Who Should New York #Jets SIGN In Free Agency? (BADLANDS) #NFL

What’s up, War Room? Welcome back. Joe and Connor fresh off recording a nice crisp 30 minute podcast. Gonna answer as many of your December war room questions as we can. Any ones we don’t hit, I’ll stuff into an insomnia Discord mailbag at some point. We’ll get to them all. CR, how we feeling? Feeling good. I like when we go through this because I it allows me to catch up on the chaos of the Discord. I also was randomly, as you saw me looking down to start, I went down. I do this with my teams every once in a while, especially when we release like a product that reminds me of something. I was looking at the his uniform history of the Jets. grid iron-uniforms.com literally has every year going back to when they were the Titans because I always, not always forget, but when we released the beanies that look really cool. I like the black in them and everything that the ‘9s Jets, a lot of them had black trim. Yes. in the uniform and I really like those uniforms. But the problem is whenever I say that the olderish, not old but olderish Jet fans are like, “God, that era was terrible. I hate that.” And and I kind of started to understand that take because now when I look back at the I call them the gase uniforms. Oh god. Gotham Green. There will be I feel like there’ll be a time in my life and we’re far from it, Joe, but like 15 years from now where kids will be like kids like will find those cool and we’d have the reaction of I hate those uniforms because it was the worst era of Jets football of my life. My two sons have and I didn’t buy it for them. My two sons have Aaron Rogers Gotham Green jerseys which have been given away. Uh now they have Garrett Wilson new jerseys which are nice and fresh. They got some t-shirts. I got some Badlands gear, but we got those uh Rogers Gotham green jerseys the hell up out of this house as fast as possible. I haven’t asked you. This is a good time. I didn’t even do this on purpose. What do you think of the rivalry logo and uniform? Uh I don’t love it. It’s not uh it’s not the most inspiring thing to me. I I don’t know. I just feel like they always kind of miss the mark with these things. And it’s probably a function of age and maybe they’re trying to do something that’s like a little more like I don’t know like modern or soccer inspired. I don’t know what they’re really going for with it. But I we were kind of like we were batting this around in the chat today and we’re like eh like not really. I like the current jerseys. I like some of the changes that they’ve made. Jets have nice uniforms. But yeah, this I was like I’m not going to be in a rush to buy this. I do have when they wore the Titans jerseys in 2009. I have that Revas jersey. is one of my favorite jerseys. Not that I wear it that often anymore, but it’s a nice jersey. This one I’m like, I don’t know, man. What What did you think? I So, I’m always careful with uniforms now until I see them on the field. Yeah. Like, there’s a world where I think this uniform might look okay on the field, but when they first showed the pics of it months ago, I I didn’t like it. Now, what I I saw the Jets actually tweet out tonight the end zones are pretty cool. Like the skyline with the big Jets logo. One thing that just because this is front and center of it. I hate the alt logo for the Jets. Like the it’s a plane but yeah, it’s kind of a plane but like is it a plane or it it’s supposed to be a plane but it it almost looks like a fishing lure or something to me. you. It’s not distinct enough of as a plane. It’s a ter I hate that alt logo. I I’m sure there’s people that like it and rep it and it’s I It’s all, you know, subjective, but I don’t like that logo. The logo that’s the Jets profile picture on Twitter right now, the NY with that plane over it, it looks bootleg to me. Like it looks like something you’d see on the corner in New York City of a like a notlicicensed merchandise hat. So, the color once again, it might look cool on the field, especially in the winter in like a rainy game. It really might. Yeah. But, um, you know, Nike right now, they’re doing this with every sport, it seems like, cuz baseball has the City Connects. That’s the baseball version of the And some City like when the Red Sox wear those yellow jerseys for the marathon. Yeah. Some of the City Connects really hit. A lot of them don’t. I hate the Mets grays. I It’s horrendous. Uh, they look like the Rockies. like a weird version of the Rockies. It feels like the rivalry NFL uniforms have totally missed the mark. I didn’t like New England’s. No, neither did I. When they I I didn’t like Miami’s. Um I think the problem is too when you do it with teams that just naturally already have good uniforms. The Jets finally landed on a good uniform. This era of the Jets uniform is is it looks good. The Patriots, say what you want about them, the Patriots have a good-look uniform. Like Miami, Miami going back to their throwback more look. It’s a good-look uniform. So, that’s what kind of makes this whole rivalry release just like I don’t really need this for any reason right now. Color Rush was better. Yeah, I agree. We We’re very blessed, speaking of logos, that we kind of nailed the Badlands logo and we do have it trademarked. It was like I It was just like first shot it kind of came out great. We’re like, “Wow, this actually my buddy Pete, it’s awesome.” It’s ironically a Patriots fan, but he’s the man and was just a great friend and was like, “Ah, I want to do this.” And and this has been years now we’ve had this logo and we’ve had no reason to rebrand because it’s such a perfect logo. The nice thing about it is like you could even like not be fully a Jets fan or and just be from Jersey and be like, “Oh, like Badlands.” Yes. Like the logo. Got a particularly when we were overseas, we got a lot of compliments. I love the name. I love the logo. I was like, “All right, we we got we got the style down there at least.” Again, badlandsj.com for that that beanie. All right. First one from Mr. Rosen. If Dante Moore enters this draft, is he the one you trade up for? Also thinking of free agency, Isaiah Likely could be available. He’d be a great speed compliment to Mason Taylor. I don’t disagree. I don’t know if the Ravens would let him walk. I like Isaiah Likely’s game a lot. And I wouldn’t mind if the Jets had another passcatching tight end to compliment Rucker’s blocking, which he’s really thrived at. And Mason Taylor’s all-around game was Dante Moore. I’m actually fascinated to hear your response in this. Is he the guy? Okay, he changed his mind. He comes out. Is he the guy that you trade multiple ones and jump from eight to one to go get or eight to two to go get? He’s got the tool set that I’d think about it. You obviously have to go through the full process. I always now have the cowardly like kind of, you know, wet feet when I get asked these kinds of things in December and it’s December 2nd because, you know, my process has gotten so much deeper over the years at quarterback specifically cuz like you just go back to something as simple as Zack Wilson. You watch the tape, all the talent in the world. Yeah, the schedule was soft. And Dante Moore is a one-year starter, so that’s your number one concern, but at least he plays tougher opponents than Zach did. But, you know, I you want to learn about the person and the leadership and where they’re at. And he’s a young guy that’s got to fill out and you’d have to have a real plan for him to sit in my opinion for almost a year. Um, but the raw ability, I think it’s real. Like I’m very excited about the idea of what Dante Moore can become and I I think he’s more talented than Mendoza. I think Mendoza today is the more pro ready quarterback with the higher floor. But you know I I have thought a little bit like if Moore comes out in this class, there is a really good chance he’s my number one quarterback and and then we’d start to have that combo if he’s the guy you move all all the not all the assets but some assets for. Um, so yeah, it’s I would say he’s the one that’s most likely to be in that combo if he declared. I am really excited for Mendoza against Ohio State this weekend. Uh, it’s just, you know, as a Jet fan, it’s going to be a fascinating game to watch. I hope he plays great. Like, I do. Yeah. I I don’t I’m not one of those people that’s like, I just want to be right about everything I said months ago. That’s not how this goes at all. It’s It’s more of a like keep getting better, man. like co what you think about a college player before a new season like you want them to get better. You’re not trying to be right about your previous scouting. If you’re if you’re a Jet fan, you want him to play great. You want Simpson to finish the year great and get into the draft. You want more to declare. You want all that kind of chaos at the top. It’s going to open up the optionality for you. You want multiple options you feel good about. And it’s an important homework assignment for Jet fans Saturday, too, because as you said on the Sunday pod, there’s like seven people on Ohio State’s defense or team overall that the Jets can end up drafting. I think one will be a Jet. It’s my take right now. So, it’s like you got to watch that game. It’s almost as important as watching Sunday’s game. And I’ve also been tight to Ohio State all year because of the Downs podcast. So, it’s been fun to kind of like have a college football team, which of course are the best team. So, it’s it’s good to root for a winner every week. Uh but it’s going to be a very interesting weekend. Um, next one here, also draft ccentric, um, from Murb96. With the uptick in 1213 personnel usage and the need for the team to add a pass catcher, why are Kenyan Sadi in round one or Max Clay in round two not being talked about more? I’m no film expert, but they both seem to be pluses in both the run game and the pass game, especially with Sadique because he could be moved around the form formation, whether it’s in line or in the slot. What do you think about these two? Well, I think the the simple answer to that question is, and it’s not that they shouldn’t be talked about, Sadique is going to go in round one. Uh Claire’s a good player that I don’t think he’s had the year at Ohio State people were hoping for. I watched the summer tape and like this guy could be a top 20 pick and I think he’s going to be more of a day two guy now. But I think that’s the reasoning is look at the top tight ends in the like tight end you can find especially since you already have Mason Taylor here. You can find that guy on day two. I mean just look at George KD, Trey McBride, Sam Leaporta, Tucker Craft, on and on it goes. Yep. It’s you try to play the numbers and the numbers will tell you you have just as good of a chance of finding a high-end tight end outside of round one that you do, you know, within. So, I think that the Jets would rather use that premium first round capital. We’ve already seen it. Like we don’t have a lot to go off of with this regime, but to their credit, they used a top 10 pick on a tackle and it looks genius right now. Absolutely genius where they’ll probably use their first round picks until they’re in a really positive place at wide receiver, pass rusher. Yep. And like Arll Reese is, yes, he’s an offball linebacker, but he’s a pass rusher, too. So, he falls into that bucket. Um I this kind of has me going down a rabbit hole right now. Now, I just want to look at uh tight ends taken in recent years. It just feels like the first round tight end, you know, things can always change. Like Tyler Warren was taken in the first round this year. He’s great, right? So, that’s that’s an easy one where you go right there. And Brock Bowers was in the first round and he’s great, but you know, like Concade’s been disappointing in my opinion for a first round tight end. And then you just once again, you just look at all these guys. Kyle Pittz, top five pick, disappointment. Unless he’s playing the Jets, he’s a disappointment. Yeah, then he has his best games ever. So, I think to really answer the question, I like Sadique. I like Claire, but I believe in this regime finding that tight end two in this offense outside of round one. All right, let’s keep talking tight ends. From Jet fan smack, what is the consensus on Mason Taylor right now? Pros, 21-year-old rookie playing a ton of reps at a hard position to learn, catching the ball when it’s thrown to him, showing good hands, pretty average blocker. Cons, never really draws targets, less productive than many other tight ends, including a few rookies. Uh, very little yak, pretty awful blocking metrics, though that’s less important than his run blocking metrics. Um, do we think he’s a guy that can we could count on to be TE1 next season, or do we try to take another step forward at the position? Um, so sort of a step back on Mason Taylor. I don’t know if I’ve seen, and maybe I’m missing some of it in the film or the metrics where he’s been like a massive liability in pass pro. But I also feel like he’s very commonly like out running routes like he’s not doing a ton of pass pro. I I think he’s been pretty good. I think it’s really hard to play tight end at being his age. Now I get guys with seeing like I don’t know Fannon on the Browns making a few more plays and being like, well, why can’t Mason Taylor do more? Yeah, but Fannon can’t play on the line of scrimmage. So it’s a different talking about a big wide receiver and a tight end. They’re not the same position, everyone. They’re not. And I’d also say, and I know the Browns have their quarterback issues as well. The Jets have not done a They’ve actually schemed Taylor open a few times and the quarterbacks have missed it, like he should had a walk-in touchdown last week where, you know, he should add, you add one catch, 17 yards, and a touchdown to his stats last week. You feel better about it and he should have had it. I’d like to see them throw to him down the seam a little more. I’d like to see them get some screens going to him. He’s so he’s not a complete player yet, but I see no reason to think he won’t be their starting every down tight end next year. I think he’s so young and it’s not easy to I think he’s going to catch like 50 plus balls this year. That’s not easy to do as a rookie without and he’s not a liability as a blocker consistently. So, I’m I’m happy with that pick. I think we’ve gotten maybe slightly more than we expected or around what we expected. I would have like I want to see how he finishes out. Does he have three more touchdowns the rest of the season? Does he have a game where he has six catches for 85 yards instead of, you know, the three for 30 he’s getting every week? Overall, I’m pretty happy with it. I would say Meu has been like an A+ and Taylor’s been like a B or a B+. Yeah, I would I would agree. It’s one of those things where Membu like Sauce’s rookie year is playing so far outside the realistic scope of a of a rookie that you look at Mason Taylor and you might feel underwhelmed and then you kind of take a step back and realize for a second round rookie that you know tight end man like as a rookie at you you usually see guys with more defined roles but Mason Taylor is asked to play on the line of scrimmage. He’s asked to play off the line of scrimmage. He’s asked to pass block. He’s asked to run block. He’s asked to catch the ball. So, I think with everything that’s been on been put on his plate, he’s been pretty good. I I want I figured the metrics the person was alluding to was his PFF pass blocking grade. That’s a 33.5. But what you have to realize with that one, he’s actually two of the last three weeks he’s had a 74 and a 77.2, too, which is very high because you only have so many opportunities to improve off the baseline grade, which is like a 67 or something like that. So that means he’s doing above a significantly above average. But the lows come from, you know, those lows that were in the beginning of the year can come from like Justin Fields holding the ball for six seconds and you give up a pressure. And I’m not making excuses for Mason Taylor. He has not been perfect as a pass blocker, but I don’t really think pass blocking grade on PFF for tight end is something to live and die by. I think the eye test he’s been he’s been pretty solid and yeah, he’s you just feel good about where he’s at right now is trajectory. And that’s what you have to remember when you draft younger players that you know there’s a difference of looking a like a guy looking lost like that just shouldn’t be out there and a guy that’s kind of chugging along steady. It feels like Mason Taylor’s been chugging along steady which is a good baseline for him to build off of next year compared to like we’ve seen guys in the past where you you kind of get this like chilly feeling when they’re out there. You’re like I don’t I don’t know. I mean, we’ve seen it this year. Expectations are different because they were day three picks, but like Aaron Smith and Tyler Baron looked like they had no business being out there. Kiko has had some moments where you’re like, man, he he’s he’s swimming in it, his head spinning. So, you you could tell the difference right away. And I’ve never felt that way about Mason Taylor this year. He feels smooth. Like he looks comfortable catching the football. Like he’s never like double catching it. He’s a he’s a key guy to watch these remaining five, six games. Can Yeah, he’s tough. He’s made through some injuries. Yeah, it’s uh it’s important for him to finish the season strong and I don’t know if we’ll see it or not, but to see him, Garrett, Mitchell, Metchi out there together for Tyrod would certainly be interesting. All right.

Joe and Connor answer all of your Discord questions on Dante Moore, Mason Taylor’s rookie season, surprise free agency targets, double dipping at wide receiver in the NFL Draft and riff a bit on jerseys and some nostalgic Jets vs Dolphins memories…

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36 comments

  2. Mason Taylor is 100% an NFL TE 1!!
    On pace right now for 5 to 600 yds… Not sure if y'all know this but that's way above average for rookie TEs. The only thing holding him back is a better QB !!
    And taking Sadiq is a home run pick! It's not about taking a TE it's about another offensive weapon !!

  4. I really wanna know what is going to happen to Breece Hall this offseason. We drafted Braleon Allen and have him under a cheap contract, we can’t go another season letting these guys split reps. Braelon needs the reps to continue to grow, but breece is a legitament star on this team. One of these guys have to go

  7. I have to see these jerseys in motion. I've liked most of the other ones I've seen so far. But just from the promotional material Im really hesitant about ours

  11. I like the new logo just because it has a jet in it and it’s not just the word “jets” in a football. Feels more fitting to have what the team is in the logo. If that makes sense.

  12. Hi, my name is Alisson, a new Jets fan!!! I live in Brazil and started following the Jets around 2006. I didn't follow the team in past decades, but I've become very attached to a team that every Sunday either steals my peace or makes me very happy, like this past Sunday!!!

    I really like your content, I follow both of you on Twitter and I know you didn't like the new version of our team's jerseys, but I think you're a little short on vision, lol. Sorry for the language.

    But the jersey for the public outside the USA was phenomenal!! Especially for me!! I loved the colors and the new symbol!!

    Again, without wanting to offend you, but I would like you to broaden your horizons a little, lol.

    Great work to you guys, thank you for always talking about our JETS!!

    A hug from a Brazilian who loves jet skis!!!

  19. Normally I enjoy listening to you guys, but today, I almost threw my phone threw the wall TE is easy cut your route off or take it up the seam. Taylor is very disappointing for such a high draft pick he can't block, he only has a decent amount of catches because we only had one WR . 2yrs in a row we passed on TE's that will and should win offensive rookie of the year in Bowers and Warren, it is such the jet thing to do. I don't trust the GM. We have to take a QB every until we find our guy this draft is very deep at WR , so with the early picks left get DE , OLB that can rush the passer. Maybe a MLB over 6 feet and 200 pounds. Then a top CB maybe the kid from Indiana. Then get WR in later rounds this year get one that can catch unlike A. Smith. Who ever we take at QB we need to get him coaching help a lot. Then do it all over again the next year.

  22. That’s why you don’t need to spend a premium pick on WR yet. Get the QB, he’s got plenty around him as is to show if he’s good or not. Let him show he can handle NY and win over the locker room before buying him another lambo (premium pick on WR). If he’s good, there’s enough in place. If he stinks, 5 all pro WR’s won’t make a difference

  26. 7:10 Would the Jets be better off choosing the quarterback with the pro-readiness/higher floor skillset as opposed to the uber-talented player who needs more coaching/seasoning? Does the team have the infrastructure in place to develop a project-type QB?

  32. Only reason to change bridge QBs off of Tyrod is to get someone younger who could hang a few years if needed. I don't see Tyrod having more than one more year in him … he was looking beat up in the Falcons game after two starts. I would live to see what Sam Howell could do with another shot.

  35. Why should the Jet go with a QB in the first round? What about rounds 2 and 3?
    The Jets should be drafting for quality best player available rather than solely on need (It is a draft and rebuilding strategy that works in today's NFL). I much rather drafting the best wide receiver or cornerback in the draft at 7 than to draft Ty Simpson (who I don't believe is worthy of that pick).
    Rebuilding does not mean you are forced to draft a first round QB in year one of rebuild.

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