http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/50360/increased-role-for-jeremy-kerley-could-impact-draft-decision
Rich Cimini, ESPN New York Jets reporter
Let's file this under, "Reading between the lines in an attempt to uncover a draft nugget."
On Thursday, general manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles conducted a conference call with New York Jets' season-ticket holders, answering their questions for about 20 minutes. One of the callers asked Maccagnan to give his impressions of the young wide receivers, presumably Shaq Evans, Quincy Enunwa & Co. Maccagnan responded by mentioning one of his older vets, Jeremy Kerley.
"In particular, I do like Kerley a little bit," he said. "I've kind of scouted him coming out of college a while ago. I'm kind of excited to see him get a few more reps than he got last year in terms of his playing time."
Maccagnan must envision a significant role for Kerley, because he played in 67 percent of the offensive snaps last season, second among receivers on the team to Eric Decker's 75 percent. So now you're wondering, what does this have to do with the draft?
Picking sixth, the Jets could have their choice of Amari Cooper and/or Kevin White, the top wideouts in another deep receiver draft. They appear set at receiver with Decker, Kerley and Brandon Marshall, but a couple of mock drafts have popped up recently with the Jets taking Cooper at six.
So we ask, could they add another top receiver? The Jets are paying $14.7 million this season for Decker, Marshall and Kerley (all of it fully guaranteed), so adding another big salary wouldn't be the best allocation of resources. On the other hand, Maccagnan preaches best player available, and Cooper and White are widely regarded as top-six prospects.
Tough call, right? Well, maybe not. If Maccagnan is planning to increase Kerley's playing time, he'd basically have three starting-type receivers. So, reading the between the lines (as we promised), it doesn't appear that Maccagnan is thinking receiver at six.
Unless, of course, it's all a smokescreen.
Rich Cimini, ESPN New York Jets reporter
Let's file this under, "Reading between the lines in an attempt to uncover a draft nugget."
On Thursday, general manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles conducted a conference call with New York Jets' season-ticket holders, answering their questions for about 20 minutes. One of the callers asked Maccagnan to give his impressions of the young wide receivers, presumably Shaq Evans, Quincy Enunwa & Co. Maccagnan responded by mentioning one of his older vets, Jeremy Kerley.
"In particular, I do like Kerley a little bit," he said. "I've kind of scouted him coming out of college a while ago. I'm kind of excited to see him get a few more reps than he got last year in terms of his playing time."
Maccagnan must envision a significant role for Kerley, because he played in 67 percent of the offensive snaps last season, second among receivers on the team to Eric Decker's 75 percent. So now you're wondering, what does this have to do with the draft?
Picking sixth, the Jets could have their choice of Amari Cooper and/or Kevin White, the top wideouts in another deep receiver draft. They appear set at receiver with Decker, Kerley and Brandon Marshall, but a couple of mock drafts have popped up recently with the Jets taking Cooper at six.
So we ask, could they add another top receiver? The Jets are paying $14.7 million this season for Decker, Marshall and Kerley (all of it fully guaranteed), so adding another big salary wouldn't be the best allocation of resources. On the other hand, Maccagnan preaches best player available, and Cooper and White are widely regarded as top-six prospects.
Tough call, right? Well, maybe not. If Maccagnan is planning to increase Kerley's playing time, he'd basically have three starting-type receivers. So, reading the between the lines (as we promised), it doesn't appear that Maccagnan is thinking receiver at six.
Unless, of course, it's all a smokescreen.
