I'm bored and the season has been a complete disappointment, so the draft talk is probably going to start early for me this year. To bad I think this class is pretty weak this year. Oh well... Here we go.. *I am hopeful for a trade back as well, so I predict the Jets trade back and pick up a late first and early second rounder for this mock.* 1 - Barrett Jones, G, Alabama - He has the size and mental toughness to excel on this team. He has great technique and uses his hands and feet very well. The most important facet of this pick is the kids versatile stature and intelligence. He would be a great piece for us along the OL because we could possibly teach him other positions as well because I think he is smart enough to retain that type of work load and execute it. 2a - Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee - I'm not sure how you guys feel about this kid but I love his passion, I love the play making ability he offers and he has very good hands. He is a tall receiver who can run after the catch as well. If he comes out, he will blow up the combine and establish himself as one of the best overall athletes in this draft. Also, I am not a Keenan Allen fan at all, so that is another basis for this selection. I think Hunter will climb up the draft boards come April. 2b - D.J. Fluker, T, Alabama - I love the Bama OL, what can I say? Seriously though I think this kid is a tremendous talent and I think he is another instant starter for us if we were to draft him. He has amazing size for the scheme we are trying to accomplish here and he is an absolute mauler in the run game. I think he would be a perfect fit for us. 3 - Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon - The Ducks have an amazing offense, Barner was a big reason for that and he contributed very well. He is a little smaller than I think any of us would prefer but he has amazing vision and patience in allowing his blockers to do their job so he can do his. He has elusive traits and he has good determination despite his size to break some tackles. 4 - John Simon, LB/DE, Ohio State - Honestly I know I am a Ohio State fan but I love this kids passion and furious demeanor on the field. He is such a strong kid, with a non stop motor and a desire to be the best at his craft. He is a natural leader and I think he will be very successful in the NFL. I think he goes much sooner than this but it's early and I don't want to look biased. 5 - Rashard Hall, FS, Clemson - I think this kid is fantastic. He is a playmaker and a very good tackler who can really read a play as it goes. I think he is very under rated by a lot of people. He also excels at something we need and that is range, he is a very rangy player in the center of the field and that is something that we will need moving forward.
I'd be very upset with Barrett Jones,......even with a tradedown that accumulated more pickes. Barrett Jones has been badly exposed this year. He should have gone pro last year. I think he hit his peak of ability last year. I actually like John Simon - I posted a plea for someone to figure out a way we can draft him. Not sure if he lasts to the 4th round. I like Hall as well.
Don't like the Jones pick, but if that was Warmack I like that mock. Especially, Simon in the 4th and Hunter in the 2nd, both would a steal. If we got Hunter, I think that would mean the end of Holmes. If we draft a WR in the 1st or 2nd, I think that will be the end of Holmes as a Jet. You simply just can't invest that much money and that many high draft picks into one position when your team has some noticeable holes.
What do you mean he was badly exposed this year? He has played very well especially considering he has played out of position all year at center. You do realize as the center of that team he was undersized for the position all year and he has amazing traits, intelligence, and versatility to excel at his more natural position of being a gaurd. The kid is amazing considering how versed he has been for Bama, he has stepped in and filled whatever gap Saban needed him to fill and he has done a damn good job in the process. It is very rare to have a guy of his size move the way he does and be so fundamentaly sound all while excelling at gaurd, LT, and center. That is not being exposed, that is being impressive. Warmack should not be there if a trade back does happen and BJ would be a great pick up for the Jets in the back end of the first. I really think the kid will be an amazing pick up for some team and I would love for it to be the Jets.
I could absolutely see that as well. I think he will absolutely blow up the combine and jump tremendously up the draft boards. It's a long ways till April but I could see it.
I like this draft. Rebuild the line with young, cheap prospects. They may struggle their rookie year, but it won't matter since we aren't going anywhere next year with Sanchez and because our schedule is really tough next year. In 2014, we get a high pick and draft an AJ McCarrons, Bridgewater, etc who can come in with a good o-line and wide receivers.
There are several guys I'd take before Jones, Jones will most likely be moving to Center at the NFL level.
Why will he most likely move to center? Just because that is what he played as a senior doesn't mean that is his natural position.
Mind you I've not seen him play overall, but having done a lot of reading around that seems to be the overall feel for him. But mostly it seems to be that his talent at center, and the dirth of top line centers, make him a natural captain of the O-line coupled with the fact he's not overpowering by most accounts.
He isn't overpowering at center because he is undersized for the position but he still has excelled given this fact. The skill set he has benefits him much more on the outside of the line because he has such good hands and feet and I think his frame overall is much more suited for the guard position. It's just my opinion though and I really don't think you can go wrong with him but we will see.
He has played center more because of need than anything. We had strong enough guards (Steen and Warmack) and tackles (Cyrus K. and Fluker) to allow Barrett to play center. Center was our weakest spot on the line, so it made sense to put Barrett there, based on his versatility. Personally, I think he's best suited for guard, size-wise, but I could also see him taking the responsibility of making the line calls from that position, if you have a mauler-type at center. I'm not sure how well it would work with Jones standing next to a slightly undersized tackle in Ferguson, so you may want to play him on the right side instead on the 2013 Jets.
I'm not a Bama fan but I really like the way Saban builds his team and gets the most out of his players. Hell of a coach. I also think he would be best suited at RG and I really think he is going to be a hell of a player in the NFL. I would love for him to be a Jet in 2013. Thanks for your input.
Guards don't make enough impact to warrant the first round pick. Decastro or Warmack are the only guys who should be considered there because they are rare elite players. Even then, I wouldn't take either in the top 20. The difference between Slauson/Ducasse and Barret isn't worth it imo.
