4.22.2010

The New York Jets select...



The Jets have found a way to keep draft junkies on their toes this off season.  With the new additions of Cromartie, Tomlinson, Pool, Holmes and Taylor there are few holes that need to be filled on this team.  The reality is no one really can predict what will happen when the 29th pick of the draft is announced tonight. 
               
So after much thought, speculation and arguing with myself (come on you all know you do it too).   I’m making a bold prediction:  


          The New York Jets will draft a cornerback within the first two rounds.


Now that you’re done saying “this girl doesn’t know what she’s talking about” … let’s take a look at why I think a new CB will be drafted in the next two days.
                
It’s a well known fact that the more cornerbacks you have the better off a team will be.  Cornerbacks are the equivalent to pitchers in baseball.  You can never have enough good ones.  The evolution of the passing game makes this fact even more true.  Mike Tannenbaum himself admitted “Rex loves corners”.   Rex is one of the defensive coaches that believe the mantra that you can never have enough depth at that position.   
                
Cornerbacks get injured all the time due to the speed at which they play and the constant cutting they have to do to be effective on their feet.   The Jets felt the impact of injuries last season most at this valuable position.  Aside from Revis, there were many games in which two of the Jets cornerbacks were sidelined with injuries.
                
So let’s recap our current CB situation:   Strickland and Sheppard are gone.   Their names were on the injury list most of last season anyway so good ridden.  The Jets made a great move by acquiring ProBowler CB Antonio Cromartie.  With him opposite Revis, I can confidently say the Jets have the best cornerback tandem in the NFL.

Despite this, they still lack depth.   Our only other CB’s on the current roster are Dwight Lowery, Drew Coleman, and Marquice Cole.   Without going into the specifics of each player, it’s obvious that this position could use some more talent.
                
Still don’t believe me?  Let’s take a look at last season.  We know that NFL teams are going towards more of a pass-oriented system.   With that being said, it’s not rare to see up to four corners on the field at the same time.   The Jets need to be prepared to face those 3 or 4 wide receiver sets that more and more teams are using.  The Colts are a perfect example.   Think back to the AFC Championship game and tell me that having more talented depth at the cornerback position wouldn’t have helped us win that game.
                
In thinking about next year’s regular season games, Baltimore and New England (pending Welker’s return) are three games in which cornerback talent and depth play a key role in winning these games.
                
This year’s draft class has some great cornerback talent.   The latest Top 5 draft rankings at this position are:
          1.       Joe Haden – Florida
          2.       Kyle Wilson – Boise State
          3.       Devin McCourty – Rutgers
          4.       Kareem Jackson – Alabama
          5.       Patrick Robinson – Florida State


I think 3-4 cornerbacks could be drafted in the first round.   Leaving a lot of talent to be picked up in the second round as well.   While I’d be more than happy to see any of the names listed above fall to the Jets, I'd be ecstatic to see local Rutgers boy Devin McCourty become one of our very own.  Brandon Ghee (Wake Forest) and Perrish Cox (Oklahoma) are two picks that would also make me very happy to see wearing Jets Green.


In a few hours we’ll see if my prediction is right.    I do think Mike T will also address depth at the OLB/DE spot and we could very well hear Jerry Hughes or Jared Odrick’s names from the podium.  


This year proves to be an exciting draft. 


Trade up, trade down, or stay at #29…..it will be a great draft that will only add to our trip to Dallas next season.