New York Jets: Players to Target in Draft to Complete Tim Tebow Experiment

Much of the talk this week in the National Football League has centered on the New York Jets' acquisition of quarterback Tim Tebow, which has the media abuzz with speculation about the future of both Tebow and starter Mark Sanchez.

It has also thrown the Jets locker room into disarray and has inspired one multibillion-dollar sneaker company to sue another.

However, if the Jets really are going to make the Tim Tebow experiment a success, whether it's as a part-time Wildcat quarterback or if he eventually supplants Sanchez as the starter for Gang Green, then there are some players the Jets should definitely be targeting in this April's NFL draft as pieces that could potentially help Tebow and the Jets get back into the postseason.

Jonathan Martin—OT, Stanford

The New York Jets have developed a reputation over the past several years of having one of the better offensive lines in the National Football League, but whether it's Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow under center next season, the Jets need to get better at right tackle, as 2011 starter Wayne Hunter was a sieve last year, allowing 11 sacks.

Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin is a two-time All-American who was a large part of the collegiate success of quarterback Andrew Luck, and the 6'5" 302-pound Cardinal standout would be an immediate and significant upgrade over Hunter on the right side of the offensive line.

However, it's possible that Martin won't make it to the Jets with the 16th overall pick, and if that's the case then New York would be best served by going another direction in the first round and waiting until the second round to secure an offensive lineman, where such players as Florida State's Zebrie Sanders should be available.

Courtney Upshaw—OLB, Alabama

If Martin is indeed taken by the time the Jets go on the clock with their first pick on April 26th, then the team may well turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball, and more specifically to a pass rush that was anemic at times in 2011, forcing head coach Rex Ryan to dial up blitzes early and often to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Ryan was reportedly on hand for South Carolina's recent pro day, which could indicate that the Jets have interest in defensive end Melvin Ingram, but Ingram's stock is on the rise of late, and it's rather unlikely that he'll make it to the Jets at 16.

That could spur the Jets to potentially take a look at Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw, who racked up 9.5 sacks en route to being named a second-team All-American in 2011.

While Upshaw has some work to do on rehabbing his draft stock after a lackluster showing at the NFL combine, ESPN's Alex Scarborough still believes that Upshaw has an excellent chance of being a first-round pick.

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Upshaw will have some work to do in his workouts. The 6'2", 265-pound linebacker experienced a slight dip in interest following a less-than-stellar showing at the NFL Combine, where he did not participate in the 40-yard dash.

Upshaw’s game film sells a first-round grade, but if he can show the scouts and general managers he can deliver those coveted measurables on Thursday, it could go a long way in solidifying a first-round grade and potentially slide him up in the draft.

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David Wilson—RB, Virginia Tech

A large part of the success that Tim Tebow enjoyed in Denver last season was due to the Broncos' top-ranked rushing attack, and although that ranking is at least partially attributable to the run-centric offense that the Broncos employed, it underscores the Jets' need to upgrade a rushing attack that dropped from fourth in the NFL in 2010 to 22nd a season ago.

Backup ball-carrier LaDainian Tomlinson is a 32-year-old free agent who appears unlikely to return to the Jets, which means that New York will probably look to add a running back fairly early in the 2012 draft to complement starter Shonn Greene, who topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career last season but is one of the more plodding backs in the NFL.

Virginia Tech's David Wilson, who rushed for more than 1,700 yards for the Hokies last year, would seem an excellent fit for the Jets that should be available in the second round of April's draft, and the 5'10" 206-pounder would appear to be an outstanding change of pace for Greene given the speed that Wilson displayed at Virginia Tech's pro day according the NFL Network's Gil Brandt.

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Wilson (5-foot-9 7/8 and 206 pounds) ran the 40-yard dash just once (4.40 seconds) and did not participate in the jumps or shuttles, standing by his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine. Wilson also had a very good position workout, showing quickness and explosion.

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