COVID CITY, USA – Helloooooooo May! Go home April, you’re drunk. The Giants and Jets earned high marks for their draft picks. Here I am, ready to tell you which team is in further along in their seemingly endless rebuilds. Are the Giants or Jets in Better Position? Let’s break it down, position by position.
QB
Sam Darnold has been up and down in his two years in the league, with last season’s mono effectively ending the J-E-T-S season. Daniel Jones had an impressive rookie campaign, in spite of a leaky offensive line and a patchwork receiving corps, but the turnovers were a problem.
Advantage: Jets. It will be interesting to see how their careers play out, but Darnold has a year and a leg up on Jones in the right now. Either one could end up being the better guy over time.
RB
Le’veon Bell looked like a shell of his former self last year.
Saquon Barkley is one of the best in the league, and the Giants want to pound the ball and have improved the offensive line. Dion Lewis gives them the depth edge on paper as well.
Advantage: Giants. Le’veon should get his share of touches, with the Jets lacking proven receiving threats. But Saquon should have a big year.
WR
The Jets took a flyer on Breshad Perriman, who finished strong for the Bucs last year in a fill in role. Jamison Crowder is reliable. They scooped up Denzel Mims in the second round and are looking for him to be a deep threat right away.
The Giants have a decent, but unspectacular group with Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate, and Darius Slayton.
Advantage: Giants. The Jets have an interesting group, but Mims is unproven and Perriman is a bit of a wildcard. You know what you have with the Giants, and Slayton has some upside.
TE
Ryan Griffin and Chris Herndon are not Pro Bowl threats.
Evan Engram is an excellent receiver when he’s on the field and Kayden Smith showed promise last year.
Advantage: Giants. The Giants also have Levine Toilolo as a blocker and seemingly have 43 TEs on the roster.
O-Line
The Jets brought in three veterans and drafted the massive Mekhi Becton.
The Giants took tackles with their first two picks, but didn’t really address the center position unless the fifth round Oregon guard Shane Lemieux can make the switch.
Advantage: Jets. At least in the short term, though the Giants might be building something great if Matt Peart develops. But for now, the disappointing Nate Solder is still projected to start. Becton is no sure thing, but his ceiling is high.
Defense
The Jets had a decent defense last season and they’ll be getting CJ Mosley back. They also drafted a few guys who should be able to help right away. Jamal Adams’ is on an exponential rise to stardom, and there ain’t no flattening that curve.
The Giants filled some holes in free agency and got a possible steal at safety in Xavier McKinney. But several of Gettleman’s young fruits need to ripen or the Giants in order for the Giants to move up to “not too bad.”
Advantage: Jets. The Jets have a much more developed group, with the potential to be a top ten unit. The Giants D is still very much a work in progress.
Head Coach
Adam Gase has shown occasional signs of being a functional NFL head coach, but I expect it to end badly for him.
Joe Judge has been impressive and looked the part, but he’s a gigantic unknown. One thing we know for sure, he’s not Pat Shurmur.
Advantage: Draw. Gase has not been impressive but neither have Bellichick Belichick disciples outside of New England. Is doesn’t feel right to give the advantage to either team here.
Summary
The Jets are in a better position to win now. They have a QB with a little more experience, a solid offensive line, and a much better defense.
The Giants have their QB in place, a solid group of skill players, and the O-line rebuild is coming along. The defense is young and they have nary a pass rusher in sight. They’re playing the long game and stockpiling young talent.
Advantage: Jets (for 2020)
With the Patriots juggernaut finally reeling, the Jets could threaten for a playoff spot. The Giants need a step forward from Danny Dimes and a big improvement on D to push for .500. Next year they could be contenders if things fall right.
Whitney out. Come back tomorrow for Angry Ward via Zoom. Follow us on Twitter at @BenWhit8, @MeetTheMatts, @Matt_McCarthy00, Instagram @MeetTheMatts and like our Facebook page, Meet The Matts.
