odunze is my favorite offensive player in this draft. Think Mike Evans. He has a mind for football and wins contested balls the way Max Verstapen wins Formula One races.
- Tennessee Titans – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame – The Irish have been Offensive Lineman U the last decade. If the Titans truly believe in QB Will Levis, they better give the second-year pro protection. Over and Alt.
- Atlanta Falcons – Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama – The Falcons brought in Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore so WR is not a priority; rush edge is. Turner might not be Will Anderson Jr., but every year The Tide turns out at least one defensive star.
- Chicago Bears – Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA – Because DBs can’t look sideways at a WR without drawing a penalty, the best pass defense is a pass rush. Teaming Latu with Montez Sweat and can you say, “Monsters of Midway?”
- Jets – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU – We were this close to giving Gang Green Brock Bowers and anoint him the best young TE in the game. But there was Nabers, turning green in the Green Room. Garrett Wilson and Nabers. Ca-ching!
- L.A. Chargers – JC Latham, OT, Alabama – Every time I see Justin Herbert get hit I fear we’re about to lose one of the Top 3 young pocket QBs. The run on OTs begins. Latham is a beast and he played in 40 games for The Tide, starting 26.
- Denver Broncos – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia – There is real smoke about Sean Payton and Oregon QB Bo Nix (Second round?) They did a lot of work on Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. But Payton knows the value of an elite TE in today’s NFL.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (from Raiders) – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo – First Freak sighting! Jaguars believe they are the best team in the AFC South with one glaring weakness – the back 4. Jags jump the Colts to get their man.
- Las Vegas Raiders (from Saints and Jags) Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State – Early in the process Alt and Fashanu were 1 and 1A. This would be a smart move. If they don’t make a jump for a QB, Aidan O’Connell has a season to prove himself.
- Indianapolis Colts – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama – Colts contemplated moving up, but the board fell just right. Arnold finds the ball the way dogs find the hydrant. He quickly usurped Kool-Aid McKinstry as Bama’s best CB.
- Seattle Seahawks – Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington – Geno Smith finally getting a starting QB gig is a nice story. But is he a franchise QB? Pete Carroll is out and a shift in philosophy is in. Time to get a gunslinger.
- New Orleans Saints – Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington – The Saints need a Day One starter. Three are already off the board. Two Round 1 OT caliber tackles are still on the board.
- Cincinnati Bengals – Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia – See the Chargers on roids. QB Joe Burrow already suffered one horrific knee injury as a rookie. He’s been sacked 148 times in 4 seasons. Mims lacks experience but has massive potential.
- Los Angeles Rams – Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas – Aaron Donald has retired and was last seen being fitted for a gold jacket. It’s too much to ask any rookie to fill that void but Murphy plays with Donald’s tenacity – and smarts.
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU – This is so un-Steelers like. Pitt can’t let a WR of this caliber go, especially when it’s a hugebneed. Thomas Jr. and George Pickens – terrifying tandem. Watch the Terrible Towels wave.
- Miami Dolphins – Jared Verse, DE, FSU – The Fish really need help on the DL especially after they let Christian Wilkins walk. Verse is arguably the best edge rusher who also excels in run defense.
- Philadelphia Eagles – Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa – What would an NFL Draft be without at least one Hawkeye going in the first round. The Eagles secondary couldn’t contain 10-year olds at a sugar-infused birthday party. Our favorite defensive player.
- L.A. Chargers (from Minnesota) – Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas – Seeing Keenan Allen in any jersey but a Chargers one just feels wrong. Mitchell can assuage that disappointment if he plays hard all the time. Message sent.
- Dallas Cowboys – Graham Barton, OL, Duke – The Boys need a tackle and center. Tackle is more valuable but five have gone off the board. Barton is the best center-guard. He plays like a mean interior lineman. Boys can use that.
- Green Bay Packers – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma – David Bakhtiari, once one of the best OTs in football, was released after another injury-plagued season. Guyton played HB and OT in college. Flexible. Boys could take him.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Talise Fuaga, OT, Oregon St. – When a Top 15 talent falls to you and fills a need, there’s no need to take the full 10 minutes. Unless the Broncos are looking to go QB shopping. Just a thought…
- Arizona Cardinals – Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas – Cards never did replace DeAndre Hopkins and the current wide receiver room could be a Jeopardy question. Worthy ran a 4.21. Kyler Murray – work on your deep ball.
- Buffalo Bills – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson – Issue No. 1: The Bills need a WR in the worst way, but man did the best already get gobbled up. Issue No.2: Rebuild that once-terrific defensive backfield.
- Detroit Lions – Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M – Hard to find a glaring need but the linebacking corps can use some depth. Alex Anzalone will be 30 when the season begins. He plays like a wild man, which increases injury risk.
- Baltimore Ravens – Jackson Powers-Johnson – We’re well aware that he’s listed as a center and the Ravens have a great one in Tyler Linderman. But P-J played both guard positions in college and he has that Ravens nasty DNA.
- San Francisco 49ers – Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State – Second freak alert. Is Robinson the second coming of Micah Parsons? No. But the 49ers worship rotating the front 7 on defense and Leonard Floyd will be 32 when the season starts.
- Kansas City Chiefs – Xavier Leggett, WR, South Carolina – Leggett has more in common with Deebo Samuel than both having worn the Gamecocks jersey. Like Samuel, Leggett has sneaky acceleration and thinks like a RB. Andy Reid smiles.
