These are the players I'm hoping the Jets target in April. I built these rankings off of who I think will be available, so that's why big names like Marcel Dareus, Patrick Peterson, and Robert Quinn won't be listed. 3-4 DEFENSIVE END: It should be obvious that we need to get younger at defensive end. 1. Nick Fairley (Auburn Tigers) 2. J.J. Watt (Wisconsin Badgers) 3. Larry Guy (Arizona State Sun Devils) 4. Cameron Jordan (California Golden Bears) 5. Marvin Austin (North Carolina Tar Heels) 3-4 NOSE TACKLE: Ryan's scheme doesn't necessarily need an incredibly heavy nose to be effective. We were lucky to have a freakishly big nose for a few seasons, but Pouha proves my point that we don't need a 350 plus NT. There's some big dudes that will be available though. 1. Jerrell Powe (Ole Miss Runnin' Rebels) 2. Ian Williams (Notre Dame Fighting Irish) 3. Sione Fua (Stanford Cardinal) 4. Phil Taylor (Baylor Bears) 5. Ladi Ajiboye (South Carolina Gamecocks) 3-4 OUTSIDE BACKER: Over the past few off-seasons, I've looked over Rex Ryan's former personnel in Baltimore...from everything I've seen, Ryan likes heavier outside linebackers. 1. Akeem Ayers (UCLA Bruins) 2. Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma Sooners) 3. Jabaal Sheard (Pittsburgh Panthers) 4. Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue Boilermakers) 5. Justin Huston (Georgia Bulldogs) 3-4 INSIDE BACKER: The Jets have an awesome pair of starters at inside linebacker, but very little depth. David Harris will hopefully be a Jet for life, but I'm kind of hoping that we go after a younger guy to groom behind Bart Scott. This defense needs somebody to give these two a breather every now and then. 1. Nate Irving (NC State Wolfpack) 2. Mark Herzlich (Boston College Golden Eagles) 3. Mario Harvey (Marshall Thundering Herd) 4. Alex Wujciak (Maryland Terps) 5. Nick Bellore (Central Michigan Chippewas) CORNERBACK: This position should be pretty low on this team's draft board, but I'll throw out some names of some lesser-known guys that could turn into solid dimebacks, gunners, and return men. 1. Davon House (New Mexico State Aggies) 2. Chris Culliver (South Carolina Gamecocks) 3. Rashad Carmichael (Virginia Tech Hokies) 4. Anthony Gaitor (Florida International Golden Panthers) 5. Shareece Wright (USC Trojans) SAFETY: We need a guy that has the ability to be in the right place and the right time. Eric Smith can't match up on anyone in coverage. Jimmy Leonhard is a hell of player, but he doesn't have the best measureables. Brodney Pool is more of a stop gap at the position. In my opinion, this team doesn't necessarily need a big time player at the position as much as it just needs athleticism. 1. Tyler Sash (Iowa Hawkeyes) 2. DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson Tigers) 3. Mark Barron (Alabama Crimson Tide) 4. DeJon Gomes (Nebraska Cornhuskers) 5. Chris L. Rucker (Michigan State Spartans) I'm definitely going to update this thread throughout the rest of the college football season and off-season. Prepared for comments and criticisms. Fire away.
I really hope so. At the moment, he's looking like a top 25 guy because he making plays all over the place. Ayers is one of the best coverage 3-4 LBs that will be entering a draft in a while. Things really won't be clear until the season and the combine are over. We can only hope he falls into our laps. We all thought Kyle Wilson was going to be a relatively high pick and he slid a bit.
Is Allen Bailey not listed because you think he won't b there when we pick? Same for Heyward? Love that your giving Gomes some attention he's gunna surprise many.
I think Allen Bailey will absolutely crush the combine and someone will take him really high. Cameron Heyward is a pretty inconsistent player, but there are so many 3-4 teams now that I think he could go over a one year stand out like Nick Fairley. I can definitely see teams like New England, Denver, San Francisco, and Washington selecting him. ...kind of reminds me of Tyson Jackson.
Nice list...solid effort. Safety position will be addressed, but I doubt in Round 1, unless a player drops. I've been a big fan of Tyler Sash for a long time, smart player that is a playmaker. A couple of other later round considerations: Mark LeGree, S, Appalachian State is a ball hawk and has good range. Nate Williams, S, Washington.......a bright spot on Washington's defense, like his upside.
Thanks man. I like a lot of the later round safeties. Buffalo's Davonte Shannon is a tackling machine. If we didn't have a guy Ihedigbo on the roster, I'd be hoping for him in the later rounds.
do you really think Fairley will be available in the late first round. I really like him and would love to get him but i think he's really moving up draft boards and could get taken a lot earlier.
He's one of my top rated players overall...not just at defensive tackle or 34 end. I just don't know if being a one year wonder at Auburn will hurt him or not. I'm also not sure how he'll perform at the combine. Marcel Dareus will be the top 34 lineman taken and then it's really a toss up. Bailey is a physical freak that will be drafted on potential. Fairley's been the most productive, but he's only started one season at Auburn. We'll see what happens in the off-season.
What's Ayers like as a pass rusher or is he strictly a coverage type? If we went LB in the first or second rounds...I was hoping we get a pass rushing threat to compliment Pace.
Just another thing why no love for Wayne Daniels or Travis Lewis at OLB? Or do you think they will go higher?
Akeem Ayers is a jack-of-all-trades. He's just the type of player that does everything well. You really have to pay close attention to him during games because he lines up everywhere: outside linebacker, inside linebacker, and defensive end. If you want a guy that's going to consistently crank out double digit sacks, it's probably not him...but if you want a playmaker in the front seven, he's your best bet.
Travis Lewis barely weighs 230 pounds. He's a damn good linebacker prospect, but he's not going to play in the 3-4. I'm only going to say two words about Wayne Daniels: Jerry Hughes.
sounds like a Brandon Graham type prospect.....does he have a high motor? sorry for the dumb questions...I don't get a lot of College football games up here in America's Hat.
bahahah.....i'm glad you've established the 2010 version of Jerry Hughes nice and early this year. :metal:
Honestly I think Lewis can bulk up to 240-245 during the off-season , theres no doubting his skill set. :rofl: God dammit I was dreading those words are soon as i put down Wayne Daniels, but to be honest I think that TCU defense is so much better then last years and I think Daniels can separate himself from the Hughes stereotype , just my opinion.
If I had to compare him to player in last year's draft it'd be Sean Weatherspoon. He needs to play in a Tampa 2 4-3 scheme. He'd be a great fit in Indianapolis. The 3-4 just wouldn't be a good fit for him. It's not really a stereotype, I just don't like TCU's defensive scheme. Don't get me wrong, it's fucking dominant at the college level, but it makes their players looks a lot better than they are. TCU is a lot like Boise State. The coaches get the most out of lesser-talent.