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The New York Jets had probably the biggest offseason of any team, shoring up needs all over the field with big spending and key trades. Everyone agrees that the team has major holes at quarterback and outside linebacker, and most would say they could use depth at inside linebacker and on the offensive line. However, with a week left before the 2015 NFL Draft, many observers are identifying running back as a key need for the Jets.
This is a movement that has been building steadily since the crazy part of free agency ended and the Jets re-signed Bilal Powell and added Stevan Ridley to back up Chris Ivory. The Jets have been linked to several speed backs in both free agency in the draft, but the running back to the Jets momentum hit a fever pitch this week with Todd McShay’s ludicrous suggestion in his latest mock draft that the Jets should use the No. 6 overall pick on Georgia running back Todd Gurley.
Now, Gurley is a fantastic player to be sure, injury notwithstanding. However, the Jets have much more important needs to address with that pick, and there are going to be plenty of backs available later in the draft. Additionally, in this day age a running back pretty much needs to be the second coming of Barry Sanders to be worth a top-10 pick.
Still, McShay and others raise an interesting question – how big a need is running back for the Jets?
The Jets finished 3rd in the NFL in rushing last season behind a tandem of Ivory and the now released Chris Johnson. Once again the Jets were unwilling to hand a workhorse role to Ivory despite him clearly outplaying his backup, and it seems they won’t do it again this year. There is a legitimate argument to turn the backfield over to Ivory, so we’ll start our breakdown there.
If you take Ivory’s numbers from this season and extrapolate them to a workhorse season of 250 carries, he would have ended up with 1,025 yards and 8 touchdowns. Those numbers may not be dazzling, but they would rank 14th and 8th, respectively, in the NFL last season. It also must be considered that Ivory is an exceptionally physical runner who wears defenses down, and it’s not a stretch to imagine his numbers going up if he consistently got the opportunity to grind out a full game.
At the very least, it’s clear that Ivory doesn’t deserve to be replaced in the way that drafting Gurley in the first round or any of several backs in the second round would do. Ivory is 27 years old but has less than 700 NFL touches on his legs, so he has plenty left in the tank.
The main arguments for the Jets investing a high pick in a running back go like this: the team needs a speed back with receiving skills to add a big play threat, Ivory is good but not great, and all four of their current running backs are free agents after this season. It’s obviously impossible to refute any of that, but does it really make investing the No. 6 overall pick in the position worthwhile?
For me, the answer is a clear no. Ivory can certainly be a feature back in a successful offense, and it’s hard to imagine the Jets having much difficulty re-signing him given today’s running back market. Even if Gurley would be a great long term option, it’s impossible to justify taking him over Marcus Mariota, Dante Fowler, Amari Cooper, Kevin White, Vic Beasley, Randy Gregory, and others.
Personally, I think investing a third or fourth round draft pick in a running back is worthwhile, a scenario I described in my latest mock draft. That would allow the Jets to find some young talent, preferably with speed and receiving skills, without making a heavy investment in a position that isn’t their biggest need or the most valued.
I don’t doubt that the Jets will have a conversation about Gurley if Mariota and Fowler are off the board, but making such a significant investment in a running back would be a huge mistake. The Jets have much more pressing needs, and although they could use a playmaking running back, they have to keep their focus on their real weaknesses.
Greg Sulik is a New York Jets writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @GregSulik or add him to your network on Google
