So what kind of job is Mike Maccagnan walking into?
A tough one, according to ESPN scouting expert Matt Williamson, who ranks the 32 teams based on their 25-and-under talent Insider.
The New York Jets are ranked 28th. Obviously, this is highly subjective, and I'm not sure how you can differentiate between the 28th-ranked team and, say, the 20th. But I think it's fair to state the Jets don't have an abundance of young, ascending talent. As the new general manager, Maccagnan's job is to replenish the talent base, which is suffering from rot.
Why? That's obvious: Poor drafting.
The Jets have no one left from the 2008, 2009 and 2010 drafts, assuming Kyle Wilson and John Conner (both drafted in 2010) move on as free agents. From 2011 to 2014, the only impact players are Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson. Quinton Coples is a cut below that level, and players such as Calvin Pryor, Jace Amaro, and Dee Milliner still could rise to the impact category.
I think it's important to note that Maccagnan's previous team, the Houston Texans, is ranked fifth. Obviously, they scored big with a once-in-a-generation player in J.J. Watt, the best defender in the NFL. The ranking also is based on the assumption that Jadeveon Clowney will recover from his serious knee injury and reach his potential. The Texans have an excellent track record with their first-round picks, but as I've
