The New York Jets' Round 1 Big Board Before Combine
A lot will change over the next few months as it relates to the 2015 NFL draft. Prospects will go through the NFL Scouting Combine and meet privately with teams. General managers will rank their needs and fill some of them in free agency. In short, this is a period when team needs and prospects will take shape.
That being said, the only thing we have right now is right now.
As it pertains to the New York Jets, the list of needs is long: Quarterback, wide receiver, guard, pass-rushing outside linebacker, cornerback and overall depth are all concerns.
But when building a big board, a team must take into account that player's value to its roster. This means an intersection of need, talent, off-field character, injury history and other factors. So, with those things in mind, let's take a look at how the Jets' big board stacks up headed into the 2015 combine.
5. Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
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Pass-rusher-mania begins on the Jets' big board, as Clemson outside linebacker Vic Beasley appears to be one of many great fits for the defense. Head coach Todd Bowles is going to want to employ a hybrid defense that changes its scheme depending on its opponent, and Beasley has that kind of ability.
One NFC East scout told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, "I know everyone will have him pegged as a 3-4 edge guy, but I think 4-3 defenses would be crazy not to consider him as a "Will" or "Sam" who can bump down as an edge-rusher in third downs. Denver does it with Von Miller, so why not consider it?"
Beasley is versatile enough to earn a comparison to Von Miller? The Jets would be foolish not to consider him for their shapeshifting defense.
He may need to add some bulk to his 6'3", 235-pound frame before the 2015 season begins, but a few months in an NFL workout program should help in that regard.
He is highly regarded for his first-step quickness. CBS Sports' Rob Rang writes, "Beasley may possess the country's best first step. His burst off the ball frequently catches tackles off-balance, and he's able to cross their face."
That first-step quickness will surely show up in the 40-yard dash, particularly in the 10-yard split, which is considered a good measure of a player's explosiveness off the line of scrimmage.
4. Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
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As mentioned in the previous slide, there will be plenty of opportunities for the Jets to address a longstanding need and select a top-flight pass-rusher with the No. 6 overall pick.
The scouts may want to get a good look at Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, and it shouldn't be too hard to find him. His stock is already high, but the combine could send it skyrocketing. CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler says Ray "claims to have been clocked at 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash" and "has a 40-plus-inch vertical, 10-foot broad jump and bench presses over 400 pounds."
Ray did not get a lot of playing time in his first two seasons behind Kony Ealy and Michael Sam, but he developed into a pass-rushing force and notched 14 sacks when he finally earned extended playing time as a junior.
His combination of explosiveness and power makes NFL.com's Lance Zierlein comparison—Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Chris Clemons—a fair one.
"It's hard to find many weaknesses for Ray," says Zierlein. "He pursues the quarterback and the ball like it's his last snap. An alpha male packaged in an explosive frame, Ray has the traits and skills to be a dominant pass-rusher and potential Pro Bowler. He also has the athleticism and strength to play in any defensive front."
3. Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
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Teams that are in the running for Super Bowl contention are expected to draft players based on what they can do right now. Conversely, teams that are building from the ground up should draft players based on what they can become in three to five years.
For that reason, Nebraska outside linebacker Randy Gregory should be one of the top prospects on the Jets' draft board. The 6'6", 240-pound pass-rusher is already projected as one of the top picks in the 2015 NFL draft, but he could send that stock through the roof—just like his ceiling.
From a scheme fit and skill-set standpoint, CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler compares Gregory to San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith.
"With the same combination of length and explosiveness to terrorize quarterbacks, Gregory has elite potential," Brugler writes. "A 4-3 defensive end for the Cornhuskers, he has the agility, speed and awareness to get home out of the two-point stance if a move to outside linebacker is required."
The outside linebacker position has been one of the Jets' biggest needs for years. The 2015 draft offers a few opportunities to address that need in a big way, and Gregory is the best of those options.
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2. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
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Quarterback must be priority No. 1 for the Jets, but which one should they target? That is the question.
Scouts will love Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston for his size (6'4", 230 pounds), athletic ability, arm strength and NFL readiness after playing in a pro-style offense.
What they will not love, however, are the acts of questionable maturity that ran rampant through Winston's collegiate career.
His decision-making was iffy both on and off the field. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says Winston's decision-making is "not consistent with his football intelligence" and that he "will throw into impossible windows rather than taking the safe throw underneath." One would hope that those traits are coachable at the NFL level, but you also don't want to put the reins on his playmaking ability.
All that being said, Winston could wow scouts with a strong showing on the field and solidify his performance with an impressive showing in the private meetings; however, teams will have to be convinced that his tape matches up with what they learn about him in Indianapolis.
1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
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The Jets have a few glaring needs, and quarterback is the biggest one. Sure, young quarterback Geno Smith has shown his share of flashes in the first two seasons of his career, but those flashes have dried out in long droughts of abhorrent performances. In 30 career games, Smith has earned a passer rating of 80 or higher in just 13 of them—and only four times has he done it in back-to-back games.
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota has a world of upside, with what CBS Sports' Dane Brugler calls "effortless arm strength" and "gazelle-like athleticism to outrun defenders." He has a real chance to win some people over with an eye-popping display of athletic prowess at the combine.
There are concerns as to whether Mariota's skills can translate from the quarterback-friendly offense of Oregon to a complex pro-style offense in the NFL, but he'll have a chance to put some of those questions to bed in private meetings with teams. Unfortunately, we have no real way of knowing what happens in those meetings.
Specifically for the Jets, Mariota's perceived limitations may not be a deal-breaker. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is no stranger to building an offense around the talents—and deficiencies—of its quarterback (see: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tyler Thigpen, Kordell Stewart).
Mariota will also need to measure up in hand size. He had 27 fumbles in his college career, and so scouts will be paying close attention to his hand size. If he fails to measure above nine inches, some teams may wonder about his ball-security issues.
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