Jets Draft Preview - OffenseI'm pressed for time, so following is a barebones analysis of the Jets' needs in advance of this weekend's NFL draft. I'm starting with the offense today (largely because the offense is much more set), and hope to have time to cover the defense later this week.
QB: With Patrick Ramsey's offseason release, Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens will enter 2007 as the Jets starting and backup quarterbacks. Ex-Raider Marques Tuiasosopo is now the number 3 quarterback, though the Jets will likely bring someone else in to compete for that role. It's unlikely the Jets will draft a QB; at most, they will invest a 5th round pick on someone they feel has high upside.
RB: With the acquisition of Thomas Jones and the emergence of Leon Washington during his rookie season, the Jets also know who their number 1 and 2 running backs will be. Cedric Houston would, in my opinion, be fine as the number 3 RB, but it appears that Jets brass may not agree. The Jets will likely bring in another RB to compete with Houston. RB is another position at which the Jets may use a second day pick or bring in a third-tier free agent. They are very unlikely to use a pick in the first three rounds on a RB.
FB: With the departure of former 3rd round pick B.J. Askew and the signing of Darian Barnes, the Jets can use a fullback, and I'm sure that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer appreciates a top fullback after spending several season in San Diego, where Lorenzo Neal has helped make Ladanlian Tomlinson the NFL's best RB. While ex-Jets QB Ray Lucas is calling on the Jets to pick top FB prospect Brian Leonard of Rutgers, I doubt that's going to happen. Leonard has already declared that he seems himself as a tailback rather than a pure fullback, which is exactly what happened with Askew, who was always only an average blocker and never got the chance to carry the ball. If the Jets trade WR Justin McCareins for a fourth round pick, I wouldn't be surprised to see them use that pick on LeRon McClain, who is more of a pure blocker.
WR: The Jets reportedly are working on dealing McCareins, which would leave them with a hole at the third receiver slot behind Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery. It's possible that Brad Smith or Tim Dwight will assume that role if the Jets do trade McCareins. Overall, WR is not among the Jets' top needs, but if a top speedy wideout is available when the Jets make one of their late second round selections, it's possible the Jets will draft him.
TE: Chris Baker had a strong 2006 season, doing a nice job in pass protection and making plays on offense when the Jets (too infrequently) threw the ball to him. Some believe that the Jets are high on Greg Olsen, the top receiving TE in the draft. If Olsen is still around at number 25 and the top cornerbacks are all gone, it's possible the Jets will select him.
OL: Even after selecting left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold in the first round of last year's draft, offensive line remains the Jets biggest need on offense, with the Jets other offensive lineman a mix of mediocre (at best) journeymen and aging veterans. Likely, the Jets will pick up a guard either in the second or third round, and it wouldn't be surprising if they also use a late round pick on another offensive lineman.
posted on 4/23/2007
