2008 NFL Mock Draft: New York Jets

Previous Picks

1) NFL-Miami_Dolphins-2008_NFL_Draft_Strategy_The_Miami_Dolphins-230108">Miami Dolphins: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
2) Rams-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_St_Louis_Rams-250108">St. Louis Rams: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
3) Falcons-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Atlanta_Falcons-290108">Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
4) Raiders-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Oakland_Raiders-040208">Oakland Raiders: DeSean Jackson, WR, California
5) Chiefs-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Kansas_City_Chiefs-050208">Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Long, DE, Virginia

The Longest Mock Draft in NFL History Continues...

The mock draft has reached 3,746 words.

I’ve done no research to back this up, but I’m pretty sure I’m on pace to set some sort of record. I fully expect the Guinness people to be calling soon.

For those of you interested in my recovery from the Patriots’ loss in the Super Bowl, I’ve finally reached the first stage: denial. I’ve decided that the Super Bowl ended with Randy Moss’ touchdown. I will not be convinced otherwise.

One thing about the Patriots’ season this year—it became us-against-the-world the minute the Jets turned them in for videotaping their sidelines in the first quarter of the first game.

Not to get into a Spygate related debate, but a couple of quick thoughts on the subject before I get to the pick:

1) Eric Mangini is a rat. An overstuffed, underwhelming rat. He will go down in history as the guy who turned Belichick into the NFL.

I guess that’s better than going down as the guy who got fired after three unproductive seasons as the Jets' head coach.

2) Mangini knew about the Patriots’ taping procedures because he participated in them. He turned in the Patriots because he was irked that the Pats kicked his video guy out of Gillette Stadium last season.

You do have to wonder if he would have turned in Belichick if he knew what kind of a mess it was going to make.

3) If Congress gets involved with Spygate, I might be pushed completely over the edge. I’m shaky on whether they belong in the steroids business, but at least there’s a legit public health concern there.

How about this? Congress is allowed to investigate Spygate as soon as the Iraq war is over, the economy is fixed, the immigration issue is dealt with, my taxes are reduced, and the US dollar is worth more than the Canadian dollar again

Can we fix these issues first?...Please?

Any why does nobody care that Specter pretty much came out and admitted that he was only interested in Spygate because he was an Eagles fan? Apparently integrity only matters when it helps the team you root for.

4) The thing that pisses me off the most is that the Patriots are being singled out here. Why aren’t we talking about taking Super Bowl rings away from the Cowboys since Jimmy Johnson admitted to doing the same thing? Why aren’t we talking about taking Super Bowl rings away from the Broncos for cheating on the salary cap? Why aren’t we talking about taking Super Bowl rings away from the Steelers for introducing steroids to professional sports?

Here’s an idea: Let's interview old-school players like Bubba Smith and ask them about team officials sneaking into opposing team’s practices to steal entire gameplans.

When we're done, nobody will have a Super Bowl ring except the '72 Dolphins!

Sorry, had to vent.

If the board falls the way I’ve predicted so far, there’s no doubt that the Jets will look to move out of the sixth pick. I’m sure the Cowboys will be calling and the Jets will be extremely eager to listen.

If they don’t move out of this pick, the prospects of improving what was a pathetic offense last season will be too tough to pass up.

As much as I would love to watch McFadden continue to fall...

The Pick: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

There’s something to be said for taking the best player available, and Darren McFadden might be the best player in the draft.

The Jets were, to put it kindly, weak offensively last season.

Their starting RB last season, Thomas Jones, averaged only 3.6 yards per carry and managed only one rushing touchdown all season.

Jones is quickly approaching 30, and if last year is any indication 30 is hitting him like a mack truck.

Leon Washington is a great weapon off the bench, especially in third down situations. He compliments McFadden tremendously, and moving forward they could become a fantastic tandem.

As for the 2008 season, I’m sure the Jets' coaching staff would be happy to see McFadden and Jones splitting time on first and second down, with Washington taking the third down reps.

Second Choice: Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State

David Harris turned out to be a fantastic pick up in last year’s draft. Between him and Darrelle Revis, the Jets had one of the better defensive drafts last season.

If they decide to go defense with this pick (or if McFadden is off the board and the two big defensive linemen are both taken), Gholston is the guy. He will fit perfectly into the New England-style defense Mangini wants to run in New York.

Close Third: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

The Jets will take a close look at Pete Carroll’s former nose tackle Sedrick Ellis.

How are these numbers: 58 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, seven pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.

He’s quick, he’s strong, and he’s athletic.

The knock on him is that he might not be big enough to play an effective nose tackle in the pros, at least initially. He also has some injury concerns. But the Jets could certainly do worse than Sedrick Ellis. 

I still think, in the end, the Jets look long and hard at moving down. They’re not a player away—they’re a bunch of players away. And even if he doesn’t like to admit it anymore, Mangini is a product of the Belichick system.

Move down, build up picks, then replenish and refresh your roster with an abundance of middle round draft picks. Maybe snag an additional first round pick next year in the process.

Coming up next, everyone’s favorite whipping boy: the New England Patriots.

Until then...

I’m SeanMC.

SeanMC is a Columnist at Bleacher Report. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.