There is lots of talk about Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and whether he\u2019ll be back with the team next season.\u00a0 Tannenbaum is often described as a \u201csalary cap genius\u201d in regards to his knowledge of contracts and the cap process but his drafting and talent evaluation gets criticized as causing an overall decline in the Jets roster.<\/p>\n
Tannenbaum\u2019s record doesn\u2019t really show he\u2019s earned the reputation as a great \u201ccapologist\u201d and a bad drafter.\u00a0 It was Tannenbaum who built a team that went to the AFC championship game in 2009-10 including an 11 win season during that 2010 year, with the same coach and quarterback.\u00a0 This quarterback\/coach combination has been 12-15 since the end of the 2010 season.<\/p>\n
Many of the players who led to the team\u2019s success were obtained during 2006-07 offseasons, which the Jets had 14 draft picks and traded back<\/a> in the 2007 second round acquiring RB Thomas Jones.<\/p>\n Taking a look at the Jets drafts against other teams shows that Tannenbaum has not done a bad job with the actual draft picks he\u2019s made since 2008.\u00a0 The New England Patriots had 40 picks from 2008-11 with 11 prospects working out, while the Houston Texans had 32 picks with 13 helping the team but the Jets had 19 picks with 11 contributing.<\/p>\n Now this analysis is subjective and these other teams had extra players to choose from, so the Jets may have been forced to stick with their picks more than teams with a higher number of prospects, but when Tannenbaum misses on a player, like Vladimir Ducasse, it is heightened by the Jets having so few picks.<\/p>\n The Jets were one of the most aggressive teams in the league and \u201ctrader Mike\u201d would do whatever it took over the last several years to fill holes:<\/p>\n Tannenbaum has traded up 6 times since the 2008 draft and has traded back once giving <\/a>a 4th<\/sup> (102) to the Green Bay Packers for their 4th<\/sup> (113 \u2013 DB Dwight Lowery) and 5th<\/sup> (162 \u2013 QB Erik Ainge, 2008). \u00a0So Tannenbaum chose to build the team since 2008 via free agency, veterans for draft picks and draft trade-ups for the \u201cready-made\u201d rather than developmental players.<\/p>\n Here are some contract decisions Tannenbaum made as well:<\/strong><\/p>\n Tannenbaum\u2019s team building strategy, not using the draft, along with bad contract decisions has led the Jets to deal with salary issues stifling the team\u2019s ability to make roster changes\/maneuvers.\u00a0 The fact that they were cautious during free agency in 2012 signing mostly one year deals, have not been willing to make in-season trades, sign many available free agents or make waiver claims for higher priced players to fill holes, shows the team was forced to take a different approach.<\/p>\n The Jets became very salary top heavy<\/a> with almost half their 2012 cap space tied up in the pay of 7 players without the ability to get much relief.\u00a0 They\u2019re a projected<\/a> $19 million over the 2013 cap with many current starters heading to free agency after 2012.<\/p>\n Assuming Tannenbaum had the autonomy, Woody Johnson didn\u2019t force him, to make decisions Tannenbaum is a \u201csalary cap genius\u201d alright, he\u2019s a genius at putting the team over the cap, restricting necessary moves, but his drafts were not bad compared to others in the league.<\/p>\n A true \u201ccap guru\u201d would not use this fiscally irresponsible ultra aggressive building style because he\u2019d know the end result would be a quick decline in talent with no way to improve the roster given the financial constraints.<\/p>\n So next time you hear Mike Tannenbaum is a \u201ccap guy\u201d not a \u201cdraft guy\u201d, think again, because you\u2019d wonder if any team in the league will want him to manage their salary cap after what he\u2019s done to the Jets?<\/p>\n\n
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