So this is how I stack up the likely prospects that the Jets might find themselves eye-balling on the 16. I'm very much for the best player available this season and with some luck that's going to be a guy also at a position of need. I'm very much against trading up because the Jets depth and talent levels are both down at this point and they need a few good guys out of this draft *and* some developmental guys that will refill the depth on the team. 1. Courtney Upshaw, LB. Probably won't be there. If he is the Jets should jump on a big backer who plays with a real motor and a mean attitude. At ROLB he'd be good but as the guy taking on blockers inside he'd be great. Comes out of one of the best defenses of recent years at Alabama and expects to be part of a fierce take-no-prisoners defense in the NFL. Rex would love this guy. 2. Trent Richardson, RB. Also probably will get snapped up at the bottom of the top 10. The knee scope gives the Jets a chance though. Fast, powerful back who gets better in the big games. Has a significant downside due to his pounding running style which will probably shorten his career if he is not taken care of. The Jets could give Richardson 250 carries and Greene 200 next season and they'd have instant Ground and Pound. McKnight as the 3rd down back takes 50 carries and the Jets are at the magic 500 number. 3. David DeCastro, G. Won't be there but he'd present the Jets with a real dilemma if he dropped. Looks like a great LG at the NFL level. Pulls well, generates real push in the power game, has that mean streak that you want in the trenches. Would be Nick Mangold's go-to guy on that side of the line when the defense stacked a blitz there. If you want a guy to kind of compare him too in terms of the attitude he brings that guy would be Teddy Bruschi. 4. Reilly Reiff, RT. Solid player with the frame to add another 15 pounds. Excellent pass blocker who needs a bit of strength to dominate at the NFL level. Smart player from a program that produces a lot of solid NFL lineman. Also has the capability to replace D'Brick if the worst happens and the Jets lose their LT for some reason. 5. Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB. Would rank higher if the Jets were running a 4-3. Excellent pass rusher who is likely to fit best at DE in a 4-3. Think John Abraham. I have doubts about his ability to make the transition to ROLB and I don't think the Jets can afford a bust right now. It's not a big chance he busts but any chance would kill the Jets. Upshaw and Reiff are both much safer picks and fine athletes as well. 6. Dontari Poe, NT. You can never have enough big skilled guys in the NFL and Poe is the best combination of size and skill in this draft. He'll only be here if all of the guys above have been taken by the time the Jets pick rolls around. You can coach technique. You can coach scheme. You can't coach 335 pound fluidity and that's what Poe has. Ok, so that's my top 6 on the 16. The problem is that all of them could well be gone by the Jets pick. What happens then? Trade down and then the list continues. I have the pick the guy would be valuable on in parentheses after the position. 7. Dont'a Hightower, LB (19). Big, strong leader on a national championship defense. Probably better suited to remain inside in the NFL. Would complement David Harris very well against the run game. Has some man coverage issues but is ok handling his zone. Has some real upside as a pass rusher and could be used at either OLB as a rookie if Bart Scott returns. He's one of the "it" players in this draft and could easily become a star in the right scheme and with the right people around him. Would become a star pretty quickly if the Ravens or Steelers drafted him. 8. Peter Konz, C/G (19). Big, physical player who plays with attitude. Excellent run-blocker. Solid pass-blocker who reacts well to changing circumstances. This is another guy Mangold could lean on when things got tough in a sequence. Great leadership on the field and in the huddle. Has a good sense of humor and can defuse issues before they turn into real problems. Would play LG next season but long-term would replace Brandon Moore at RG or Mangold at C if the worst happened. Excellent versatility and has the smarts and attitude to excel wherever the fates land him on the field. 9. Michael Floyd, WR (19). Excellent physical receiver who can go up and get a ball over anybody. Not topflight speed but he's got enough to get deep and catch a ball in man coverage using his superior height and strength to win the catch. Has some maturity issues to deal with and will have to be counseled closely in the NFL or he'll wind up on the bad list sooner or later. Has had minor injury issues for most of his college career although he's a tough guy and has played through pain. This is probably the most hit or miss guy on this list. High upside or he could wind up being a total chuckle-head. Think Braylon Edwards only not quite as fast or physical. 10. Mark Barron, S (29). The best safety in the draft and one with high upside. Another guy who played in the middle of that great Alabama defense and has expectations of playing in a great defense in the NFL. I actually think he's more like low 30's in overall value but I think if the Jets traded down off of the 16 and he was there on the 29 it'd be hard to pass him up given the other benefits of the trade-down. Has a real explosiveness to the ball that can get him in trouble now and then when he picks the wrong lane or angle. Really good things happen when he is right though. Probably the Jets best chance to find somebody to cover the TE's consistently. Guys that people have listed highly that I'd prefer the Jets don't take and why: Kendall Wright (WR). Not big enough to make an impact when people account for him. Is an explosive playmaker who freelances a lot and treats routes like suggestions. Undisciplined player who could be a disaster on the Jets. Cordy Glenn (G/T). Has the unmotivated tag going and the Jets don't need people who need to be motivated to play. The team needs self-starters now and people who are driven to excel. Mike Adams (T). Inconsistent play and struggles against top pass rushers. The Jets already have a lot of that going on. No thanks. Kevin Zeitler (G). Struggles against quick tackles and linebackers. The NFL is full of those. Will be solid depth for some team but not for the Jets in the 1st round. Quinton Coples (DE/LB). Quinton Coples meet Vernon Gholston. We've already met him and would prefer you meet him somewhere outside Jets-land. Luke Kuechly (MLB). Misfit in a 3-4. God I hope he doesn't wind up in New England because Belichik would find a way to run a 4-3 that keeps both him and Mayo on the field.
My top guys 1- TRich-If he gets to around #10. I go get him 2-Ingram 3-Upshaw 4-Barron 5-Floyd 6- DeCastro If we get one of those guys, I'm happy.
The top 3 I agree with. I'm not in love with Reiff and less so in a man scheme. Poe Should be among the trade down selections. This guy is a solid second rounder, but nothing special. He's a huge run stuffer who is going to need time to develop. We spent a 3rd on one of those last year. Floyd may be around if you trade down, but may not. His size and skill combo is impressive. He's a hard worker on the feild, willing run blocker, and by all accounts took big steps to turn around his off feild problems this last season. Mid first is where he should go, so trading down and expecting him to be there is a gamble. Konz has a lot more value to a team needing a true center. He could play guard, but is not like other prospects taht can play guard or kick out to tackle in a pinch. I like the Idea but not in love with it. Barron is a good bet to go in the later half of the first, but a team like Cincy with two first rounders may take him. For the value, I'd rather take a guy like Harrison Smith, George Iloka, or Markell Martin in the second. Adams and Glenn had great senior bowl weeks. Both of them proving they could play tackle against the best competition hat the draft class had to offer from pass rushers. You knock Glenn for motivation, but the reports out of the senior bowl and combine list him as having true love for the game and being very hard working. He did wonderful in the agility and position drills for a man of his size. I would not hate either one of them, with a bit of a leaning toward glenn who can also kick inside if desired. Adams hurt himself at the combine a bit. He looked good in drills, but had less than desired results from the physical testing. Still, go back to the tape and you know this guy is firrst round talent. Couples and Kluchey should be gone by 16, Zegiter should not be mentioned in the first. Wright simply has too much talent to not have interest in. He's not the big monster we want, but the kid has the ability to make big plays and take the top off the defense with his speed outside. His route running needs work, but all NCAA prospects do. You can train skills, but not teach the kind of talent he has. Still, that said I would like ot go Oline or OLB over him with our pick, unless we trade down.
I see Poe going somewhere between 8 and 14 depending on how the Miami QB situation devolves. I'd see him going 6 to Washington except I'm pretty sure they'll use that pick to get a QB somehow. On Konz I think you have to look at BPA. He's just the best interior lineman once DeCastro is off the board and he's actually in the 18-20 range in terms of overall value also. I'd love to see the Jets take him in that range to solidify the offensive line for a half decade. He'd be a good interior linemen for the Jets and then he'd be Mangold's replacement. What's not to like? I think Zeitler is going to go somewhere from 26-32. There are too many teams hurting for offensive linemen at this point for him not too. He might slip down into the first 10 picks of the 2nd round but the dropoff in offensive linemen is pretty steep after him and I think he's going to go.
I'm not as high on Poe as you are. He's a real boom or bust guy. Physicaly gifted and raw. With BJ Raji, you knew you were getting a NT that could step in day one and not miss a beat. With Poe, your getting a talent that needs to train up as a football player. He size and skill makes him valueable, but more so in the lower half of the first, early second type, not a top ten guy. I said i like the Konz idea, just that playing him at guard is underutilizing him. If your looking for a versatile guy, I'd rather have one that can cover both Guard and Tackle. Zeitler is a guy that should be going in the mid to late second. I understand your point about Oline getting over drafted though. Still, I'd be supprised to see him in the late first/ early second.
My 2 cents. I hope and pray that if Trich is not gone when we draft, as good as he might become, we trade down and get a 1st and 2nd or 1st and 3rd. We need OLB/ILB/OG/Safety before another running back. Please look at the teams that consistently reach the superbowl and note how many 1st round RB or wide receivers they have on their squad. What makes them great is a superb OL, a top knotch QB and a bend dont brake defense that keeps them in the game. Good QBs make receivers great as superb OL make RB look like super stars. Great wide recievers and running backs dont make the OL and the QB great. Above all, great rushing defenses make opposing QBs look human no matter how good they are. We need to become elite in the OL and defense to have a chance.
as you say, it does look as though all 3 of your top selections are likely to be gone by the time we pick. Originally I was underwhelmed by the idea of Decastro but certainly if he was there I wouldnt be annoyed by the pick. The Jets seem certain to have a good player available that fills a need if they sit tight (though if trent richardson starts to fall I can see them going nuts, especially if they manage to get Jarrret from the Ravens in FA)
I totally agree, but I'll believe that Tanny will trade down when I see it. At the Combine the moron was talking about possibly trading up.
too be fair he was asked about his overall draft philosophy. It's not like he started the conference with "we'll be trading up this year" couple of Tanny quotes from the pc you are talking about "I do believe in quality over quantity," he said. "That’s just based on a lot of research and what’s a replaceable part and what the odds are of success in every round. "Our track record is pretty clear: We will do that, but you better be right," he said. He mentioned the past trade-ups that produced Darrelle Revis and David Harris, saying the organization has "very specific criteria" when determining which prospects are worth the gamble. He said character is weighed heavily in the evaluation process.
The only two players from that list that I want are Ingram and Upshaw. I'd settle for Floyd or TRich, but I'd hope if those are the two BPAs available, the Jets would trade down and add another pick or picks. DeCastro, Poe, Konz, Wright, & Keitler I have zero interest in and hope the Jets have zero interest. Hightower, Coples, Kuechly, Adams, Glenn, Reiff & Barron could all help the team, but I'd be less than enthused. The latter group will probably all be good pros, but aside from Hightower, Kuechly and probably Glenn, I don't think they are good fits with the Jets or would help them that much this season.
I am under the assumption that: Luck, Griffin, Kalil, Blackmon, Reiff, Claiborne, Coples, and Brockers will all be gone by the Jets pick. My list for the next 11 (though only 8 are needed) goes something like this: 1. Upshaw - Top 3-4 OLB in the draft, has experience as an OLB and plays with intensity on every play, will be an every day player. 2. Ingram - One of the better pass rushers in the draft who can pretty much play anywhere. I am sure Rex would love Ingram's versatility. 3. DeCastro - He might be the 2nd best OL in the draft aside from Kalil, DeCastro's game has no flaws. G may not be a position of need, but DeCastro would instantly come in and be 3rd best player on the OL and instantly improve the OL. 4. Richardson - I know I am lower on Richardson than everyone, but this is just because of position. I would be happy if Richardson is available, but not too upset if he is gone. 5. Jeffrey - Complete opposite of Richardson, I know I am higher on Richardson than most. Admittedly I am biased bc I am an SC alum, but I watched Jeffrey closely and know he is a game changer. I think people are under rating the impact of SC 's QB issues and the loss of Lattimore. 6. Floyd - An excellent WR with a rare combination of size and speed. He would provide be an excellent #2 WR opposite of Holmes and be an excellent weapon for the offense. Hopefully all of his off the field issues are behind him. 7. Mercilius - He might end up being the top pass rusher in this years draft. Mercilius was an excellent pass rusher this year, unfortunately it was his only good collegiate year. 8-10. Glenn, Adams and Martin - All potential starters at RT. Hard to excited over an RT pick, but these 3 would definitely improve the right side and help send Hunter to the bench. 11. Perry - Like Mercilius, he too has a lot of potential as a 3-4 OLB. He has some durability concerns, but if he overcomes them he can make one team very happy. Though it is still early and I still have plenty of homework to do
Floyd does not have the dropsies like Braylon had in Cleveland and Floyd unlike Edwards does embrace physical contact. Not a fan of the comparison. Floyd's better than some of what the people on here are giving him credit for. I think at the very least Floyd could be Dwayne Bowe with room to grow.
Braylon Edwards is actually a pretty physical WR. He blocks well and he uses his body well against coverage to get position on the ball. Floyd is a drinker with 3 late-night DUI's at this point. I think he's Braylon Jr. Obviously he has a higher upside than Edwards at this point in their careers but he doesn't have a better upside than Edwards had coming into the league.
The steps Floyd has taken to change his life around this season are well documented. After bray's DUI he was in a night club brawl less than 6 months later, blamed the cops for pulling him over for his windows, and did everything but say "I fucked up" once he was arrested. Edwards was highly thought of coming out. He is physical and fast. His hands and concentration at times are iffy, which I think has a lot to do with his life style. Despite his talents, I'm not sure we need a person like him added to the locker room this season. I like the Dwayne Bowe comparison a bit better myself if you are looking for a current NFLer.
That would be a tremendous reach. James is probably the #5 RB and at best is a late round 2 prospect. I think he is more of a mid 3rd guy. He showcased his speed today. But he isnt an everydown back, and won't be an elite game breaker in the NFL. Those are the guys (at RB) that you draft in the top 2 rounds.
Why because Maylock says he the 5th best RB? Have u seen this guy play? They only say that because of his size, but where not looking for a every down back we need a change of pace guy. James and Greene in the same back field would drive D crazy.
no because James won't be the gamebreaker you want him to be in the pros. Will he make some big plays? of course, but at no where near the rate he did in college. You want a speed back thats going to make serious noise in the NFL? go take a peak at Lamar Miller from UM. He has a bit of Chris Johnson in him. I'm not saying he is CJ2K, but he has that elite 1 quick cut and fly up the field. Plus he just proved he is the fastest back in the draft today. Regardless we shouldnt be taking a RB high unless its Richardson. We have too many needs and a RB isnt one of them. It's one thing if a top 5 talent falls in your lap, its an entirely different one to reach for a guy thats not worth the pick at a position that is not a 'need'
