Jets Draft 2017

Jets Draft In Rounds:

1, 2, 3, 3 (league comp pick for Damon Harrison)(no pick in round 4) 5, 6, 7

  As we approach this week’s draft, there has been a lot of talk about the Jets trading down with the Cleveland Browns from 6 to 12 and acquiring another pick. I’ve heard the sticking point is the compensation the Jets want. If they don’t come up with a deal, the word is if the Browns are intent on trading up, they will look to deal with the Titans at 5. But one never really knows with these things until it happens.

  All the draft experts are saying basically the same thing. This draft is a strong draft for defensive backs, weak for offensive linemen and quarterbacks. With that said, look for at least two of the quarterback prospects with round two talent to be snapped up in the 1st round. As of this writing, the 49ers and the Browns have expressed interest in picking a quarterback early. This can and will affect the Jets pick depending on if they stay at 6. ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have the Jets picking OJ Howard the tight end from Alabama with the 6th pick. This would be a good pick. Interestingly in the 2nd round Kiper has the Jets picking Clemson QB Deshaun Watson with the 39th pick. To show how subjective these experts are, the CBS Sports web site has the Jets picking Watson with their first pick as does sportingnews.com.  The NFL web site's Chad Reuter has the Jets picking Ohio State’s CB Marshon Lattimore at 6. I’m not in love with Lattimore and hope the Jets pass on him if available. Daniel Jeremiah also of the NFL web site has the Jets taking OJ Howard agreeing with McShay and Kiper. Lance Zierlein also of the NFL web site and Walter Football have the Jets picking Safety Jamal Adams from LSU. I really like this guy a lot.  Ohio State safety Malik Hooker is the projected Jets pick by Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated on line.

  Whatever picks Jets GM Mike Maccagnan makes, he really has to hit a home run this year. After taking Christian Hackenberg in the second round, there is huge pressure on Maccagnan to succeed. I would pass on any quarterbacks in the early rounds and try to build a solid foundation for the future. 

  Here is Green Rewind’s mock draft for the Jets and what we think they should do.

1-Jamal Adams, safety LSU. The Jets boo birds will be vocal with this pick wanting an offensive player. When RB Leonard Fournette and TE OJ Howard go off the board quickly, the Jets really luck out with a tremendous player as well as a great leader. Even with other needs Mike Maccagnan could not pass up this top 3 talent. Adams will be everything Jet fans thought Calvin Pryor would become and more. This will be one of the more solid picks for Gang Green in recent years. He won’t take any plays off and won’t let his teammates take any off either.

Here is what NFL.com says about his strengths:

Natural-born leader of men. Well-built. Will not hesitate for one second as a hitter. Steps downhill looking to punish running backs to set a tone for defense. Toggles between patient and urgent in treks to the ball. Plays off blockers. Approaches target with open arms and wide, balanced base to limit escape routes. Intelligent field general. Gets secondary aligned properly. Plays with plus balance in coverage. Pattern reader who can digest combinations. Alert for misdirection keys from offense. Party crasher on screen plays. Can handle coverage responsibilities against tight ends. Five interceptions and two recovered fumbles over last two seasons at LSU. Special-teams terror as freshman and sophomore, notching 21 tackles. No penalties in 2016. Father, George, was a first-round pick of the Giants in 1984.

2-Forrest Lamp, OL, Western Kentucky. The run on quarterbacks and running backs in the first round benefit the Jets as Forest Lamp projected as high as the 15th pick in the first round falls to the second round. This may not be a sexy pick but Jets GM Mike Maccagnan doesn’t let 1st round talent escape. Lamp looked like the best offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl in practices. He sprained his ankle early in the week and it ended early for him which is a factor in his dropping out of the 1st round. The versatility with Lamp being able to play center gives the Jets flexibility in case Wesley Johnson doesn’t work out.

3-Ethan Pocic, G/C, LSU. Taking a page from the Dallas Cowboys, shoring up the offensive line is a priority for Mike Maccagnan. The Jets pick their second LSU Tiger in 3 rounds. Pocic is similar to Lamp in that he is versatile and can play numerous positions on the offensive line. The profile on Pocic says that he is a better on the run than the pass but the fact that he played, center, guard and tackle is too good to pass up. His leadership ability is excellent. From 

Walter Football:

“Scouts say Pocic has the intelligence teams look for from a center and is highly regarded by LSU coaches and teammates in the locker room. “

3-Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland. The first of two controversial picks, Shaheen has been described as a “freak athlete” that comes along rarely. The problem was Shaheen first signed to play basketball coming out of high school with Division 2 Pittsburgh-Johnstown. He transferred to Ashland to play football and has played like a man among boys which may be very true considering the competition he played against. NFL scouts love his “Gronk” ability but question whether he can make the jump to the NFL. With an enormous frame combined with speed and athleticism who needs help with his blocking game, Maccagnan  will hear a few Doug Jolly and Jace Amaro comparisons but Shaheen’s upside is too good to pass up.

4-NO PICK

5-Travin Dural, WR, LSU. What in the name of Pete Maravich is going on here? The third LSU Tiger picked by the Jets. Must be a record. Dural is one of those players who’s college production doesn’t reflect his ability and talent. The LSU passing game has had issues the last two years and Dural caught the brunt of it. He was projected as a 3rd or 4th round pick but he ran slower than expected at the combine. All the negatives mean the Jets will get a talented player cheap. His 40 time though slow doesn’t reflect what scouts call “game speed.”

Dural will begin his NFL career on special teams but with a chip on his shoulder, and being pushed by college teammate Jamal Adams, he’ll make more noise at WR that Devin Smith has.

6-Chad Kelly, QB Mississippi. The second controversial pick. With QB Chad Kelly still on the board, Mike Maccagnan trades Bryce Petty for a 7th rounder in 2018.  Maccagnan is rolling the dice with this pick but there is more value with Kelly as a 6th round pick than either Watson or Trubisky in the 1st round. Chad Kelly is the nephew and godson of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. He has more off the field problems than you could count on one hand. Why do the Jets take a shot at him? Over final two seasons at Ole Miss, saw 13.6% of his pass attempts go for 20-plus yards, a higher percentage than both Deshaun Watson and DeShone Kizer. He is from upstate New York and may have the best arm of any QB this year. After tearing his ACL and lateral meniscus the Jets may be getting a great talent on the cheap. Despite all his off the field stuff, the Jets feel comfortable  with the locker room they are developing with Adams, Lamp and Pocic all with superior leadership qualities making Kelly a chance pick but the upside is endless.

7-Amba Etta-Tawo, WR, Syracuse. Jets win “best name” award picking this Orangeman and makes ESPN Jet beat writer Rich Cimini a happy camper. The boo birds were screaming for an edge pass rusher but Mike Maccagnan is sticking to his guns drafting the best athlete available. Etta-Tawo went from Maryland to Syracuse as a graduate transfer. 

One scout said, 

“Had about a zillion drops at the Senior Bowl and looked out of his element.” 

With that said another scout said ,

“While he's obviously still raw, the tape shows an improving talent with an ability to challenge over the top and uncover underneath.”

In his first six games for Syracuse  he caught 47 passes for 834 yards and six scores. He finished the season as a first-team All-ACC pick and ranked in the top ten nationally in all of the major receiving categories (94-1,482, 14 TD). Having only one stand out season is a worry but this could be another talent drafted wholesale by the Jets who shows promise. Will start out on special teams.

  There you have it! This is how I would go with the Jets picks. It is 50/50 that there will be movement in the first round and the Jets will be part of it. Let’s see if the Jets trade down or even trade Sheldon Richardson on draft day. Mike Maccagnan doesn’t like to miss any rounds so look for him to get back a pick in the 4th round somehow. Should be a fun week.

Jet travel alert: If you live in the NY metropolitan area, try to not to take the Cross Bronx Expressway westbound. On the north side, there is the biggest billboard you will ever see with Tom Brady advertising a watch. Please avoid so you don’t drive off the road like I almost did!

@GreenRewind



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