New York Jets Mock Draft Roundup
The New York Jets' previous regime left a mess; the new regime is hoping to clean it up.
General manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles have already begun that process by bringing in a lot of talented veterans in free agency. Now, they must ensure that they don't fall victim to the same pitfalls as former GM Mike Tannenbaum, who addressed the team's most pressing needs every year with flashy veteran acquisitions but failed to adequately supplement the roster through the draft toward the end of his tenure.
As holders of the No. 6 overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, the New York Jets have a great opportunity to add one of the most talented prospects in the draft to their roster. That being said, they also have a lot of needs they want to address, so they'll need to strike that perfect balance of need and value with their pick.
Which direction should the Jets go? Here's a look around the Web at some notable draft experts who offer their opinion in the form of mock drafts.
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
2 of 6
"Arguably the best player available. He can help my running game immediately, which makes my offense (and the passing game) more efficient. I looked at wide receiver here, but Scherff makes us better right now, and this roster is closer to really good than many realize."
My Slant
With Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota both off the board, the Jets don't have much choice but to go with the best player available here. West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White and Kentucky defensive end Bud Dupree would also be considerations, but the Jets have a few needs they could address, and the offensive line is underrated among them.
Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff could fill in at guard or tackle, depending on where the Jets need the most help. Right now, it would be guard; in the future, who knows. At 6'5" and 319 pounds with 33 ⅜" arms, he has the length for of an NFL edge protector, but some of his play tendencies (mauling style, lack of agility in pass protection) make him a better fit as a guard.
Give him a little time to hone his craft and he may be ready to man the right tackle spot in the future. His upside and versatility make him a solid choice at the No. 6 spot.
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
3 of 6"Dupree is very raw, but he has double-digit sack potential."
My Slant
Quarterback is priority No. 1 for the Jets this offseason. Outside linebacker is easily priority No. 1a. Fortunately for Gang Green, there are plenty of prospects with a ton of potential. Unfortunately, Daniel Jeremiah thinks two of them (Clemson's Vic Beasley and Florida's Dante Fowler Jr.) will both be off the board by the time the Jets go on the clock at No. 6.
If that all holds true, Kentucky's Bud Dupree would not be a bad alternative. Listed at 6'4" and 269 pounds, he has the frame the Jets will need for a 3-4 outside linebacker. He also has the athleticism to drop into short zone coverage, which he'll need to do from time to time as a linebacker (though not too frequently in Todd Bowles' aggressive defensive scheme).
There are varying opinions on what Dupree must improve in order to reach his fullest potential. CBSSports.com's Rob Rang says Dupree "lacks functional football strength," while NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says he possesses "outstanding power with ability to rag-doll tight ends at will." On the flip side, Zierlein says Dupree is "still raw rushing the passer," while Rang says Dupree "varies his rush moves, lulling opponents with one speed and surprising with an occasional extra burst to generate big plays at critical moments."
Regardless, he has the traits to be a star in the NFL, and if he lands with the Jets, he'll have a sharp defensive mind in Bowles who will help him along the way.
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Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
4 of 6
"Way too high for my tastes, but Dupree has the athletic traits that make sense in Todd Bowles' defense, and he has better size than Vic Beasley."
My Slant
Interestingly, Zierlein thinks this is a reach, yet both he and Jeremiah seem to agree that Dupree is a fit for the Jets at this spot.
As mentioned in the previous slide, it makes sense. His traits are a perfect fit for the Jets defense as a 3-4 outside linebacker, and he is exactly what they need and have been lacking for years. Once again, with both Winston and Mariota off the board, an outside linebacker is a perfectly logical pick at No. 6, and with Fowler Jr. also being selected in the top five, the top prospect at the position is not available.
How much longer can the Jets go on with Calvin Pace as a 16-game starter? The better question is: Do Todd Bowles and the Jets really want to wait to find out? Dupree may not immediately provide a double-digit sack season, but Pace has only had one of those in his career with the Jets.
Doug Farrar, Sports Illustrated: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
5 of 6"Yes, Sheldon Richardson is an amazing player, but you can bet that new coach Todd Bowles will want improvements along the edge. There's already been an enormous upgrade at the cornerback position with Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis coming back into the fold, and the only thing that will make those two guys even better is consistent quarterback pressure along the edge.
Beasley is a little light, needs to play with more consistent power and could use a few more hand moves, but he totaled 45.5 tackles for loss and 25 sacks total in the last two seasons, and he did it for the NCAA's best defense.
"
My Slant
NFL 3-4 outside linebackers don't get much smaller than Vic Beasley's 6'3", 246-pound frame. They also don't get much more athletic. He put on a show at the scouting combine, finishing in the top five in every workout. He showed off explosiveness with a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, a 130" broad jump and 41" vertical jump, strength with 35 bench-press reps and agility with a 4.15-second 20-yard shuttle and a 6.91-second three-cone drill.
That being said, none of those numbers means anything if Beasley is unable to translate it to the NFL, and he'll have a much harder time doing that with his small frame. Todd Bowles will have to scheme him into position to make plays, but Bowles can rest assured that if he puts Beasley in such a position, the team will get a solid return on the investment.
The All-American notched 44.5 tackles for loss and 25 sacks in his final two years at Clemson. He may not come close to those numbers with the Jets as a rookie, but give him some time to acclimate to the NFL (and possibly add some bulk to his frame) and he could end up surprising people.
Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
6 of 6
"New offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is going to gingerbread his offense with option concepts no matter who plays quarterback; he has been doing that sort of thing for years. Gailey and Todd Bowles can either prop Geno up and hope Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall find more over-the-hill Cortland Finnegans to incinerate, drive Ryan Fitzpatrick until his wheels fall off (Week 4) or use the training wheels to actually train someone. Barring a trade offer they cannot refuse (Chip Kelly offering a real unicorn horn), the Jets will allow a new era to dawn.
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My Slant
Back in March, a mock draft roundup turned up three out of six experts who were picking Oregon's Marcus Mariota to the Jets. In April, that number has dwindled to a meager one expert. Yes, I've polled different experts, but neither CBS Sports' Dane Brugler nor Rob Rang thinks Mariota will even be available when the Jets pick.
The Jets need a quarterback like a hobo needs a shower, but there are concerns over whether he can make the transition to a more complicated NFL offense. Fortunately for Mariota (and for the Jets), offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is no stranger to adapting his offense to fit the strengths and mask the limitations of whomever his signal-caller may be—just ask Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kordell Stewart and even Tyler Thigpen for their opinion of Bowles.
If the Tennessee Titans pass on a quarterback and there's no disruption in the top five in the form of a trade, there's a distinct possibility that Mariota could be available.
Unless otherwise noted, all scouting combine information and draft notes provided by CBSSports.com and NFL.com.
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