INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL Scouting Combine has plenty of functions, from the college players trying to impress NFL teams to agents and teams getting together to discuss free agents.
It also gives us a chance to hear from team decision makers. Both Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles are scheduled to meet with reporters Wednesday. It will be the first time we have heard from them since just after the 2017 season ended.
There are plenty of topics to hit. Here are a few we hope to get asked and answered Wednesday:
For Maccagnan
1. How will your “building through the draft” philosophy influence free-agency spending?
Maccagnan has said repeatedly through the years that he wants to build the Jets through the draft. But this year he has close to $100 million in salary-cap space to play with and a roster full of holes. Will he dive headfirst into the free-agency spending spree or be cautious?
All indications are the Jets will be aggressive suitors for Kirk Cousins when he hits free agency, so we know Maccagnan is willing to spend this year. But it will be interesting to hear him speak about balancing his long-term vision of finding players in the draft with the short-term fixes free agency provides.
2. What is your philosophy when it comes to a choosing a quarterback in free agency vs. drafting one?
So, teams can’t discuss Cousins yet. He is still under contract with the Redskins until March 14. It would be nice if we could pepper Maccagnan with questions about Cousins, but that’s not happening. The questions will have to be a little more philosophical and big picture. Maccagnan could give us something here to read between the lines.
3. Do you need to pay closer attention to character?
The Jets have had three players arrested in the last three months. Robby Anderson, Dylan Donahue and Rashard Robinson have all gotten into various degrees of trouble with the law recently. It is a troubling trend, and Maccagnan brought all of the players to the Jets. Is it time to put more of an emphasis on character? All of the players had red flags in their past that Maccagnan either ignored or thought they were past.
For Bowles
1. Why make a change at offensive coordinator?
The last time we saw Bowles, he was singing the praises of John Morton. A few weeks later, Morton was fired and replaced by quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates. Bowles is unlikely to shed much light on his decision, but it has to be asked.
2. Do you want players like Anderson and Donahue on your team?
Anderson has been arrested twice within the last year. Donahue was arrested Monday morning for allegedly driving the wrong way into the Lincoln Tunnel while intoxicated, causing an accident. Bowles put a major emphasis on culture last year. Are these the types of players he wants as part of that culture?
3. What changes do you need to make in your fourth year as head coach?
Bowles is entering his fourth year as the Jets head coach. He is no longer new at this. He has won just 10 games combined in the past two seasons. That should have sparked some serious self-examining after the season. What did he come up with? Will he be more involved with the offense with Bates as the offensive coordinator?