New York Jets: 5 Most Popular First-Round Picks in 2012 NFL Mock Drafts

A cyclone of mock drafts is enough to make any fan's head spin.

Gather your thoughts and take a seat; I took about 20 spins in my favorite office chair, tallying up the picks to bring you my roundup of the most popular first-round picks for the New York Jets.

This should be good enough to cure the dizzy spell for both of us. So let's get right to it.

Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The pass-rushers available in the draft have been wildly popular picks to the Jets overall. It's one of their biggest needs, with Bryan Thomas near the end of his career at 34 years old and Calvin Pace already a ripe 31.

Mercilus is raw in that he has a ton of pass-rushing ability, but the question is whether he has the athleticism to learn the 3-4 outside linebacker spot, which most think he doesn't. The Jets need to improve their pass rush, though, having logged just 35 sacks in 2011, and Mercilus would be a quick fix to that problem.

Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

A good 3-4 outside linebacker prospect is hard to find, especially one where his future position isn't based on projection. Upshaw has experience as a 3-4 outside linebacker in Nick Saban's Alabama defense.

He has the ability to play multiple spots in the defense, at both outside and inside linebacker as well as with his hand in the dirt as a down lineman in pass-rushing situations. 

Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Three outside linebacker prospects make the list of most popular first-round picks for the Jets, but Melvin Ingram may be the best of them. Talk about versatile and explosive, Ingram can do it all, from rushing the passer to dropping into coverage.

The Jets could really use a playmaker on the outside, and Ingram has consistently shown his ability to be that. The question is, can he set the edge in run defense? He's pretty small at just 6'1" and 264 pounds, and adding bulk might not be in his best interest at the sacrifice of that athleticism.

Mark Barron, S Alabama

The only first round safety prospect in the 2012 draft, Mark Barron will likely be selected right around the Jets pick and many experts have him going there. They could really use a coverage safety more than an inside-the-box guy like Barron, but more depth wouldn't hurt. Especially since their current in-the-box safety is LaRon Landry, who always gets injured.

Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame

The Jets haven't drafted a wide receiver in the first round under Mike Tannenbaum, but there's a first time for everything. Floyd has been projected between picks 10 and 16, and is considered either the No. 1 or 2 wide receiver prospect along with Justin Blackmon, depending on who you ask.

He caught touchdowns with frequency in 2012, reeling in 37 career touchdowns with the Irish. He ran a 40 time faster than his tape would indicate, but he is a tough matchup for opposing defenses outside the numbers simply for his 6'3", 220-pound frame.

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