3 Round Grades?

I think playing for UNC while the program was being dismantled, and playing for a revolving door of coaches/coordinators/position coaches would make me "Lack passion" and "lack motivation" while I was being double teamed because every other decent player on the defense was suspended or dismissed.
I think QC will be stoked to be a part of one of the best Ds in the NFL!
I had Hill ranked above Floyd or Blackmon as far as playing for the Jets. And Davis looks like he has tons of potential, though I think Massie was gift wrapped for us at that point. Personally, I think missing out on a FS is a bigger loss than RT. We have some linemen floating around, and if Hunter does't improve with a full off season, we'll just have to plug somebody else in.

B+

 

If Coples pans out (and I think he will), the Jets have a great line for years to come.

Stephen Hill is a great pick, dare I say "perfect." I wish we didn't have to give up a 5th rounder to do it, but this guy is totally worth it.

I was nervous when I saw Demario Davis's name (I was unable to watch the 3rd round), but he looks like he has the physical tools to be a weapon in the front seven. I'm sure he will be used to his strengths (be it inside or outside), and could be a starter in the next couple of years, which is exactly what you want out of a third rounder.

I do wish there was an offensive lineman somewhere in there, but there's nobody that got picked that I think can't contribute to the team in the coming years in ways that will make the team better.

I'll say B+.

 

I will go with A-, probably the most generous of the bunch. If everyone puts aside their personal preferences for what they wanted and look at the 3 players we got, I don't see how you can disagree.

Coples is the best 3-4 DE prospect in the draft and has Calais Campbell potential the system. He excelled as a junior when he played DT in a 4-3, and at 6'6 290 lbs he has ideal size and ability to disrupt opposite Wilkerson. In Bear 4-6 sets we can put Wilkerson and Coples inside and cause havoc on the interior. This pick made me think that we are going to start building like the Pats prior to their dynasty run -- they invested multiple 1st rounders in 3-4 D-linemen to win the battle at the line of scrimmage and so they could blitz less. If we can blitz less and still generate pressure with Coples, Wilkerson, and Pouha/Kenrick Ellis then we will have a much improved defense.

Personally, I wanted Ingram or Mercilus. I think Mercilus is going to have an amazing year in Houston and no matter how well Coples plays people will say we should have taken him. Ingram can also have a great year opposite Shaun Phillips in San Diego. I read we would have taken OLB Bruce Irvin if he was there but Seattle took him before us in the 1st. I highly doubt we regret having Wilkerson and Coples as a 3-4 DE duo for the next decade.

In the 2nd round, I'm thrilled we took Stephen Hill. Jeffery and Randle may end up being more productive WRs and thus deemed as "better" -- especially considering they are playing with Cutler and Eli respectively -- but Hill is the best fit for our offense outside of Michael Floyd who the Cardinals took before our 1st rounder. He can start from Day 1 thanks to his blocking and fit as a play-action deep guy which will be one of our main passing plays. The routes he ran at GT will be similar to what we ask him to run, if not identical. And he has years of experience in the option.......Tebow. Hill's potential is astronomical. 6'4, true 4.3 speed, can jump to the moon, makes the spectacular catch. He'll help Sanchez progress and hopefully reach a Pro Bowl level over the next couple of season....at the same time allowing him time to become a complete All-Pro WR.

I was shocked we didn't take Bobby Massie in the 3rd round, but we seemed set from the get go that we weren't taking an OT this year. I personally liked Nigel Bradham as an ILB in the 3rd round and had we taken him I would've given us an A grade. However Rex and Tanny clearly scouted Demario Davis and love his ability at ILB. We definitely needed an ILB in the first 3 rounds so that we could take Bart off the field on obvious passing downs and have a replacement for him for next season and going forward. Davis appears to be a 6'2, 235 lb missile running a 4.5 40 with good coverage and blitzing ability. Apparently if he played for a major program as opposed to Arkansas State he would have gone much earlier. After looking into his production and athleticism, I can't disagree. If Demario Davis was an ILB for Alabama next to Dont'a Hightower and he ran a 4.52 40 at his pro day and put up 32 bench reps with a 38.5" vert he'd have been an early 2nd round pick at the very, very worst. We've been killed by Gronk and Hernandez and now we have a neutralizer in Davis who can run with either of them from the line of scrimmage. He can be a stud ILB in his second season when he's a starter and has a full year learning Rex's system under his belt.

Looking forward to Day 3, we have four 6th round picks and one 7th. It may not be popular, but I'd love to trade our one tradeable 6th (non-comp) and a future 4th for a 4th this year to select free safety George Iloka from Boise State or Janzen Jackson from McNeese State. Ronnell Lewis from Oklahoma would also be an excellent trade up candidate and could be an immediate 3rd down contributor just like Davis. In a season he could be a starter at OLB. Bobby Massie is also a fantastic trade up target.

B+/A- but leaning toward A- due to immediate impact of first two picks and immediate "sub-role" impact of 3rd round pick with future starting potential in his second season.

Personally I would have gone with OLB Melvin Ingram in the 1st and then tried to execute the 4th round trade up to take personal favorite 3-4 DE Kheeston Randall from Texas. 6'5, 300 lbs, sub 5.0 40 speed, explosive player, model citizen off the field and leader on the field. I thought we were set with DeVito and Ropati and could have rotated in Randall until he was ready to start fully in his 2nd season.

1) Melvin Ingram, 3-4 OLB
2) Stephen Hill, WR
3) Demario Davis, ILB (or Nigel Bradham, ILB)
4) Kheeston Randall, 3-4 DE
6.comp) Janzen Jackson, FS
6.comp) Bryce Brown, RB
6.comp) Lucas Nix, OG
7.comp) Chris Greenwood, CB

vs.

1) Quinton Coples, 3-4 DE
2) Stephen Hill, WR
3) Demario Davis, ILB
4) Ronnell Lewis, 3-4 OLB
6.comp) Janzen Jackson, FS
6.comp) Bryce Brown, RB
6.comp) Lucas Nix, OG
7.comp) Chris Greenwood, CB

Both are very good, I just prefer the "elite" edge rusher vs. the "elite" down lineman. However, the Patriots took Richard Seymour in the 1st in 2001 and Ty Warren in the 1st in 2003 before winning a pair of Super Bowls. (disclaimer: they took OLB Willie McGinnest #4 overall in 1994).

I'm hopeful that we move up for Ronnell Lewis from Oklahoma as a sub-package OLB, but if not there are some guys next year that will outshine the 3-4 OLB edge rushers taken this ear (except for the rare upside of Bruce Irvin perhaps, but he's a 4-3 player now anyways).

3-4 OLB Brandon Jenkins, FSU (6'3, 265 lbs, 4.69 40)**
3-4 OLB Alex Okafor, Texas (6'4, 260 lbs, 4.67 40)
3-4 OLB Margus Hunt, Southern Methodist (6'7, 288 lbs, 4.68 40)**
3-4 OLB Wes Horton, USC (6'5, 265 lbs, 4.77 40)

underclassmen below
3-4 OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU (6'4, 240 lbs, 4.5 40)***
3-4 OLB Sam Montgomery, LSU (6'4, 245 lbs, 4.5 40)***
3-4 OLB James Gayle, VT (6'3, 256, 4.6 40)***
3-4 OLB Jackson Jeffcoat, Tenn (6'4, 250 lbs, 4.67 40)
3-4 OLB Ed Stinson, Alabama (6'4, 280 lbs, 4.67 40)***
3-4 OLB Ronald Powell, Florida (6'4, 250 lbs, 4.6 40)

*'s indicate impact potential

 

I dont mind the players we got. I think all of them will be good. However, the players I wanted to replace the most on the Jets still project to be our starters. For that reason alone, im going C+. We still need a S, OLB and RT. I think those were our biggest needs and none of them were filled.

 

B-. I see where they were going but I don't love it. Really going to put a lot of pressure on the coaching staff because these 3 guys all have all the talent in the world but have to put it all together on the field.

If it was me, I would've gone Decastro-Curry-Sanu.

 

Going with an B+ thus far. The Coples Pick is fantastic as is the selection of Hill. Coples is going to be the steal. He will dominate in the NFL and quickly help to fundamentally transform Rex's D. A Beast. Hill has the potential to be a steal as well. Ridiculous athleticism and size. Davis seems like he just plays like a crazy junkyard dog for 60 minutes and just loves to get to the ball and hit people - sounds like an excellent selection.

 

Yeah, I would go B+ as well without seeing any of them play yet.

 

I know what you mean but it was impossible for us to draft a safety without taking an huge reach and Stephen Hill is a much better prospect than an of the OL options available at the time we picked.

I would give it a B+

 

I give it a solid B+.

Coples is a great talent, and I do trust Rex, but I'm not sure how quickly he'll acclimate to playing a position that requires him to do more than just rush the passer. Granted, Rex loves versatility, and we went to 4-man fronts last year as much as any 3-4 team in history. But it's as to get a kid, especially one who has the reputation Coples does, to be a space eater if he's never done it before. We needed a pass rusher, and Coples can be that, but with DeVito and Wilkerson there, I'm not sure DE was the biggest need, especially with a true edge rusher like Melvin Ingram there. I would've taken David DeCastro or Reilly Reiff, because I think the biggest hole on this team is RT, but I understand getting a pass rusher. I'm just not sure Coples was the best fit for this defense. Then again, Rex would certainly know much better than me what he wants his defense to do.

Stephen Hill was an absolutely fantastic pick. This team desperately needed a wide receiver--Chaz Schillens was #2 on the depth chart before yesterday--and they got one who's a little raw, but who is an absolutely special talent. He's big and supremely fast, and though it'll probably take him time to acclimate to the NFL style of play, especially considering that he came from an option offense, he's already a playmaker and absolute home run threat. I'd still go after a seasoned vet who will play for a year while Hill gets better (cough cough Braylon Edwards cough), but in a couple years, we'll be talking about what a steal we got with Stephen Hill.

As for Davis, I've long considered ILB to be a weakness on this defense, and I was almost shocked nobody else seems to think the same way. Bart Scott is not the same Bart Scott who signed with the Jets, and he was thisclose to leaving the team. He's basically Anthony Schlegel at this point; he can't cover, has no sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability, and gets easily wiped out by guards who get to the next level. He's a decent run stuffer on plays straight ahead, and that's the only thing Demario Davis can't do. This team couldn't cover a TE to save its life last year, and Davis instantly closes that gap. If Coples can be the pass rusher Rex thinks he can, OLB isn't nearly the need that ILB is (we do still have Maybin, Pace, and Thomas)--and Davis is versatile enough to slot outside when we go to 4-man fronts. This is a pure upside pick, and it absolutely fills a need.

If we can find a startig RT either later in the draft (preferably by trading up to the fourth, because there aren't many starting OL to be found in the late 6th) or during free agency and a starting S, because pairing LaRon Landry and Eric Smith is already giving me nightmares, I'll be confident in this team. It's already a better one than last year's, because we've addressed the biggest holes on this team, and done it by getting players that Rex Ryan wants for his D.

 

A- so far.

Obviously any grade at this point is fluid; but we got a guy at #16 who was ranked ahead of Luck and Richardson on a lot of boards entering the season, and a potential star WR with a first round grade at #43. Giving up a 5th and a 7th was a small price to pay to lock Hill up IMO. We could literally just send him on a deep route every snap and that would keep at least one safety out of the box. Fortunately, he's a willing and skilled blocker, and isn't afraid of contact, so we will find a lot of ways to use him beyond just as a decoy. I think this will end up being our best second round pick since Harris (kind of funny that he was picked at #47, where our original second rounder was).

Coples will be a beast, though I'm curious to see how we use him this year. He's still very young and probably won't be an impact player immediately... but he very well could be with his raw talent and size. We really needed another DL who could put pressure on the QB, it's not just our LBs who have struggled in that regard... Coples might be the best pass-rushing DL in the draft

The only thing keeping this draft from being an A+ so far is the Davis selection... but who knows, he could have the biggest impact of the 3 next year. We needed a guy who could hang with RBs and athletic TEs in coverage, and it looks like he could be our man. If Rex coaches him up right he could be the biggest sleeper of the draft, so I have no problem with taking him over some of the other guys who were available. I really trust Tanny's judgement here, because he's been great with using his third round picks to get impact players recently (SG, Ellis, used the 3rd rounder in 07 to move up for Harris, 09 3rd rounder for Favre, 3rd rounder in 10 for Braylon)

 

I give our draft a B+.

Obviously our front office has decided that drafting a starting tackle isn't a priority, and that's my biggest gripe with this draft so far. If we wanted a RT for next season we could've had an NFL ready tackle in round 2 or round 3. But I'm a fan of all three selections we've made thus far.

Quinton Coples > Melvin Ingram puzzled me at first, but it's not like we were the only team that passed up on Ingram. Coples was thought of as a top ten pick leading up to the draft and if Rex likes him over Ingram then so do I. He'll add speed, stout run defense and pass rushing ability from wherever Rex decides to line him up in the front seven. Let's not try to put Coples in a box and say he'll be lining up in one spot every play. That's not how our defense flows.

However, if we didn't get a linebacker in this draft I would've been disappointed. With Davis we add another versatile linebacker with speed. I won't claim to have ever seen him play, but adding speed to our linebacking is a great move.

Now the pick that I absolutely love is Stephen Hill. I don't love giving up a 5th rounder, but obviously we felt he wouldn't last to our pick. In the long run, I believe we'll look back and say parting with a 5th rounder was a no brainer. Hill may no be the most polished wideout, and some of the biggest criticism on him tend to be his route running. But he was severely limited by the Ga. Tech offensive gameplan. I don't expect him to come in right away and catch 8-10 balls a game, but he'll instantly garner the attention of the opposing teams defensive backs. This opens up the underneath routes where Holmes excells, and where Keller can be very effective.

I'd still like to see us draft a few offensive lineman with our later round picks that we can develop. But all in all, we've drafted some players with real high ceilings and we've added some serious talent to our roster.

 

I like this draft much better than i did the last 3 years. I liked last year a bit too (mo wilk/ellis but still like this draft better) , but feel far better about this than i did after Kdub/ducasse and Sanchez/greene drafts.

I just really want a damn guard, plus a few of the guys on my wishlist remaining and ill be estatic about this draft. If we get a guard i like and 2/3 of G robinson,
burfict, Ganaway ill be esctatic and give this draft a solid A. Right now no way i give us below a B, even though i think we got poor value in the 3rd

 

I really liked the Bush pick. Changed my grade to B-

 

I give it an B+ with finally drafting a FS and OL. RG I is huge and right now could replace Hunter. That is how bad Hunter is no way they go into the season with Hunter starting at RT. They will either get another team cast off and they still have 7 million to spend on free agents. Hunter almost got Sanchez killed and Tebow won't like getting hit blind sided constantly. Really like the Ganaway pick the Jets look like ground-pound and pound with a 240 battering ram with great feet. The Bush pick was a need if there ever was. If he can just cover no need to be a box safety just cover someone this draft will go to A+. I can understand the Coples pick and people being leery but I think he will be a solid pick for the Jets. Rex knows defense and he knows talent trust him more than I would a clipboard holder like Mangini. Hill ironic he was called by our last speed deep threat Wesley Walker both in the same round. I just hope he's half as good as Walker was for us.

 

I give it a B+, young and explosive is what I see from the players we drafted. I love the Ganaway pick we needed someone to help green stay fresh.

I love the Davis pick also because as one of our guys posted Bart Scott is no longer the player we need him to be.

Coples is the next JPP(giants) he is going to be a beast and Hill is going to be receiving bombs from Sanchez off the play action.

 

Coples is nowhere near JPP, and I don't think the Peppers comparison is a good one either just because of the size.

In our scheme we should hope he is like Arizona's Calais Campbell, a dominating run defender and good pass rusher out of the 3-4 end spot.

Peppers is closer than JPP however because Coples and Peppers both have very inconsistent motors and take plays off. JPP is going to be the best 4-3 DE in the league for the next 10 years. Hopefully Coples forces his way into the conversation of best pass rushers.