New York Jets Still Have Concerns After Draft

Heading into the NFL Draft the New York Jets had some serious questions to answer regarding their starting roster. Following the draft, a lot of those questions remain unanswered.

Here is my list of biggest question marks for the Jets heading into this season.

Quarterback

The biggest question that loomed over new Head Coach Rex Ryan was who will be the man to stand under center and direct the offense?

It became relatively clear that Brett Favre didn't want the job...at least not in New York. Most people assumed that the two young quarterbacks, Brett Ratliff and Kellen Clemens would battle it out and that the Jets would sign a veteran quarterback to push the youngsters.

So Jets fans waited for a signing...and waited…and waited.

Then, the Raiders signed Jeff Garcia to push their young signal caller, JaMarcus Russell.

Next, Byron Leftwich went to Tampa Bay to help transition their newly drafted quarterback Josh Freeman.

Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins were resigned by their teams, and every other veteran free agent quarterback on the market (Rex Grossman, Kyle Boller, Luke McCown, etc.) seems to be more of a hindrance then help.

Once all of the veteran free agent quarterback’s were off of the table, most believed that the Jets were confident with Clemens or Ratliff and were going to give the job to one of them.

Wrong again.

On draft day, the Jets decided to make a strong move, and traded up from No. 17 to No. 5 and grabbed Mark Sanchez of USC.

Sanchez, who only started 16 games at USC, gives the Jets more confidence at the position and it's their belief that he will be NFL ready by the time the season starts...sorry Kellen, I guess New York just isn't the place for you.

So the Jets believe that they have answered their most pertinent need by finding, what they hope to be, their QB of the future. That question will remain unanswered until Sanchez gets in actual game situations—and even then, a real conclusion won't be made for a few seasons.

Wide Receiver

So, who will Sanchez throw the ball to this year?

The second biggest need on this Jets roster would be the lack of a true No. 1 wide receiver. Jerricho Cotchery, while very talented, isn't that guy and frankly, the recently released

Laverneus Coles hadn't been that guy in quite some time. The Jets need a guy who will stretch the field and strike fear into defenses.

The Bills have two of those types in T.O. and Lee Evans, the Pats have Randy Moss, but the Jets don't seem ready to make a move at Arizona’s Anquan Boldin or Cleveland’s Braylon Edwards and obviously didn't address that need in the draft.

So what's left?

Plaxico Burress seems to be of interest to the Jets and it would seem that they would sign him if he is allowed to play next season, but the chances of that are slim. My bet, he's either in jail or suspended from the league next year—either way, he won't be wearing the green and white.

Is there a solution?

I propose trading Thomas Jones. The Jets drafted Shonn Greene and have Leon Washington ready to step in as the premier running back for this offense. Plus, Jones stock will never be higher. Talk to Erik Mangini about acquiring Edwards in a trade.

Defensive Line

While the Jets did a very nice job of making sure to acquire free agent middle linebacker Bart Scott, pairing him with David Harris gives the Jets one of the best inside linebacking corps in the NFL, they have fallen short in acquiring defensive line help that can really rush the QB and force him to make poor decisions.

Ryan—known in Baltimore as the "Mad Scientist"—is known for his confusing defensive formations and blitzes. He will undoubtedly confuse offenses and offensive coordinators alike, but at some point you need your defensive line to just get at the QB.

Although the Jets have Kris Jenkins disturbing presence at defensive tackle, they are still lacking someone who can come off the edge and get to the passer.

The acquisition of Scott will give the Jets more confidence in coverage, something they did not have with Eric Barton, and will allow Calvin Pace (also, not very good in coverage) the opportunity to rush the QB more efficiently.

But the question remains: Who will get to the QB?

Will the Jets put Vernon Gholston back to DE (where he played in college) if he struggles at linebacker this year?

Will Bryan Thomas produce the way he did before he was given the new contract or after?

Can Shawn Ellis produce the way he did in the first five weeks of the 2008 season, or will he "produce" the way he did after he was arrested?

Can the linebacker’s put enough pressure on the QB to make this defense what every Jets fan thinks, and hopes, it can be?

While the Jets still have some answers to come up with, all Jets fans can say is: In Rex we trust.