New York Jets Mock Draft: Updated Day 3 Predictions

The New York Jets managed to address some key needs in the draft's first two nights, as well as grabbing some front-line talent on both sides of the ball. 

Leonard Williams will bring an All-Pro level talent to the defensive line, Devin Smith should emerge as one of the game's most dangerous deep threats and Lorenzo Mauldin is a tough, high-character guy who should excel around the edge. 

Mike Maccagnan has certainly hit a home run so far, and he has managed to gain an additional fifth- and seventh-round selection after swinging a deal with the Houston Texans. 

New York now has five picks in Day 3 to address some of the more pressing needs on the roster, which include the offensive line, running back and quarterback. 

There are plenty of directions Gang Green could go, but let's try to gauge which players the team will target on the final day of the 2015 draft. 

Round 4

Pick 104: T.J. Clemmings, Offensive Tackle, Pittsburgh

I'd be shocked if the Jets neglected to draft an offensive lineman for the fourth consecutive pick, especially considering a player of T.J. Clemmings' talent is still on the board. 

Clemmings was expected to be a top-40 pick, but he has experienced a surprising tumble down draft boards. 

Clemmings' drop could be attributed to his poor technique and rawness as a blocker, but he still possesses the natural talent to be a solid starter at the NFL-level. 

The Pittsburgh product boasts a sizable frame with great quickness and length. He should be an immediate factor in the running game, and he could develop into a decent pass-protector as well. 

Clemmings needs to be brought along slowly if he is going to develop into a top-tier tackle, but kicking him into guard isn't out of the question. 

The best-case scenario would be Clemmings being the eventual replacement for D'Brickashaw Ferguson at left tackle, but he has a long way to go to get to that point. 

Round 5

Pick 152: Jeremy Langford, Running Back, Michigan State

Gang Green should continue to add to the offense with the fifth-round pick it received from the Texans. 

There are still plenty of talented running backs available ahead of the final day of the draft, but none fit the Jets as well as Jeremy Langford. 

Langford doesn't have the physicality to be a lead back, but he would be the perfect complement to Chris Ivory and Stevan Ridley in the backfield. 

Langford has solid speed and burst, but his true value is in the passing game, where he is not only a dangerous pass-catching threat, but also a refined blocker. 

The Michigan State product would be an ideal third-down option for the Jets offense, as he would give the team a shifty checkdown option out of the backfield. 

Langford would provide terrific value at this stage of the draft, while also filling a key hole in New York's offense. 

Round 6

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The Jets traded their sixth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver Percy Harvin. 

Round 7

Pick 223: Jermaine Whitehead, Safety, Auburn

Whitehead has been one of my Jets' seventh-round selections for a while now, as he would provide solid value and fill a need. 

After the selection of Lorenzo Mauldin in the third round, the weakest position on defense has to be safety, where the Jets have two questionable starters in Calvin Pryor and Marcus Gilchrist, as well as limited depth. 

Whitehead would give New York a strong man-to-man cover guy in the middle of the field, as he boasts solid speed, physicality and ball skills. 

In fact, the Auburn product is only a late-round prospect because of character concerns. 

At this point in the draft, the rewards outweigh the risk of a wasted draft selection, so Maccagnan should not think twice about pulling the trigger on Whitehead. 

Pick 224: Brandon Bridge, Quarterback, South Alabama

This is a weak quarterback class. It's evident in the fact that only four signal-callers were taken in the first two days of the draft. 

New York won't find an option better than Geno Smith on the last day of the draft, so it might as well shoot for a player who could emerge as a capable backup. 

Bridge's accuracy is beyond poor and his footwork and release need serious improvement, so it will take a lot of work to make him an NFL-worthy talent. 

However, the South Alabama product has ideal size, top-notch arm arm strength and above-average athleticism, so he is hardly a lost cause. 

At this point in the draft, it's almost impossible to find refined prospects, so the Jets might as well take a guy at a premium position with a relatively high ceiling. 

Pick 229: Darryl Baldwin, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State 

Like Bridge, Baldwin has a long way to go in order to be successful at the NFL level. However, he boasts the physical tools to be able to develop into a solid talent. 

Bridge is a raw player with limited quickness and athleticism, and he simply doesn't get low enough to be effective. Nonetheless, his arm length and upper-body strength are ideal for an offensive tackle. 

The Ohio State product should take a while to develop, but he could emerge as a key contributor along the offense line. Worse comes to worse, he provides important depth in the trenches.