8 Draft Prospects Who Will Fit the New York Jets' Biggest Needs

For the first time in several years, the New York Jets seem to have stability.

Gang Green is fresh off a surprising 8-8 season, Rex Ryan will be back on the sidelines next season, Geno Smith looked to be blossoming into a franchise quarterback in the season's final games and the defensive front is young and dominant. 

As shocking as it sounds, the Jets could be one solid draft away from becoming a dangerous postseason contender for years to come.

In John Idzik's second draft as New York's general manager, he has to address the Jets' needs early. While roster depth is always great, the Jets have too many holes on their current roster to look for depth.

Gang Green's biggest holes are, without doubt, at wide receiver, outside linebacker, safety and cornerback.

Idzik and company need to look to fix these holes if the Jets are going to see continued success in the next few seasons.

With that said, here are eight solid options for the Jets to target in the upcoming draft. 

Mike Evans

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The Jets are a mess at wide receiver.

Santonio Holmes will be gone this offseason and Stephen Hill is moving closer to the bust label. Jeremy Kerley and David Nelson are solid, but they're best reserved for secondary roles. 

New York should be targeting an explosive wideout in the draft who can come in and make an impact immediately in Round 1. 

Luckily for Gang Green, 2014 has one of the more talented receiving classes in recent memory.

The best wideout on the board is Sammy Watkins, who will likely be chosen in the top 10. However, Mike Evans is a close second. 

Evans is coming off a phenomenal season at Texas A&M, in which he recorded 65 catches, 1,322 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Evans is more than just insane production, though. His physical tools are amazing. 

The redshirt sophomore is a huge target at 6'5'' and 225 pounds. He has the size and jumping ability to be a dangerous red-zone weapon and is incredibly hard to take down in the open field. 

Evans may not possess elite speed, but he has the acceleration to blow past defenders and make long catches downfield. 

The Texas native would give Geno Smith a huge, and dangerous, No. 1 receiver who would immediately open up the Jets' playbook. 

Marqise Lee

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If the Jets miss out on Mike Evans, which is a strong possibility considering Evans' upside and the team's many holes at wide receiver, Marqise Lee would be a fantastic consolation prize. 

Lee is coming off a down season, having recorded just 57 catches, 791 yards and four touchdowns in 2013. However, Lee's struggles can be attributed to nagging injuries. 

When at full health, Lee is an absolute monster. In 2011 and 2012, a healthy Lee put up an astonishing 191 catches, 2,864 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns. 

Lee isn't the same huge target as Evans at just 6'0'' and 195 pounds. However, the USC wideout is an incredibly polished route-runner and an electric playmaker. 

With his blazing speed and top-notch elusiveness in the open field, Lee can turn a simple catch into a long gain on any play. 

Lee is a perfect fit for the Jets offensive scheme. He can attack defenses downfield while also gaining yards after the catch on short routes. 

Jets fans should be happy if they hear the name Marqise Lee with the 18th overall pick. 

Deone Bucannon

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After the Jets go for a wide receiver in the first round, they can look in a variety of directions to address different needs throughout the roster. 

Deone Bucannon would be a terrific selection for New York in either the second or third round, depending on who is available when the Jets are on the clock for the second time. 

Bucannon would be an ideal safety fit in Rex Ryan's defense. Bucannon is a big guy at 6'1'', 215 pounds, and is an imposing open-field tackler. He is a gambler in pass coverage and has the capability of making a big play on any given snap. 

In 2013, Bucannon led the Pac-12 in tackles with 114. He also recorded six interceptions and 4.5 tackles for loss with three forced fumbles. 

While Bucannon can sometimes make mistakes in coverage, he is a big-time playmaker who would be a superb addition in Rex Ryan's hard-nosed defense. 

Ty Zimmerman

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Another safety who the Jets should look at is Kansas State product Ty Zimmerman. 

Zimmerman, a projected mid- to late-round pick, could pay major dividends immediately for Rex Ryan and company. While Zimmerman isn't a top-notch starting safety, he could split time with Antonio Allen or another young player early on in his career. 

Zimmerman is a big guy at 6'1'' and 204 pounds with decent speed. His open-field tackling ability is solid and his coverage skills are decent. 

The Kansas native is also a play-maker on the back end. He recorded 13 interceptions in his collegiate career, including three this past season. 

New York's defense really struggled to force turnovers this season, so the addition of a player like Zimmerman could be huge. 

Dee Ford

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New York got decent production out of the outside linebacker spot this season, but they need to revamp the position for the future. 

Antwan Barnes is coming off a major surgery and 33-year-old Calvin Pace is a free agent this offseason. 

Dee Ford would be a tremendous replacement for those aging veterans and he can be had for just a third- or fourth-round selection. 

Ford is an undersized defensive end in college, but could make the switch to outside linebacker in the pros. As a linebacker, Ford has the ability to excel. 

Ford possesses outstanding athleticism and speed. While he can sometimes struggle in shedding blocks and is a subpar run defender, Ford could be a double-digit sack producer at the NFL level. 

The Auburn product would have no trouble in fitting into New York's excellent front seven. 

Stanley Jean-Baptiste

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Antonio Cromartie is coming off an awful 2013 season and may be a goner this offseason unless he and the Jets can renegotiate his contract. Dee Milliner showed promise at the end of the season, but he's still no sure bet in the starting role. 

The questions at cornerback need to be addressed with a mid- to late-round pick in the draft. 

Stanley Jean-Baptiste would be a phenomenal selection in the fourth, fifth or even sixth round. 

Jean-Baptiste is a huge cornerback at 6'3'', 220 pounds, but he can sometimes struggle with mental errors and open-field tackling. 

However, the Nebraska product is a play-maker with a nose for the football. He recorded four interceptions along with 11 pass deflections this season. 

Jean-Baptiste isn't the type of player who could start in Week 1 for the Jets, but he can develop into a solid cornerback with the right guidance. 

Andre Williams

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The Jets may have two solid running backs already on their roster in Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory, but Andre Williams is the type of player who could lead an offense. 

Williams had one of the greatest running back seasons in recent memory at Boston College this season, racking up 2,102 yards and 17 touchdowns on 329 carries. 

Despite his ridiculous season, Williams is only projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft. 

Williams sometimes struggles as a pass protector and offers little in the pass-catching department, but his ability to pick up tough yards on early downs in second to none. 

With a three-headed rushing attack of Williams, Powell and Ivory rotating throughout every game, the Jets rushing attack could verge on being unstoppable.