While rumors swirl that the New York Jets are eyeing a rookie quarterback in the 2015 NFL Draft, their offseason moves are curious if that really is the plan. They held on to embattled third-year passer Geno Smith, and signed veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick either to compete with Smith or to usurp him.
In that vein, trading up to acquire Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota might seem like overloading a position where they have options, when other places on the roster are lacking. Wanting a rookie quarterback doesn't necessarily mean they're shooting for the big guns though. The Jets may hang back and take Brett Hundley or Bryce Petty in Round 2, or even take a later flier.
Sources: WVU WR Kevin White, Baylor QB Bryce Petty & Florida DE/OLB Dante Fowler will be visiting Jets today/tomorrow pic.twitter.com/Ymp4kgyOxn
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) April 13, 2015
If they do decide to stay put and pass on Winston and Mariota, here are the Top 3 choices for them at No. 6 overall.
Brandon Scherff, OT Iowa
Mel Kiper Jr. is on this train, and while offensive linemen rarely make for exciting or sexy picks, building an interior is extremely important. The Jets got rid of run-first coach Rex Ryan this offseason, but they brought in another ground-and-pound, defense-first mind in Todd Bowles to replace him. The Jets have strong running backs on the roster as well, but for any rusher to be effective he must have a strong line in front of him.
Scherff is one of the strongest players in this draft, and excels at run-blocking. The Jets' offensive line wasn't a disaster last season, but it's not as strong as it was in Rex Ryan's glory days. The stalwarts aren't getting any younger, and Scherff is capable of slotting right in at guard or tackle.
Amari Cooper, WR Alabama
Kevin White, WR West Virginia
Smith and Fitzpatrick aren't names likely to be on the AFC's Pro Bowl roster this winter, so loading up on weapons to surround them is probably a good idea. Today's NFL relies heavily on the passing game, so having multiple receivers to lean on is wise. The reason I cheated a bit here, is because one of these players is likely to be gone by the time the Jets pick.
White is the workout warrior. He's got two inches on Cooper and ran a much faster 40-yard dash.
Cooper ran a 4.86 40, but benched 29 reps at the Combine and has a glittering resume at Alabama in a pro-style offense. He's more polished than White, but White is the guy who can take the top off a defense with his speed. Yes, the Jets traded for Brandon Marshall and already have Eric Decker in town, but neither are true game-breakers like White and Cooper.
Dante Fowler, DE Florida
Defensive line may not seem like a need for the Jets, but their star linemen are Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, capable pass rushers but more useful against the run. Todd Bowles loves to get after the passer, and a team can never have too many pass rushers.
Fowler was highly productive as a Gator in the extremely competitive SEC. He was a force of disruption, totaling 33.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in three seasons. Mel Kiper Jr. believed that his versatility actually hurt his sack total.
"While I think he could actually be more productive, you did see consistent flashes of a player who, were he able to add more elements to his game as a pass-rusher in particular, has star potential. Fowler was also asked to move around a lot, which is another reason the sack totals are good instead of eye-popping," Kiper wrote.
That versatility would help him on the Jets, who are strong along the line and might deploy him creatively to wreak havoc.
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