Gang Green Nation
Running an NFL team is really no different at its core than any other business at its core. Just like any business, teams invest resources and hope to yield strong returns on their investments. For an NFL team, perhaps their highest resources that can be allocated are draft picks, given that the players are cost-controlled and allow the team their highest possibility of yielding a great player. Among those picks, a first-round selection is by far the most valuable.
Based on that, the New York Jets were really being built for the defense to run through its edge rushers, a position where they invested two first round picks over the last four years. What have they have gotten for those investments? Well, I think it’s fair to say that their return on investment hasn’t lived up to the hope.
While 2022 first round draft pick Jermaine Johnson has been a starting caliber player, 2023 first round pick Will McDonald has yet to find that same success. And the rest of the edge rusher room? Not any better.
Overall, the Jets defense has yet to be what many had hoped for this season. The play of the edge rushers likely has played a significant role in that and it will need to improve if the Jets are to save their season over the coming weeks.
