Once free agency starts all these become outdated once guys start signing elsewhere so this is it. Free Agency: Alan Faneca, OG, Pittsburgh. Up until recently I wasn't on board for this move but the more I think of it the more it makes sense. He's 31 and going to command a high salary but putting him between Ferguson and Mangold would help both of them. Looking at the type of impact Steve Hutchinson had in Seattle and then Minnesota, both of which he played in between an athletic left tackle and a very very good center and both running games were great while he was there. I think Faneca could have the same kind of impact. When one of the top 5 at a given position becomes available and it just so happens that's your biggest area that needs improvement it becomes an easy move. Drayton Florence, CB, San Diego. Very good man-man corner who has experience in a 3-4 with a good pass rush, exactly what we're trying to build. With the emergence of Cromartie and teams quick to resign their own CB's he could be the best available option after Samuel but will cost less. Florence is a great athlete who would look extremely solid oppossite Revis. Calvin Pace, DE/OLB, Arizona. Has been mentioned as a possible target, I think he'd be a good fit. Putting him at the strong side OLB and returning BT back to the side he had more success could have a big impact. As long as he's not looking for a ton of cash this is the kind of signing that could look really good or have us saying same old Jets again. Personally I feel it's a good idea. Dhani Jones, ILB, Cincinatti. 29 years old and the size (6'1, 240) to play on the inside next to Harris. Nothing spectacular but linebacker depth is a necessity in the 3-4. Anthony Becht, TE, Tampa Bay. We need a better blocking TE, and there aren't too many better available. Just never throw him the ball. Ever. DeShaun Foster, RB, Carolina. Just released. Always gets hurt but still has some talent. If he comes cheap you can never have enough running backs. Hank Poteat, Wade Smith, Brad Kassell. All valuable backups who should have a role on this team. Trades: Jonathon Vilma to Detroit for 3rd round pick (#76 overall). It seems crazy that a former 1st round pick and guy who could be a perennial pro-bowler would only fetch us a 3rd rounder but with the uncertainty in his knee I think this seems about right. It's a shame because this is the guy we thought would anchor our defense for years to come. I still think he could be successful in a 3-4 but it appears he's on the block so might as well make the best of it. Draft: 1.6) Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio St. I know I have the Jets signing Pace but I still think this is the pick. Gholston is more of a true pass rusher so bringing him in in obvious passing situations would be a good way to get him started until he forces either Pace or Thomas out of the lineup. Competition is everything and hopefully it'd spark this guy to become the next Merriman. 2.6) Godser Cherilus, OT, BC. I think he lasts this long just because of the abundance of good tackles in the draft. He's not going to be a guy that makes the Pro Bowl every year but he'd lock up the oppossite bookend of Ferguson for a long time. 3.6) Ahtyba Rubin, NT, Iowa St. Could be the nose we've been looking for. Prototypical size and an apparent willingness to do the dirty work he'd be a great pick here. One knock on him is apparently his conditioning so rotating him in with Pouha would be an ideal situation for his rookie year. 3.15 ) Kendall Langford, DE/DT, Hampton. Small school prospect who's starting to climb the draft board. Great 3-4 defensive end size at 6'6 300, nfl.com compares him to Ty Warren. Any time you can get a player with that kind of upside in the middle of the 3rd round it could be a steal. 4.6) Erik Ainge, QB, Tennesee. Could wind up being a better pro than collegiate. Lot of talent and ideal NFL QB size, high potential reward for a 4th round pick. 5.6) Josh Barrett, S, Arizona St. Hard hitter with a great motor. Would be an immediate contributor to special teams cover units and may be able to push Elam at some point. 6.6) Rodrick Johnson, ILB, Ok. St. 6'3 255. This late in the draft best case scenario is he's a solid depth guy in the middle. 7.6) Joey Haynos, TE, Maryland. 6'8, 260. If he lasts this long he could be an interesting developmental project. Depth Chart: QB: Clemens, Pennington, Ainge RB: Jones, Washington, Foster FB: Posciak, Kowalewski WR: Coles, Cotchery, Smith, Stuckey, Wright TE: Baker, Becht, Haynos OT: Ferguson, Cherilus, Bender OG: Faneca, Moore, Smith C: Mangold, Smith DE: Ellis, Coleman, Langford, Robertson NT: Pouha, Rubin, Robertson OLB: Thomas, Pace, Gholston, Bowens ILB: Harris, Jones, Kassell, Johnson CB: Revis, Florence, Poteat, Miller, Coleman FS: Elam, Barrett SS: Rhodes, Smith
I'd settle for that. Get this out the way , Becht :lol: Good blocker though. Re Draft , I like it up to Erik Ainge , don't know too much about the other guys other than reading about them. Totally agree , unspectacular , but good team players.
I think you've done a marvelous job, however I have one major piece of criticism. How bout addressing our WR corp? Coles and Cotch are essentially the same player. Neither stretches the field. Neither is a serious red zone threat. Coles is banged up. Smith doesn't appear to fit the bill. Stuckey and Wright are nice role players for the time being, but COME ON! We NEED to address this situation more seriously either by bringing in Berrian/Stallworth/B. Johnson, or drafting a Hardy/Thomas/Sweed/Caldwell with our 2nd round pick.
I'd cream if we had that FA and draft but one question, why does everyone seem to think Elam is gunna be starting for us next year? I've never even heard of the guy until the end of last year. Is he good at all?
yes they need a wide reciver I dont mind taking Angie in the 4th but I'd prefer if it were for a traded pick not in the top 10 in the 4th
Not addressing WR in either free agency or the draft is IMO a major mistake. We are very very thin at WR and it is one of our biggest needs.
I think we certainly need to upgrade the WR and would love to have another early 2nd rounder because I think a Hardy or Sweed will be there. However I think it's more important to address the defense and the line and go from there. I think it's easier to build the foundation and then add a playmaker to take your team to the next level then trying to integrate pieces in the trenches.
Well said. I like the rest of the mock other than that minor point, but you have an argument. If we can't nab an extra 2nd though, I'd still like to go for a Bryant Johnson or Bernard Berrian in FA. Just because you concentrate on the lines doesn't mean you ignore some other pertinent issues. Worst case scenario, we go in like that and pray that a healthy Stuckey performs like he looked early on last year before getting hurt. If that's the case we might be in decent enough shape offensively with an improved line. One of the more realistic mocks I've seen with more roleplayer-type signings than big in-your-face ones, which seems to more be the style of this FO (sans Faneca of course, but he's not at a flashy position). Good work. As for the draft, you absolutely take Gholston even with Pace on board. A rotation consisting of some mix of Thomas, Pace, Gholston, and Bowens could make QBs wet their pants if the D-line falls into place with D-Rob at end and Rubin/Pouha in the middle.
I've seen some people complaining about not adding a WR in this thread. While I agree that WR is a need, the criticism seems unfair. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's possible to fill all of the holes that this team has in one off-season.
