Jets Draft picks grades.

Now that the entire draft is over just how did the Jets fair? Going into the draft the Jets biggest need in my opinion was on offense, more particularly offensive line. Last year the Jets were 30th in the league in terms of sacks allowed. It is absolutely impossible to do anything (running or passing) without an offensive line. Additionally, the Jets had no play maker at the WR position, a toss up at QB, no true fullback. To add to the offensive woes the Jets have a 33 year old running back. The only real positive thing you could say about the Jet offense after last years performance was that Chris Baker looked at least above average at TE and that there was at least depth and youth at the running back position as a whole.

When you turn your focus to the defensive side of the ball the Jets actually don?t look to bad. There first team defensive line looks solid with the only question being how D?Rob will adjust to the true NT position. The line backing core is very young, fast and solid with Vilma, Hobson, Barton, Chatham, and Thomas (Thomas is suppose to play OLB this year). The only possible need there is to get another guy in the middle. The secondary looks to hinge on Dyson?s health and Miller?s development but over all it is young and should not need much bolstering. The only real hole I see at secondary is a Safety like Victor Green who could step up in the box and stop the run.

Special teams appear to be completely set with Nugent, Ben Graham, and let?s not forget James Dearth. So lets get down to the actual grading of the picks.

Pick #4 ? D?Brickashaw Ferguson: The Jets wasted no time filling the hole at offensive line. At 6?6 and 313 pounds D?Brickashaw has the size and feet to play the LT position for years to come. This guy takes protecting the QB very seriously and will defiantly be a starter when the season starts. The only issue I have with him from watching limited tape of him is that sometimes he appears to fall of his block late. However, this should be able to be corrected by coaching. It should also be noted that the Jets didn?t fall prey to the sexy pick here which would have been going with Matt Leinart.

Grade: A

Pick #29 ? Nick Mangold: The Jets acquired this pick in the John Abraham trade. In my mind that comes into play when grading the pick. The Jets front office stood by their guns and demanded a first round pick for Abraham, something many teams would not give into. In the long run the Jets got the pick they wanted (a first rounder) and another solid player. Mangold is considered by many to be a future All-Pro Center and was the best Center available on the big board. While he may not be the starter at the beginning of the season he will mostly see the field before the season ends. That means two picks and two needs filled.

Grade: A+

Pick #49 ? Kellen Clemens: In my mind this is the steal of the draft for the Jets. Not only do they get a QB with a pretty good arm they end up getting Washington?s 2nd round pick in next years draft, can you say steal. Some believe that Kellen would have gone in the top 20 had he stayed health last year at Oregon. As it is Kellen put up 19 TD to 4 INT his senior season (8 games). This ratio is very impressive as is his 64% completion ratio. He has the tools to start in the NFL and if the Jets season goes south I would look for him to start around week 12-14. Also it should be noted that picking a bust QB in the first round can set your team back 5 years but picking a bust QB in the 2nd round will not set the rebuilding process back.

Grade: A+

Pick #76 ? Anthony Schlegel: While he may have been available in a later round I am a firm believer in picking your player when he is available. Also don?t forget that the Jets traded back to this pick and picked up a late round pick, a pick they lost in the 2nd round trade. The Jets had a weakness up the middle and Schlegel helps fix it on my mind. He is a great run stopping ILB and should be used on 1st and 2nd down most of the time. Schlegel is a sure talker and a perfect Mangini guy. He will also contribute on ST most likely and provide great leadership coming from a winning program. I had him as my sleeper at ILB and am thrilled to have him on board.

Grade: B+

Pick #97 ? Eric Smith: This pick was given to the Jets as compensation for losing so many FA last year. Eric Smith in my opinion was a bad pick here and by far the Jets biggest reach. Smith struggles with staying healthy but is a sure tackler when on the field. I feel that he could be the Victor Green type Safety that stops the run but that also means he must stay healthy. In short there was better value at this point and this pick contains too many if?s for my liking.

Grade: D+

Pick #103 ? Brad Smith: Following what was the Jets biggest reach the Jets went with potential. At Missouri Smith was a one man show. He has good height (6?2) and good speed (4.46). I really feel he can make plays for the Jets with his athleticism as long as he is willing to put in the work to learn a new position. Smith gives the Jets the option for trickery on offense ala Randle El something they haven?t had in years.

Grade: B

Pick #117 - Leon Washington: This pick was obtained for Herman Edwards. Leon Washington is a player who comes to the Jets with huge potential. At Florida State he was part of a rotation at running back so it remains to be seen if he can handle the 25 touches a game a starter would handle. The good news is the Jets aren?t looking for him to step in and start right away. His speed should make a immediate impact as a third down back and don?t be surprised if the Jets try him out at punt returner.

Grade: B+

Pick #150 ? Jason Pociask: The scouting reports that I have read say he isn?t good at stretching the field and that he lacks break away speed. Luckily, the Jets are not going to use him for this. Pociask is going to be a fullback who can catch the ball out of the backfield and who can punish linebackers trying to fill the hole to make a tackle. At 250 pounds he is a very solid blocker and will probably be a great presence in goal line and short yardage situations. Don?t forget in San Diego LT runs behind Lorenzo Neal.

Grade: B+

Pick #189 ? Drew Coleman: The Jets did some work to get back into the sixth round and this pick makes me wonder why. The Jets have already spent many picks in past years on DB and Coleman is a very undersized DB. Scouting reports (the few I found on him) say he plays bigger than he looks but I still fear him being broken in half. His only saving grace is his 4.4 speed that may put him at gunner if he even makes the team. I would have much rather seen someone like Eslinger but then again no one asked me.

Grade: D

Pick #220 ? Titus Adams: The Jets closed out their draft by picking a DT. Has the size to play either line position (6?3 and 300 pounds). While he didn?t stand out at Nebraska he did at least play at a big time football school and some scouting reports say he even has the chance to start in a few years. That is something you don?t normally see in a 7th round pick scouting report to Kudos to the Jets.

Grade: B-

Overall, I say the Jets did a good job at addressing needs and didn?t go and make the sexy pick. The Jets stayed away from overloading the roster at one position. A trap some teams fall into by picking the best player available no matter what. They filled the O-line needs as best as anyone could have. Then they kept their head about them and went after other positions of needs. Good Job by a new Front Office.

Let me know your thoughts and comments.

Thanks Jetman

 

Not necessarily because I don't always believe "their guy" will make it. Anthony Schlegel, I feel will make it.

 

I agree with you I don't know why everyone is hating on this pick. Would people still hate it if it was a round later?