The New York Jets hired Mike Maccagnan as their GM back in 2015, they made a statement that they were turning the page on the failed Rex Ryan/John Idzik era. The latest move, a trade of 2014 first round pick Calvin Pryor, is further evidence the franchise knew it was headed in the wrong direction.
Pryor, a safety out of Louisville selected 18th overall by Idzik in 2014, was traded to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday for another former Jet, LB Demario Davis. Pryor had fallen out of favor with Jets’ head coach Todd Bowles to the point where the club was preparing to release him outright. Maccagnan expedited Pryor’s departure by using his top two draft picks this season on safeties – LSU’s Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye of Florida.
We’ve acquired DB Calvin Pryor from the Jets in exchange for LB Demario Davis.
Details » https://t.co/pD0gSjNE5e pic.twitter.com/ve3p5cLWOd
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 1, 2017
At OTAs on Tuesday, Pryor was practicing on the far field and it was clear he was in the doghouse after missing the team’s first OTA session last week. Bowles wrote it off as business as usual saying “we move guys around all the time”.
Well, they moved Pryor 660 miles west this time. all the way to Cleveland. From Josh Apler of Pro Football Talk:
“Rex Ryan talked him up as a playmaker who would stand out in the team’s defense. Pryor started 38 games for the team over his first three seasons, but otherwise fared as well as many of Ryan’s other predictions over the years. He didn’t make enough plays as a run supporter to overcome difficulties in pass coverage and, as mentioned, the Jets didn’t hide that they were moving in other directions.”
Another sign of how far off the trail the Jets got back in 2013-14 with Idzik as their general manager and Ryan running unchecked at head coach. The trade of of Pryor mean there is little left from Idzik’s two drafts at the helm. 2013 first rounder CB Dee Milliner was a complete washout and DT Sheldon Richardson, another first round pick, has been a problem employee although he has been named to the Pro Bowl. Maccagnan has been trying to trade him to no avail.
The team’s second round pick that season was QB Geno Smith, who is now with the Giants as a backup. Idzik took TE Jace Amaro in Round Two of the 2014 NFL Draft, which was considered a reach at the time and is now just considered a bust.
Davis was the Jets’ third round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Arkansas State and started for them from 2013-15 before being replaced by Erin Henderson, who is also no longer with the team.
The Jets appear to be fine with purging their roster of all mistakes made by past administrations. If you’re going to start fresh, then you may as well go all the way. Pryor will likely not be the last to go in Maccagnan’s plan. With the Jets not scheduled to compete this season, all positions and statuses are up for grabs.