New York Jets: Ideal Draft Picks for Each Position of Need
The new regime in New York is underway with the recent hiring of new general manager Mike Maccagnan and new head coach Todd Bowles, reports ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini.
The measuring stick for GMs is often predicated on how they handle the draft, specifically the first round; for coaches, it’s how well they coach those early draft picks.
Outside of the quarterback position, the New York Jets may lean heavily on defense in this year’s draft to get younger and add depth to the roster. Fortunately, the Jets will have a clear shot to select an impact player in the first round to address any of their pressing roster needs with the sixth overall pick.
If you’re keeping score at home, these are the first-round draft picks for Gang Green in the last five years, Kyle Wilson (2010), Muhammad Wilkerson (2011), Quinton Coples (2012), Sheldon Richardson (2013), Dee Milliner (2013) and Calvin Pryor (2014).
Outside of Wilson, the Jets' recent first-round picks are continuing to develop or have made an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball.
This year, the Jets have pressing deficiencies on both sides of the ball. Here are five prospects who should be on Maccagnan and Bowles’ big board for the first round.
Vic Beasley: OLB (Clemson)
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Re-signing David Harris isn't set in stone, and Calvin Pace will be 35 this year. Parting ways with both players would leave the linebacker corps depleted.
The ACC Defensive Player of the Year amassed 11 sacks in his final year at Clemson. Vic Beasley is the perfect upgrade over an aging Pace at outside linebacker.
Beasley’s size and playing style have been compared to Von Miller of the Denver Broncos, per Rob Rang and Derek Stephens of CBSSports.com.
Beasley also has "the explosive closing burst that jars the ball loose," according to Rang and Stephens. He has great speed for his size and is capable of chasing down running backs, tight ends and wide receivers in pursuit.
Adding Beasley to the mix would maintain the Jets' tenacious pressure on opposing QBs from the linebacker position with heightened speed and slightly better coverage skills.
Landon Collins: SS (Alabama)
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Both Jaiquawn Jarrett and Dawan Landry enter free agency this offseason. Antonio Allen performed poorly at his natural safety position and as a cornerback in Rex Ryan’s makeshift secondary.
Drafting Landon Collins isn’t the flashiest pick, but it fills a potential void the Jets need to address.
As the top-ranked safety entering the draft, he’s a versatile defensive back with a unique skill set.
Collins is a "physical" safety, per Dane Brugler and Rang, and one who can battle with the prolific tight ends the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Julius Thomas in the secondary. He has also steadily improved his coverage skills, grabbing three interceptions in his final year at Alabama.
He’s most dangerous when playing closer to the line of scrimmage and attacking ball-carriers with strip tackles to force turnovers.
This selection becomes more likely if Jarrett and Landry sign elsewhere, especially with Pryor struggling in his rookie season.
Trae Waynes: CB (Michigan State)
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The clock is ticking on Dee Milliner after two injury-plagued seasons in New York. The former first-round pick had a decent rookie season with its ups and downs and subsequently disappeared in 2014, playing in only three games.
Whether Milliner lives up to expectations or not, the Jets may address the position if they fail to do so in free agency. Marcus Williams, an undrafted free agent out of North Dakota State was by far the most impressive cornerback on the Jets roster in 2014. However, the small sample leaves room for skepticism.
Trae Waynes played in a physical secondary with Michigan State. His long arms and physical style can challenge the most talented vertical receivers with exceptional man coverage and a jam right off the line of scrimmage, per Brugler.
Waynes' length is similar to Antonio Cromartie, whom Bowles coached in Arizona. Under Bowles, the Michigan State cornerback can become a staple in the Jets secondary.
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Brett Hundley: QB (UCLA)
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Brett Hundley is the third-best quarterback no one talks about in the draft with all the glitz and glamour surrounding Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston.
Hundley doesn’t have the media attention, but he has strong attributes that translate to the NFL level.
According to CBSSports.com, he’s projected as a late first-round to early second-round pick.
An indicator for an early QB selection would be trading back to the end of the first round and accumulating an additional pick or two for the sixth spot.
Choosing Hundley would also indicate the newly appointed offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, which NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported, likes what he sees from the dual-threat QB from UCLA.
Gailey has experience with a dual-threat QB dating back to his short stint as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997. Kordell Stewart was the centerpiece of the offense. Statistically, Stewart had his best season under Gailey, throwing for 3,020 yards, 21 touchdowns and rushing for 476 yards and 11 touchdowns.
There are no guarantees that Hundley will be available for the Jets in the second round. If Geno Smith isn’t part of the new plan, expect the Jets to take a deep look at the UCLA Bruin as a dual-threat QB with a strong arm and natural accuracy.
Hundley didn’t have high-end talent on offense, but he boasts a three-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio in his collegiate career (75 TDs and 25 INTs). He’s low on the radar, but he should be high on the Jets’ first-round big board.
Amari Cooper: WR (Alabama)
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Amari Cooper should be at the very top of the Jets’ big board.
Despite signing Eric Decker and acquiring Percy Harvin, the Jets' vertical attack was subpar and inconsistent in 2014.
Cooper has been the definition of consistent in his collegiate career. He eclipsed Alabama’s freshman receiving records in receptions (59), yards (1,000) and touchdowns (11). He had the most receptions (124) and yards (1,727) in the NCAA in 2014. He has 31 total touchdowns in three years.
Whether the Jets decide to draft Hundley, stick with Smith or sign a veteran QB in free agency, Cooper is a necessary weapon to jump-start the vertical attack.
He doesn’t offer uncanny speed or tremendous size, but he has two critical wide receiver attributes. He can catch the ball even in difficult spots and exhibits exceptional field awareness.
Cooper is able to locate the ball and has the wherewithal to keep his feet and body in the right place to move the chains and score in the red zone—an area of the field where the Jets struggled in 2014.
Gang Green tied for the least amount of passing first downs with the Jacksonville Jaguars (154) and ranked 30th in passing TDs with only 16.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com.
Draft analysis provided by CBSSports.com.
Jets' coaching and front-office hires provided by ESPNNewYork.com reporter Rich Cimini.
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