I was just working on my rankings and figured I'd throw together a Jets mock draft really quick. Let me know what you guys think. 1. Jeremy Beal, OLB Oklahoma - A perfect passrushing threat to add to the defense. I think we know now what we have with our three OLBs, and as good as they've been/can be, the Jets haven't had a player like Beal in a long time. He's relentless, very intelligent, and has experience standing up in a complex defense. The types of blitzes they run at OU aren't too far off from the things he'd see in NY. 2. Christian Ballard, DE Iowa - I think it the Jets are going to find a DE, they need to look for as close a player to Shaun Ellis as they can find. Tall, long arms, and able to play both end or tackle in a traditional defense. Ballard gets overshadowed by Clayborn on that defense, but he has the athleticism, size and strength to be exactly what the Jets are looking for in an a DE. 4. Ian Williams, DT Notre Dame - The revamping of the front seven continues. Pouha will be the starter at NT for the near future in all likelihood, but a player to rotate with him and later replace him will be a necessity. It's actually probably a bigger need than DE if Ropati Pitoitua comes back healthy, but it won't get the pub because we have at least one solid starter. Ian Williams has been very good this year, but an MCL strain might take away a good portion of his senior year (and cause his stock to stick around here).
5. Jeff Maehl, WR Oregon - Why Maehl isn't more highly thought of, I have no idea. Decent size, very good hands, and very good speed, Maehl is one of those dangerous receivers that gets overlooked on draft day because of a gimmicky offense. I think with his ability to both stretch the field and take short passes and do damage with them, he's a perfect fit. Of course, what WR the Jets take depends on who is brought back next year. 6. Joe Lefeged, S Rutgers - The Jets need to add some life to their group of safeties, and a kid like Lefeged would be a great fit. It would have been impossible to watch Devin McCourty tape last year and not see Lefeged, he just gets to the football. Also, he's a great special teams player like DMC was, returns kicks, and has a wealth of experience. 7. Alex Wujciak, LB Maryland - The choice between an ILB, RB, and OL was tough, but I think that it's about time the Jets develop an inside linebacker behind their studs. Wujciak is a big, tough linebacker with some surprising athleticism. He seems built to move to a 34, where he can be physical, come downhill, and not have to worry about covering that much ground.
Definitely like the players in this draft . I just have a few cocerns. 1) I love Beal, picked him to go in the second in my draft but I understand he may rise. But will he be a liability in coverage? Thats my biggest fear with him. 2) Ian Williams is a beast, but he'll go in the early to mid third. No way he gets to the late 4th. Got to admit I LOVE the Lefeged pick, Ive seen him at Rutgers and with the right coaching could be special. ILB isnt the worst position to go for but Id honestly say next to ILB the other hidden position we need is a blocking TE , just my opinion. Excellent draft though, gotta give props .
Good stuff, GH. I really like Jeremy Beal. I think he'd be a hell of a fit in this scheme. I'm not sold on Christian Ballard yet, but at the end of the second round, it'd be excellent move. He kind of reminds me of a more athletic Jared Crick - the kind of player that shines with a more dominant player on the same line. I can definitely see big time potential in Ballard though. The Williams, Maehl, and Lefeged picks are all awesome. All three of these players are studs at the college level. Wujciak is a tackling machine. He'd be the battering ram type player to groom behind Bart Scott.
Beal shouldn't have any problems with the switch because of the position he plays and the defense at OU. He's played both DE and LB with the Sooners, and even now that he's officially an end, he stands up to rush a great portion of the time. With the way they zone blitz, he drops off the line into coverage a lot, and it has never been an issue. Plus, like I said, he's a really smart, hard working kid, so anything he doesn't know about the position can be taught. I would say that of any prospect in this class, only Akeem Ayers would be more suited to make the switch (and that includes Von Miller, just because he needs to add some weight). About Ian Williams, the MCL sprain/tear will probably sting him, and with the potential of several UCs entering the draft he could get pushed down the rankings quite a bit. This DT class could end up really loaded, and a guy like Williams might not be what any 43 teams are really looking for. I think Beal's perfect for the Jets. I love Akeem Ayers, but Beal is a guy that can come in and flat out get to the quarterback, plus everything I read on his character and work ethic has me believing he'll be a stud in our complex defense. Ballard is a guy that would be available that late because of the concerns you mentioned. A guy like Ballard may not be a big physical stud who can control two linemen easily, but I think in time he can be. Plus, tall, athletic tackles with long arms tend to be the players that have the most successful transition to 34 end. Maehl and Lefeged are really my money picks there, but they're two guys I can't see being that lowly rated by April. No clue why some people still have Maehl rated as a UDFA, he's going to be a player. If the Colts/Pats draft him he'll be a Pro Bowler.
Lefeged is pretty good when he's left to roam in space, so I think that a safety pair of he and Leonhard could do enough at each position to make them interchangeable. That late in the draft I'm not really even looking at him to be a guaranteed starter for the future, but I think he could be a really nice option as a rotation player with the potential to start.
Good stuff GH!! Glad to see some ramped up activity in the draft forum. I've been under the weather lately and haven't been on-line as much. Beal is a heck of a player and someone that will transition well into the NFL, especially in Rex's defense. One of the players in the coming draft that is almost "Bust-proof". Ballard isn't a flashy but has the tools to be an effective end. I never would consider Ballard all-Pro material, but a player that will come to work everyday and make plays when needed. Jeff Maehl is under the radar and would be a good mid/late pick. I like that you addressed D-line, we've had conversations back and forth about the D-line being an oversight for too long. I would have liked an another O-Line addition and a RB...can't have it all. Kudos, excellent players for our scheme.
Lot of defense...I like it, like seeing the pass rush upgraded. I like Beal, though I've been trying to figure out where he would end up going, but I have no problem with him in the bottom of round one
Beautiful draft. I find Beal to be the most complete rush OLB and I think he's a Rex Ryan guy. My gut feeling on Ayers isn't great so I do prefer Beal over him. The Ian Williams pick is of course approved by me. He'd do well in this system. I actually do hope the Jets aren't players in FA so that they sign the guys who need new contracts, and then have this draft. It would be a great offseason.
I really like this draft. Beal and Ballard fit perfectly into the scheme Rex runs. It'd definetly also make our rushing attack unstoppable if these guys play well early in the season and late into the strech. Great complement to Calvin Pace too. I really like Williams, would he fall that far in the draft though?
