The percentage of WRs that make it big from Rd 1 isn't fantastic, you're right. But, you know what's worse? The percentage of WRs from Rd. 2. Or Rd 3, and so on. It might be risky to take a receiver in the first, but hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with a later round WR is a probability nightmare. Just look at the best WRs in the NFL today, how many of these guys are first round picks? And of the guys that aren't, how many are 2nd rounders? It seems like if you don't get a guy in the top two rounds, you might as well look for the undrafted guys (or take the problem children and hope they stop being morons).
Good ol' Rashaun Woods. I liked him, but knew he would amount to nothing Plus he got drafted by the craptacular 49ers
This is true you're right. What it boils down to for me is that the def front 7 is a much bigger need than WR at this point. The team is in desperate need of a true pass rusher or elite lineman. Understandably if Santonio or Braylon leave there will be a hole at WR but I'd prefer to address that in a trade or thru free agency. Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller are nothing to laugh about though (assuming Holmes is gone)
Those are all fair points. The team absolutely needs to find players for the front seven, I don't think anyone could possibly argue against it. My point is only that the draft can't be viewed the same way as free agency, where we need to make sure we get positions in a certain order. When tremendous value is on the board (and it's not a waste, ie Mark Ingram to the Vikings or Luck to Pittsburgh) it's very hard to pass up. Needs can be filled short term in other ways, but adding the best possible talent for the future should always be the aim of a team's draft.
I really believe Julio will be 10x better in the NFL, bias aside. He's physically ready at 6-4 220, and his speed is severely underrated(faster than AJ Green out of HS). Why he isn't a bigger "star" is the way his is used, or the lack of ways. Ever since his freshman season with Major Applewhite as his OC, his jump ball ability and straight speed have been sparingly used. All he runs for Bama under Jim McElwain is quick slants and bubble screen to take advantage of his freakish strength for a WR. QB Greg McElroy's arm strength may have something to do with it too. He's a great fit with the Jets IMO, he's a huge target for Sanchez if Braylon Edwards isn't in NY next year, and he is fantastic blocker for a WR, would help imensly in the running game...
Where do you think Leonard Hankerson goes? He's a little inconsistent with his hands, but his routes are NFL ready.
Probably a solid Round 2 draft pick. Hankerson has been known for having stone hands at times, but his play is improving.
I'm a big UM fan and I would be happy to have him on the Jets. I'd be more excited if Bailey fell to the late first round, but I don't see that happening.
Hankerson reminds me so much of Braylon Edwards (present BE, not Michigan BE) it's scary. Any time he gets his hands on the ball it could be six with his size/speed combo, but there are some significant mental lapses. I could see him as a Rd 2/3 guy, but a lot depends on how the receivers go in Rd 1.
I don't think we should get a WR in the first round. Mark Sanchez is getting better and we need to get him some weapons. But right now the biggest need is for a pass-rush, 3-4 DE like JJ Watt or Adrian Claybourne. We can even draft Akeem Ayers if he's available since I really like his athleticsism and he can also pass-rush and play DE on a 3-4 defense. Then the big need for a DT comes into place, and hopefully we get someone like Marvin Austin. After that we can probably choose a WR if we need to. But I really wanna see both Holmes and Edwards come back, but that's gonna be hard, since there are also guys they NEED to re-up on like David Harris and Cromartie.
As a big ND fan who watches every game, I'll honestly take a pass on Michael Floyd. I can't pretend to know enough of the other guys. Seen them all play a few times, but seeing Floyd every week has me thinking he won't be worth that kind of a pick. I feel like most of his tough catches are primarily due to weak CB play. He won't make those often in the NFL. Talented, yes, but he's not a gamechanger. Just my opinion.
I disagree. I don't think he's going to be a dominant receiver in the NFL, but he's the talent and measurables to be a difference maker. Floyd's a big bodied possession wideout with deceptive speed. He's going to be a big time presence in the red zone - the kid's got great body control and elite hops. I don't think he'll have the best 40 time, but he shouldn't definitely go mid-to-late first.
You know a hell of a lot more than me, so I'll defer on that. I can only call what I see, and when he had Tate with him, he could make a huge difference. I don't see him taking over games like he did before, and for a top end WR, I expect him to do exactly that. I'm not saying he's not a very good college player. He's an elite college WR. I'm just not seeing his skill translating to the NFL. I hope his speed is deceptive because he doesn't look that fast to me. I guess time will tell!
I'm not too far away from you on this one Mike, there's something about Floyd that doesn't quite sit right with me. There's a reason that I have him 6th among my WRs in this draft. He has the ability (size, good speed and tremendous body control) to be an elite NFL player like Mr. E said, but you're right that he hasn't come through this year quite like I'd hoped. What's interesting is that a lot of the ND fans I talk to say the same thing about him, so I'm not shocked to read the above quote. I have him as a guy that could go anywhere from mid 1st to early 2nd, depending on his the WR run goes.
I can only see the Jets drafting a WR in the 2nd round if Holmes goes. WR in the 4th if Edwards goes. Not downplaying Edwards, but Holmes is the better reciever. The Jets need someone like Nick Fairley or Jeremy Beal in the first round.
