Get ready for a bunch of "what ifs": What if we paired someone like Dawan Landry with Dwight Lowery? An enforcer and a ballhawk. For me, it's really a toss up between defensive end and outside linebacker. It just depends on who's there. Jeremy Beal has to be towards the top of our realistic options. I think everybody in this forum agrees with that...but what if he's gone? What then? We'd have to go after someone like Cameron Jordan or Larry Guy. ...but what if a power back like Mikel LeShoure is around?
The idea of going running back early in the draft is something that I've been thinking about a lot lately. LDT is pretty much done and this team will need to get back to ball control if it wants to reach it's peak success. A Leshoure or Ryan Williams might be too good to pass up if our top OLB or DE prospects are gone.
Personally id be a fan of scooping up a HB in free agency. I mean we got Greene, we got McKnight (who has to contribute in some level next year), why not just get someone to compliment em. Detroit and Dallas both come to mind as teams that have far too many HBs, and id very gladly take one of the 6 between the 2 of them. Then you have the very real possibly of a Carolina HB either being available via trade free agency (tho we probably cant afford this), Oaklands got some extra hbs id look at (Michael Bush), Ronnie Brown might be out for revenge on the fins (I support this move) plus a laundry list of other guys whose situations are currently unknown. Hell Cadallic Williams could be available if Tampa thinks Blount is the future, and New Orleans also has some excess HBs worth looking at. Eitherway I think looking @ the climate of the free agency (more HBs available than anything), our desperate need for young players on defense, I think the ONLY way we go HB is if its free agency or possibly trade.
I'm sure we can find some run of the mill running back to complement Greene and Mcknight. Everyone seems to be down on Tomlinson but I think if he gets a little room and he can make a play happen. If he's back next year it has to be in a more limited role.
Only got 2 picks in the first 3 rounds. Use one of them on a halfback, and suddenly it looks like 2011 is going to be an incredibly long year for our defense. I just think with the options available @ hb in free agency, coupled with the fact that we still never even gave McKnight a chance on the field yet, that drafting a HB isnt our best option right now. Though I was 100% behind us drafting Blount in the 3rd or 4th round last year, and what a move that woulda been for us. Also gonna add I wouldnt be surprised to see LT be here another year. As flat as hes been he still doesnt fumble the ball, and is leading our team in receptions + rushing yards. So we could always pick up a 4th back (to take Trichs roster spot) and have LT/Greene/McKnight + a free agent
I know how many picks we have. I also know that we don't have an elite back on our roster, yet we have a run first offense. If someone like Mark Ingram, Ryan Williams, or Mikel LeShoure falls into our laps, he'd be tough to pass up. You act like we can't sign any free agents at other positions. Current Baltimore Ravens' safety Dawan Landry would fill an immediate need. Chris Gocong and Manny Lawson are some pass rushers that we could take a look at. Like I said earlier, Jeremy Beal has to be our top target. He may have a Brandon Graham-like rise and we'll miss out on him. It may be in our best interest to take a young, potentially elite tailback to pair up with Shonn Greene. Let's say we draft a tailback in the first round and then a defensive end with our next pick. ...and we also sign a FA safety and a FA pass rusher. We'd then be able to go after some young, developmental defenders with the rest of our picks. How does that off-season look?
Well yeah im a fan of going BPA, so I mean if you get a stud HB who is in your lap vs getting a pass rusher who is a stretch to pick that early thats one thing. I also think that if we were to go HB early (first 2 rounds) that that drastically increases the chances Braylon gets (or already was) dealt though. I cant see us holding Braylon/Holmes/Cotch 2 or 3 of our current HBs and still adding more to that. Wed be tying up too much $$$ on the offense. And while on the topic of drafting im curious what you think about the Cromartie trade. I know a lot of people seem to think that its a gimme that Cromartie ends up costing us a second round pick, but when you look @ the numbers he doesnt have many ints (3), no sacks, a mediocre amount of tackles, and hes got a boatload of penalties. Unless the Chargers trade was tied to team performance (we didnt win the division) I dont think I can see that trade ending up costing us a 2nd rounder, unless we end up in the afc championship or superbowl.
Let it be known that unless an all-world talent is there in round one, I am firmly against getting a runningback round one. I'm not against drafting one later, but we spent a 2nd round pick and a 4th round pick back-to-back years at a position that really isn't THAT important in the long run. Solid runningbacks are all over the NFL. It's more important that we maintain a stable offensive line for them to run behind. If there's an elite runner there, take him and run with it. If it's a choice of a good runningback and an above average pass rusher, I take the pass rusher. 1. Pass rusher (OLB/DE tweener) 2. 3-4 DL (DE, NT, I don't care, we just need fresh blood up front) 3. Safety 4. Runningback 5. Wide receiver* (this ranking if we lose 1/2 of Holmes, Edwards, Cotchery, Smith) 6. Offensive tackle 7. Tight end 8. Cornerback We need someone in the front 7 in round 1. If the draft board is that barren among these guys when it comes to draft time, I'll reconsider, but for now, this is what I want.
We gave up 3rd, 4th 7th in 09, 4th and 6th round picks last year for McKnight and Greene. Yet another reason im a fan of dipping into the FA pool
I want to see a heavy dose of D Linemen for the Jets in the next draft, preferably with the first two picks. Jets linebackers are pretty good.. the d-line is lacking though. With Jenk gone Pouha has done well again this season but the trio of Ellis, Pouha, and DeVito with a mix of Gholston has done well against the run but has failed to generate any kind of pressure. When a blitz is called more often than not we'll see the backers and DB's crashing into the line or coming in on a delay since the holes don't open up on the line. The secondary is great but it's being asked to do too much. Give a QB 3+ seconds in the pocket and he'll pick any team apart. Go DL in round 1 and 2 or get some pieces in free agency while the talent on this team is still around.
We have alot of needs on defense, we need some DL: help, we need sfety help and we need corner help. I hope they aren't foolish enough to re-sign Cromartie and I hope Wilson is ready to start next year. Take what we would have paid to Cromartie and use it for Holmes and Edwards, those 2 are better players than cromartie and more valuable to our team. We need an upgrade in the secondary around Revis.
Depends. Stud Safety...may be too good to pass up but we really need front 7 help. DE,OLB, Pouha buys us time at the nose as does Krohl at one DE spot.
I don't want to get into an argument here, and you are entitled to your opinion about Cromartie not being a good enough player across from Revis, but who the hell do you want to upgrade him too? Scrabble from Oakland? it's been said several times by numerous guys in the league that Revis and Cro is the best 1-2 tandem in the league. The problem is we have nobody who can stay with a slot receiver making a crossing route over the middle, or a safety who can play with the TE's.
Cromartie has elite talent but he's an average corner and I don't want to waste money on someone like him just b/c of his reputation. We had little pass rush this time a year ago and we were rotating in a ton of croners opposite revis and our D was playing a million times better. Cromartie is getting picked on every week and he is hurting us. I don't care what numerous guys in the league say, my eyes tell me all I need to know. Cromartie is not very good despite the undeserved reputation that he has.
If we can acquire a playmaking FS before the draft that would allow us to focus on the front 7 in the draft. The safeties coming out this year probably wouldn't be any better than Lowery (at least early on). Corner seems like the only position we don't need to address on defense. There aren't that many needs on offense. We just need Sanchez and Greene to continue to develop (looks like it's going alright). However, we'll need a new RT if Woody doesn't come back and Ducasse can't replace him. Our receivers are fine if we can keep Holmes and Edwards but we shouldn't need to use a high pick on one (even if we lose one). We've got plenty of depth at TE and Keller is one of the better mismatches in the league. Tomlinson will probably be gone, but I have faith that McKnight will turn into a pretty solid 3rd down back. We will probably need a backup to Greene. Fullback is set with the Terminator. I can't see Nick Folk coming back next season but Weatherford has been better than I expected.
I don't care how good your secondary is. If a QB has all day to throw, you can have each and every player back there be a pro bowler and they'd still get eaten alive. Pass Rusher is priority #1. Oh and to the post above. That's an understatement about Weatherford. He's probably been one of the best punters in the league. He has more punts inside the 20 than anyone else. I don't remember the last time the Jets have had a Punter or Kicker in the same league as Weatherford.
Unfortunately the Jets put themselves in a tough position this off season by trading draft picks for Braylon, Santonio and Cromartie. Not only did they lose a 3/5 in 2009, a 5 in 2010 and a 2 or 3 in 2011 but it's a good chance that 1 or 2 of these players will be on another team in 2011. That's 4 picks that could have been used to build cheap depth that they badly need especially on defense. It's possible they could get a comp pick in 2012 but thats 15 months away. Of course, Harris, Brad Smith, Eric Smith, Cromatie, Braylon, Santonio are all going to be looking for the most money possible and the Jets don't have a lot of cap space in 2011. (if they do have a cap) Then you have a bunch of older players that probably will either be cut, retire or not offered a new contract in the next 16 months: Ellis, Thomas, Taylor, Pace, Scott, Jenkins, Woody and Tomlinson. Add to that the fact that the front office has only drafted 9 defensive players in 5 years and you have a defense that will need to be rebuilt sooner then later. Tannenbaum and Rex are going to be in a tough spot with limited draft picks and limited cap space. I love your analysis of the college players but I will be shocked if the Jets draft a running back in the first 3 rounds.
