Jan

3

What is the Jets’ draft strategy?

Posted by Michael Sciannamea

January 3, 2008 |

Will the Jets target Chris Long for the 2008 Draft?We all realize that the offseason is only a few days old and there is a lot of time between now and the NFL Draft in the spring, but the speculation has already begun as to who the Jets may select with the sixth pick in the first round.

First, the organization will have to decide whether to draft for need or the best player available. If they had lost to the Chiefs on Sunday and ended up with the third pick, the Jets probably would have selected Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, even though the team has a good corps of running backs. McFadden is probably the best player coming out of college, but I really believe the Jets would be better served to pick based on need–pass-rushing defensive lineman, speedy wide receiver, offensive lineman. Adding McFadden would only force the Jets to have to manage an offense that already has Thomas Jones and Leon Washington–with McFadden coming in, the team would either have to deal one of those players OR somehow tailor the offense where all three would touch the ball, and that would be very hard to do.

At this point, the Jets need to draft/sign/acquire players who can fill those aforementioned needs. It would be silly to draft a quarterback–there aren’t any QBs coming out that would warrant being picked number 6 (in my opinion), and either trading for or signing someone like Donovan McNabb or Derek Anderson is going to cost you a lot in terms of money and picks. It’s better to build a solid nucleus around Kellen Clemens and go from there. I’m not going to belabor the point, but the Chad Pennington train should be leaving the station soon–the Jets cannot win with him anymore, and it’s better to move forward.

There are lots of mock drafts available to view over the web and, of course, every one of them has theories on who is going where. I thought this one made a lot of sense, particularly with the Jets picking Virginia’s Chris Long at number 6. It would be great if he would be available at that slot–from what I’ve read and seen, he can be a very dominant run-stopper and an rush the passer effectively. Of course, there are no guarantees, but it seems that Long would be the most logical pick if he is available.

If the Jets can move Pennington and Jonathan Vilma and acquire more picks in the second and third rounds, you can both fill your needs and draft the best players, regardless of position, since you will have an abundant quantity of picks. Easier said than done, I know, but that’s the mindset I’d like to see the Jets work from.

Anyway, as I said, the offseason has just started and the draft is a long ways away, but the speculation has already begun.


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