I'm curious as to why. Now let me say that I definitely think the DL needs an infusion of talent and youth (in that order), but imo the Jets biggest need by far is a natural pass rusher, someone that can generate consistent pressure on opposing QBs. The Jets have 2-3 young DE prospects who could develop into solid, if not very good DEs. In Rex's 3-4 alignment, the DEs don't get that many sacks or pressures, they occupy blockers and play the run first. DeVito has been pretty solid and I think Ellis will be back for another year. The Jets could still draft a DE in the 3rd or 4th round and an NT in the other, and potentially upgrade the play and depth of the DL. Someone like Houston, Sheard, or Smith have the potential to have a much bigger impact on the team's overall play and success. I don't think the Jets are gonna make the SB until they get that pass rusher and can consistently force opposing QBs to make mistakes.
Thanks for clarifying that. If you're gonna use the BPA excuse for Atlanta selecting Stephen Paea, then there's no way in hell you should have Aldon Smith falling out of the first. Someone would grab him - he's too good. I'm don't have a problem with Heyward, but I'm not sure if he fits into what Ryan likes to do with his defensive line. I think guys like Marvin Austin, Sione Fua, Muhammed Wilkerson, and Corey Liuget are more his style. They're just more versatile and they can play in multiple fronts. Liuget more than likely won't be around, but the other two could be. Austin will rise because of great workouts, but I don't know if I could get behind the Jets taking him in the first - any time after that would be nice though. Phil Taylor's a good nose tackle prospect, but I don't think he's worth a first. I'm a big Sione Pouha supporter - I think he's here to stay for a while, especially after this past season. Drafting a big bodied NT in the later rounds to spell Pouha would be ideal. We may already have that guy on the roster though: Martin Tevaseau looks promising.
That would mean you'd be making a terrible mistake. You want to go DL over Houston or Sheard, fine, that's a debatable position, but Aldon Smith is on a totally different level than those other two guys. Aldon Smith is a top 15 player, and would absolutely be the pick of a number of the teams before the Jets. He's a potentially dominant player, and really a prototype passrusher. It's also funny that you cited ATL going Paea because it's a need and he's BPA, when DE is probably their biggest need and Smith is definitely the BPA.
BPA aside, I think the DL as a whole is a greater weakness than LB (OLB). The LB corps is very good as a whole while the DL is composed of rotational JAGs. I like guys like DeVito and Pouha but they do little as far as pushing the pocket and occupying double teams. Understandably the DE in Rex's system don't have to be all-pros but I think having a stud on the DL will free up passing lanes for our LB. I'd personally trade down from #30 but if I'm GM I go DL with the first pick and OLB with my second.
What team are you watching? Our outside linebacker get little-to-no pressure on almost every play. The inside backers are very good, but if one of them goes down, there's no depth behind them. Shaun Ellis is an old man now, but he's definitely not a JAG. ...and for fuck's sake, Sione Pouha was outstanding this year. He's not a JAG - not even close. Mike DeVito played well enough to lose that title too.
That's cool.. I just think Paea is going to be a stud in the NFL and consider him 'better' than Smith. He doesn't make complete sense going to ATL but I honestly don't know where or when he'll be picked. Tried to think of a 4-3 team in the 20s and went with the Falcons.
If you don't factor in depth at the position you'll end up screwing yourself though. The Jets need impact guys at both spots, and it's much easier to find an OLB early than late. On the other hand, you can get impact players for the 34 DL at almost any point in the draft. These points are made even more significant when you factor in our lack of a 2nd round pick.
Pace underperformed last season, gonna contribute that to the broken foot. He showed flashes of his old self in the playoffs though. Harris and Scott are great but they're ILB so that leaves Thomas. He's a nice player and great against the run but he's gotta be replaced. I don't know if they'll try to do that in free agency or the draft... About the DL: they're not all JAGs but I say it in the sense that if someone thinks of the Jets and they're d-line specifically, no one stands out that makes 'em think. "he's a HELL of a player". Jenkins was that player but his knees are held together with spaghetti at this point. The Jets need their version of a Ngata, Seymour, or Wilfork.
Yeah I said the Broncos could take Fairley #2 and Paea in the 2nd with their 36th pick or whatever it is they're picking. Paea put up 49 reps a couple hours later so I'd imagine his stock just jumped about 5-10 spots.
Who the hell cares what other dumbass fans think? This isn't Madden. Pouha played like a top tier nose tackle when Jenkins went down. I don't give a shit if no one knows who he is. I know that "he's a HELL of a player". There's not a nose tackle in this draft that's even close to being as talented as Wilfork. We're not going to find a player like Haloti Ngata or Richard Seymour at the back end of the first round. They were top twelve selections. I feel like I say this all the time, but I'll say it again: Ngata isn't a nose tackle, he's an end. Kelly Gregg is Baltimore's nose tackle. Gregg was a sixth round pick.
Even if you believe Paea is a top 15 guy, Smith is at least on equal footing, and there's no reason for him to be completely out of the first round, especially if you're weighing in BPA as such a big factor. Ngata and Seymour were both top ten picks and Wilfork is a once in a decade talent at nose tackle. If there were such a player there at the end of the first they should be all means take him, otherwise OLB remains a bigger need. Thomas and Pace are both 30+ and neither is a true passrusher. Even if Pace can get back to where he was they'll still need a young guy across from him that can be a consistent threat to the QB.
It'll depend on FA. If the Jets get someone like Rodgers or Cullen Jenkins that all but guarantees an OLB in the draft. I can't think of who the team could pick up at OLB... Wimbley?
Might as well call it "Rockmock and everyone else's" draft. Leave it like it is. Defeats the purpose otherwise. You gotta own your shit. See, I don't know a tremendous amount about college prospects, so I just sit back and observe and listen to the people that know what they are talking about. I couldn't post a mock if I tried. I know my place in here. It's to ask questions and occasionally throw in a gay animated gif if someone's being a homo.
