We haven't taken a safety in the first three rounds since 2006 (Eric Smith). Could this be the year? Dix and Pryor are likely to cost a first, which, given our needs on the offensive side, doesn't appear likely. After that, there is some depth in the round 2/4 guys with guys like Ward, Bailey, Joyner, Reynolds, Loston, Bucannon, and Brooks. Could you see us taking a safety in the first 4 rounds?
I know there's definitely the need for S help. Whether Rex and/or Idzik like any of those prospects is another matter. It's hard to say since we don't know exactly how much input Rex had into Tanny's drafts, or how much input he has with Idzik in the draft. One can project that perhaps Rex doesn't value the safety position since the Jets have never taken a S high (1st 2 rounds) during his time here, but that could be totally false. I like Pryor a lot, but I think his proper value may be in the early-to-mid 20s and wouldn't want the Jets to reach for him if there is a better player available, particularly at WR, OLB or TE. I'm not as high on Clinton-Dix. I love Ward, but he'll probably go in the 2nd round. I'm not sure if he would be a better prospect than some of the WRs, TEs or OLBs who might be there. If the Jets take Ward, I'd be very happy except that he's a SS as is Allen. Since Rex seems to see the two safety positions as interchangeable, that would make sense, but I don't like it from that perspective and think it far from ideal. With Ward's ball skills, I think he would be wasted as an in-the-box S. If he can convert to FS, I'd like that a lot. Bucannon may be ok. I like Bailey, and think he's most likely a 3rd round pick. I did like Ladler, who's projected around the 4-5th round, but he's just too slow unless his football playing speed is better than straight line track speed. I don't think any of the others really project well as FS since their coverage and ball skills are somewhat lacking, which is our more critical need.
I don't know much about the safety prospects out there, but I wouldn't mind taking a mid round one and letting him learn behind Ed Reed (if he's a Jet next year). Draft one of those center fielder type Safety's that will roam the field and read quarterbacks. Dee Milliner's play picked up big time after signing Reed. It may have been a coincidence, but I wouldn't mind Reed teaching a young safety the art of knowing where the fuck to always be lol. I like Antonio Allen at SS though, him paired with a rookie I think is a good foundation.
I really like Bucannon, he is a long safety that can step up and fill holes in the run game. His ball skills are polished too. I'd use up one of our 3rds on him in a heartbeat.
A kid i like flying under the radar as a true FS that can play is Aldon Darby from Arizona. Great speed and is a true ball hawk. He might be a late pick steal.
A player that intrigues me a little is Stanley Jean-Baptiste. He is a WR turned CB, but his 40 time at the Combine was only 4.61. That's not a CB time, but more a safety time. He's 6'3" and 218 pounds and has excellent ball skills. He might be a good project to convert to FS. The problem is he's rated a 3rd round prospect, but with his poor 40 time, he could drop. I wouldn't want him as a project in the 3rd round, but if he fell to the 4th, he might be worth a shot. Following is the review from the NFL Combine website: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/stanley-jean-baptiste?id=2543736 Stanley Jean-Baptiste CB Nebraska Grade 5.29 ? 4.61 SEC 13 REPS 41.5 INCH Top Performer 128.0 INCH Top Performer 4.33 SEC Blue Star = Top Performer 6'3" Height 32 3/8" Arm Length 218LBS. Weight 8 5/8" Hands Overview Converted from wide receiver to cornerback. 2013: Second-team All-Big Ten pick. Tied for most interceptions on team with four and led team with 12 pass breakups. 2012: Played in 14 games and started five. Led team with nine pass breakups and had a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown against Minnesota. 2011: Played in nine games and started one. 2010: Redshirted. Misc.: Following high school, Jean-Baptiste spent one at North Carolina Tech Prep with 36 receptions for 580 yards. Analysis Strengths Outstanding size and length to mix it up with bigger receivers. Good balance and body control. Jumps routes. Has good hands to intercept and can highpoint throws. Flashes functional strength to reroute receivers, discard blocks and tackle ball carriers. Very productive on the ball in limited time as a starter -- 21 pass PBUs and 6 INTs in 17 starts at Nebraska. Works to get better and made strides as a senior. Weaknesses Stiff hips. Is not a quick-twitch athlete and struggles to mirror sudden receivers. Lacks elite top-end speed (long-strider). Green positional instincts. Picks and chooses his spots to be physical -- inconsistent run defender. Has tweener traits. Football aptitude is lacking -- could struggle to grasp and execute complex assignments. Will be a 24-year-old rookie. Bottom Line A receiver-turned-cornerback in a safety’s body, Jean-Baptiste looks the part and has intriguing ball skills, strength and upside, though he lacks elite athletic ability, is smoother than he is sudden and does not consistently play to his size. Workout numbers will dictate his ultimate role and draft value, but on tape shows skills to warrant developmental consideration from teams employing press or Cover 2. -Nolan Nawrocki
"Stiff hips. Is not a quick-twitch athlete and struggles to mirror sudden receivers. Lacks elite top-end speed (long-strider). Green positional instincts. Picks and chooses his spots to be physical -- inconsistent run defender." SJB sounds a bit like Cro. Converting him to a S would be a challenge since he's just learning how to play CB, and I don't think we want to take on another project with a 3-4th round pick. Our need at safety seems to be more of a FS than a SS, and I don't think SJB has the speed, quickness, or instincts to play FS. I'd be fine taking him as a CB. Hopefully, his 40 improves at his pro day, but 4.61 at his size is pretty decent. The most important question will be his physicality at the LOS on film. We can give him safety help over the top on plays where he jams the WR, and hopefully our DL can get to the QB in time. Finally, I question whether we want another guy with a french name on the team.
Yeah, even the 4th round is really too high for another project, I just like his height and ball skills. I was thinking he could cover TEs. With this draft being so poor at the FS position, FA could be our best chance to upgrade the FS spot. The problem is, I'd really like to get a young FS prospect for Ed Reed to mentor, but there just don't seem to be many. The only two in the draft aside from Pryor that I like are Marqueston Huff and Brock Vereen. They have speed and athleticism, plus some ball skills. What do you think?
While he doesn't have the ball skills I'd like, his coverage skills sound pretty good and he has good speed at the back end. He could also help STs. He could be upgraded pretty easily, but with the Jets' front 7, he wouldn't be needed as much vs the run.
Again, hardly ideal, but probably better than Bush and definitely better than Landry in coverage. Could also help STs. His tackling can be fixed.
Craig Loston hasn't been getting talked about much recently. Probably my favorite safety behind Pryor.
