In general, you have no idea how a draft is until some years after (in the NFL 2-4 maybe) and that depends on position. But, you can rate the draft picks immediately. For example, Roger Vick was a terrible draft pick for many reasons (he didnt address a need; he was on no ones first round board; he wasnt that good) -- but Blair Thomas was a very good draft pick (almost for the same reasons). I think that the jets first two picks made sense. They need a pass rusher -- and if the TE is very good they can use him too. They obviously believe that whoever the qb is, chad, kellen or ainge (who francessa compared to chad in an interview with tannenbaum tonite) -- they will need a te -- b/c the short passing game will continue to be important.
You certainly can't kill the first 2 picks from a value/need standpoint. if we hadn't taken Gholston, the only option would have been to trade down. If the Saints offer to us was the same as their trade with the Patriots, then I'm very glad that we didn't make that trade. I initially thought the Keller pick made no sense at all but after learning more about the player and speculating about how the jets will use him, I think it was a solid pick. I don't love the fact that we traded up but chances are he would have been a Giant if we hadn't. The mid-late round picks are hard to assess as they always are. We won't know what we have until these guys hit the field. Overall I am satisfied with this draft. Not ecstatic and not disappointed. Time will tell.
In others words, Ryan Leaf was a disaster -- but no one said not to pick him in the first round -- or even with the first pick. Its when you dont do your homework -- and take someone who will be around 5 rounds later (like Roger Vick) and you take him with the 7th pick. No one complained (really) when Vilma was picked. I even remember that Alex Gordon got cheers when he was picked.
