I like what the Jets did. Quite a bit. I'm not sold on D'Brickashaw Ferguson as the next Walter Jones; I don't think he mauls people quite the same as a dominating tackle. But he'll be good. The center they got, Nick Mangold, was loved league-wide. Loved. Physical tone-setter type of guy. People who know quarterbacks thought Oregon's Kellen Clemens, the second-round passer they got, has a chance to be a long-term starter; if so, getting him at 49 was a steal, obviously. And I may be overrating Brad Smith, the Missouri quarterback who will be an NFL slash guy (receiver/runner/special-teamer/occasional thrower, sort of a latter-day Ray Lucas, or maybe a poor man's Antwaan Randle El), but getting him at 103 was good value. There was a ton of pressure on new GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini, but they acquitted themselves well. I didn't like our draft, but I'm in the minority.
I thought we came out of it OK and am glad we didn't get sucked into the hype surrounding some of the other supposed top picks.
Before Shaun Alexander became such a star Walter jones was considered a notch below Ogden and Pace in particular because of perceived sub-par run blocking, so let's remember that a player's rep is as much due to his own skill as those around him.
Brick will never have Jones' body type. Walter is just bigger all around. But Brick will fill out over the next couple of years. He needs to work on inside moves and run blocking, but is still the best OT to come out the last 2 years.
I wanted to try to trade up from 29 to get Lawson after the cowboys passed on him. Our pass rush wasn't addressed at all. I'm not as high on Clemens as others. A first rounder on a Center is VERY risky. Especially with some good ones still available in round 2.
