New York Jets: Three mid-level players acquired by Mike Maccagnan who paid off in week one

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 31: New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

Here are three mid-level moves by Mike Maccagnan that worked out for the New York Jets in week one.

It is not easy being the general manager of the New York Jets. If you don’t believe me, ask everyone’s favorite executive John Idzik. It didn’t take long before he made the transformation from being known as a ninja to a guy who had his name and “fire” flown on planes and hung on billboards. Not only in the job in the biggest market in the world, it is for a team that hasn’t won a title in over 40 years. There is a lot of pressure.

Mike Maccagnan has entered his third season in the job. He was named “Executive of the Year” in 2015 which has given him a lot of leeway in this town. However, that is starting to change if you listen to the fans. The hire was a move that was lauded because of his history as a scout. He wasn’t a numbers guy like Idzik; he could find players. However, after 2016 people wondered if he was the guy to get the job done.

The selection of Christian Hackenberg is the one that is really started to turn the tide. Drafting him in the second round is quickly turning into a vast overreach. He was a player graded by most as being a third day selection if at all. There are expectations on the young quarterback that he is seemingly not capable of fulfilling. Part of that is on Hackenberg but part of it is on Maccagnan for evaluating him incorrectly. Put him with his first quarterback, Bryce Petty, who many think will be a career backup, and the resume takes a turn for the worst.

Is this the guy that can find the franchise quarterback?

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People sometimes forget that it is not just about the flashy moves. It’s also about the mid-level moves where the names aren’t flashy but the players get the job done.

In 2017, flashy was clearly off the table as the Jets jumped into a complete rebuild. Many were upset that the team saved all of this money and did nothing with it, but that really isn’t the case. Maccagnan has been making the mid-level, working man’s moves that don’t light the news up but bring in talent.

The Jets were very active over the Labor Day weekend, and a move off of this list came from that time. The other two were from different points in the offseason. But here are three moves that Mike Maccagnan made that paid off in week one.

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