Patrik: If Mafah didn’t score his first NFL touchdown, would this be a question? That is to say that while I am supremely proud of the rookie for scoring his first in his NFL debut, and given he wasn’t cleared to play in the previous 16 games, I am also wildly disappointed the coaching staff opted to give him all of five carries 55 offensive snaps. So, no, he didn’t show me enough, but it’s not his fault — that’s on Brian Schottenheimer for opting to not split the carries in a way that would’ve truly permitted an evaluation of Mafah. Now, as for Blue, indeed he did show me plenty on that field at MetLife Stadium, and afterwards when he owned up to his practice habits having been the reason he didn’t see the field more often as a rookie.
I believe both Mafah and Blue have bright futures ahead of them, one as a downhill bruiser and the other as a home-run hitter, but only the latter was allowed to showcase it, and the former will have to hope for better luck in Year 2. All of this is to say, re-sign Javonte Williams and don’t dare fall into that trap of “oh we can get by on potential and a committee approach”, because how’d that work out for you in 2024? Oh, and Williams isn’t going to break the bank, so “investing big” is a misnomer here.