Identifying New York Jets' Biggest Strengths, Weaknesses After Draft
The New York Jets entered the draft with strengths and weaknesses, and they leave the draft with strengths and weaknesses.
Fret not, Jets fans. This is par for the course for every team with respect to the NFL draft, and 2015 is no different. The Jets entered the 2015 NFL draft with six selections, giving them fewer opportunities than other teams when it comes to addressing their needs.
As a result, they were able to fill some glaring holes on the roster but left a few along the way.
The Jets could be banking on some players to take a step forward in the offseason workout program, and with organized team activities, mandatory minicamp and training camp still looming large, there will be opportunities for players to answer the bell and answer a need for the Jets' roster.
But which positions, on paper, are the biggest strengths and weaknesses for the Jets headed into the 2015 season?
Strength: Defensive Line
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Defensive line was a strength for the Jets even before the 2015 NFL draft got underway. Imagine how the they must feel about their defensive line now that they've added USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams.
The Jets now feature a defensive line of four first-round picks—Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Quinton Coples—and with undrafted nose tackle Damon Harrison in the mix, the Jets have the ability to be very versatile in their defensive scheme.
The Jets were already building in the mold of a 3-4 front under Rex Ryan over the past six years, and Ryan's affinity for drafting defensive players (he spent six straight first-round picks on the defensive side of the ball) had left the cupboards stocked to the hilt with talent on defense.
Todd Bowles is probably salivating at the mere sight of his defensive depth charts.
Weakness: Quarterback
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Geno Smith may be thrilled that the Jets didn't draft a quarterback in the first two days of the draft, but Jets fans may be notably less excited about the prospect of Smith starting another year for Gang Green.
In his two-year career, Smith has completed 57.5 percent of his passes with 23 touchdowns, 34 picks and a 71.5 passer rating. There's still the possibility that Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey could squeeze a little more blood out of that rock, but unless Smith takes massive steps forward in 2015, the Jets should be less than confident in their long-term future at the position.
Yes, they added Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty to the fold, and he could compete for the starting job, but he'll probably need to sit for a year or more to develop. Sure, they have also added Ryan Fitzpatrick to the quarterback depth chart this offseason, but even though he's had some success in Gailey's offense in the past, the Jets should not pin the hopes of their franchise to the 33-year-old journeyman.
Strength: Wide Receiver
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It feels almost weird to say that the Jets have made the wide receiver position a strength of their roster.
It seems like only a few months ago we were talking about Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason as the top receivers in the Jets' offense. It actually was only 15 months ago that we were talking about Stephen Hill as a key young developmental player at the wide receiver position.
Now, with Jeremy Kerley, Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall and Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith running routes in the Jets' offense, it's safe to say that any shortcomings of the passing game will not be a result of the pass-catchers but the passers themselves. Smith has been a dominant deep receiver in college, hauling in 77 receptions for 1,591 yards and 20 touchdowns at Ohio State.
Smith wasn't the only receiver the Jets added this weekend, nabbing DeVier Posey from the Houston Texans (as well as a few extra picks) in exchange for a swap of third-round picks. The 6'1", 211-pound third-year receiver has the potential to be another big-bodied pass-catcher on the boundary for the Jets, but he has not played much, notching only 22 receptions in his career.
The Jets now have a great collection of "X" receivers with large frames who can run downfield and make big plays for their passing game. Now, they just need someone who can throw them the ball.
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Weakness: Safety
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The Jets entered the NFL draft firmly in the market for a free safety, and they left that way as well.
Last year, rookie first-round pick Calvin Pryor was slotted in at free safety as a result of the Jets' lack of a true Cover 1 safety to execute Rex Ryan's defensive scheme. As a result, their pass defense was a sieve at times, particularly on long passes—the Jets allowed 12 passing touchdowns on passes that traveled 20 yards or more, sixth-highest total in the NFL in 2014.
Fortunately, the Jets called in a reinforcement by signing Marcus Gilchrist in free agency. Unfortunately, coverage isn't Gilchrist's strong suit.
Right now, their solution is to stick Gilchrist at free safety and let Pryor roam the short area of the field and in the box as a strong safety. If Gilchrist improves in coverage, the Jets could glue together a solid deep coverage unit. If not, you could understand why it looks like that plan may backfire.
Strength: Cornerback
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The Jets didn't make a single addition to the cornerback position in the NFL draft, but the position is still considered a strength. That tells you all you need to know about the Jets' talent level at cornerback. With Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine all roaming the secondary, there won't be any needs at the cornerback position for at least for a couple of more years.
By that point, the Jets should have their answer as to whether Dee Milliner will ever develop into a cornerback worthy of the first-round pick. That being said, as a first-round choice in the previous regime, there isn't quite the same investment in him now as there was when John Idzik was the general manager and Rex Ryan was the head coach.
The Jets have to improve on pass defense this year, but after yielding 31 touchdowns through the air while intercepting only six passes, the only direction to go is up.
Weakness: 3rd-Down Running Back
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The next scatback to join the Jets will be the first.
Right now, the Jets do not have any backs whose strength is considered to be effective in the passing game. Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell, Stevan Ridley and Zac Stacy are all talented backs in their own right, but none of them are particularly productive as a receiver out of the backfield, and none are considered particularly adept in pass/blitz protection.
The four running backs listed above combined for a total 51 receptions in 2014 (18 for Ivory, 11 for Powell, 18 for Stacy, four for Ridley).
Once the Jets finalize their undrafted free-agent signings, we may get some clarity at this position—or at least some warm bodies. For now, the Jets have to be looking at their backfield as fairly one-dimensional if they're being honest with themselves.
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