Posted last night: "NEW YORK JETS 2008 DRAFT NEEDS Posted by Mike Florio on April 4, 2008, 10:29 p.m. Here?s a look at the perceived draft needs of the New York Jets, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com. Cornerback: The Jets must add a potential starting cornerback via the draft. Darrelle Revis has serious potential to be a long-term stud (and a really good cornerback), but Revis is still learning and the team would like to eventually move David Barrett into a nickel role. Look for the Jets to target Leodis McKelvin or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with their first pick, the sixth overall selection in the draft. Tight End: Chris Baker has been a good player for the Jets, but he lacks breakaway ability and is not a playmaker in the passing game. Bubba Franks has been added via free agency, but he is not a downfield threat. The Jets have been scouting tight ends heavily at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine this offseason. One player we?ve seen the Jets linked to is Fred Davis of USC. Davis could make sense as a second-round pick. Inside linebacker: Jonathan Vilma is now a member of the New Orleans Saints, via a trade. Replacing Vilma on the inside will be David Harris, a 2007 second-rounder pick. They need a long-term answer next to Harris on the inside. The Jets have Eric Barton, but he?s on the downside of his career. Jerry Mackey and Cody Spencer are back-ups at best. Adding an inside linebacker in rounds two or three would give New York flexibility and depth at the most critical position in a 3-4 defense. Look for the Jets to show a lot of interest in Xavier Adibi, an outside linebacker from Virginia Tech, who can move inside. Wide receiver: Giving star receiver Laveranues Coles a new guarantee will keep him happy (or at least not as upset) for the next year or two. But the Jets need to be thinking about who?ll replace him in 2010. The team has high hopes for fifth-year player Jerricho Cotchery, who led the team in receptions last fall. Behind the two starters there is potential, but little productivity. Brad Smith continues to be a gimmick player, while neither Chansi Stuckey or David Clowney has shown much on the field. Adding a legitimate No. 3 receiver is a priority. There is a great amount of depth in the 2008 class, which will allow New York to identify whom they like and get solid value. Running back: Thomas Jones has entrenched himself as the team?s starter. Leon Washington has made an impact as a third-down back and return man, securing his spot on the roster. Jesse Chatman was signed from Miami to fill out the depth chart. The downside is that Jones has not been able to remain healthy throughout his career, nor has Chatman. Washington is an undersized back who is vital to the special teams unit. Adding a late round back will give the Jets insurance should Jones go down. And then there?s the possibility that Darren McFadden will be on the board at No. 6. If he is, tailback could suddenly become a significant area of need. Quarterback: The team has invested heavily in the idea that Kellen Clemens will be their franchise quarterback. Chad Pennington remains one of the best back-ups in the business, and could actually win the job this year. The late Bill Walsh believed that you should draft a quarterback every year for developmental purposes, and because of their value on the trade market. The Jets can afford to use a late pick on a quarterback. And then there?s the possibility that Matt Ryan will be on the board at No. 6."
O-line is not a major need we have all of our starters in place Woody will be there for at least 2 years so we can worry about a replacement when that time comes out.Why do u think they signed Faneca and Woody so they dont have to worry about drafting an lineman high.
"while neither Chansi Stuckey or David Clowney has shown much on the field" Did either play a down last year?
I really want James Hardy with our second rounder, but I wouldn't mind taking another position in round 2 and taking one of these guys on the second day: Keenan Burton out of Kentucky would be a great second day pick. DJ Hall, Maurice Purify, Marcus Monk, Mario Urrutia, and Todd Blythe all have great size...and could be around 5th-7th. I also wouldn't mind Jacob Tamme as a second day pick to backup Chris Baker. He'd be a great second tight end option...a dangerous receiving threat at tight end.
I don't know we can trade back with anybody -- and McKelvin will gone pretty quick in the 1st round -- Pats, I think.
I keep flip-flopping on this. If BOTH Longs are gone and if Gholston is gone....maybe Matt Ryan??? I just don't see DMAC being the savior a lot of folks seem to think he is. Besides we're GOOD now at RB and I would hate to pass on a franchise QB. I dunno...just thinking out loud here. Glad I don't have to make the pick I guess.
I agree with his assessment and you have to figure one of the top 2 picks has to be used on offense to keep shotty happy. So I guess TE makes sense. We will still need a 3-4 DE though, and after round 2 none will be left. Also we don't have a 3rd rounder, so we could move down 4 spots, pick up a 3# and still get a top 2 corner.
The OL isn't a major need anymore. We took care of that in free agency. It wouldn't be bad if we took a guy to groom to be our RT, especially if they don't think Bender can be that guy. A young OL to compete with Moore would be a good idea, too. But it's no longer an early round pick need. If we took an OL in the first few rounds, I would have no problem, but at the same time, we no longer have to. In previous years, I've been mad for the apparent disregard of the offensive line, but we did adequately take care of the problem in the offseason. It's good to have one or two good backup OL men, but for the most part, offensive linemen seem to stay healthy, so depth isn't that huge of an issue.
a 3-4 DE is one of the easiest thing to fill. (jets can solve that with late draft pick) What Jets need is OLb/DE tweener that can rush the passer.(B Thomas and Pace don't cut it) I have Jets three top needs on defense 1a. Pass rushing OLB/DE 1b. CB - Have to have more than promising Revis. 3 another safety to team with Rhodes.
YEs I would agree Jets have way more pressing needs, than on the oline. ON Paper they look like they did a nice job addressing their needs on Oline. But thats on paper, and we have to wait and see how they play as a group. (oline looks to be in fine shape) You never have enough depth on the oline. IF there is a big dropoff from your starters to backups, than one injury, can have hugh effect on the whole oline performance. ( two starters on wrong side of thirty, and they are more suspectible to injury) Take faneca out, God forbid due to an injury, and your left with the same situation on oline as last year.
I think OL depth is a huge need, although with a guy like Woody who can step in in a pinch and play almost every position on the line I think we might be a player or two away from an excellent OL situation. But that player might have to be a starter.
The NYJs don't get any respect at the line of scrimmage. Defensive lines snigger when we come up to the line. It's time we stop playing checkers and face facts. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to take control of the line of scrimmage. All this palaver during the off-season is fun, but not definitive. The only thing that matters is that we average 4.5 yards per run from the line of scrimmage, and don't get any sacks. Until you see these kinds of stats emanating from the line of scrimmage when the NYJs play, then WE CAN'T DO ENOUGH to improve, augment, jack up, strengthen, and otherwise refine the OL, the DL, and the LBs. Aren't you tired of being perennial weaklings whose only chance on the football field is to trick the other team? I for one want to see some regular manhandling at the line of scrimmage by the NYJs, and some regular "dawg" cringing from the other side. It is far too easy to dismiss the "dark side" line of scrimmage, but it always rises up and smacks you in the mouth. We need to err on the side of EXCESS when it comes to angry, strong, relentless Big Uglies. Deal with it.
Broseph...we signed to new starters for this "weakling" offensive line. Mangold is a stud, and Ferguson looks like he'll be a solid left tackle. Faneca gives the Jets' offensive line instant credibility. Damien Woody has shown in the past that he can be a dominant guard, I hope it translates over to right tackle. Brandon Moore is CAPABLE of being a decent starter playing between Mangold and Woody. We didn't need to "trick" the other team when Curtis Martin was in his prime years. The Jets were able to run the ball on anyone. I think we'll get back to doing that sooner than later.
