Well, the long awaited Divorce with the Jets best player has finally happened. Revis is no longer a Jet and will face his former team as a Buccaneer during the Season opener. Tampa Bay seemingly fixed last years worst statistical Pass Defense IF Revis returns to form and the Buccaneers can create a good Defensive Scheme. What about the Jets though? They just lost their best player and already had plenty of holes before the Off-Season began. What is their plan moving forward?
With Revis gone, the Jets no longer have the best CB Tandem in Football. Antonio Cromartie proved last year that He can still be considered a #1 Corner on a good Defense and Kyle Wilson was above average moving from the Nickle-Back to the #2 spot. Besides losing Revis, the Jets Secondary also lost Safeties LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell. They were able to add Laron's Brother, Dawan Landry, but that is a decline to the position. There isn't a player in the Draft that will be able to fill Revis' shoes, so how do the Jets offset the loss to their Defense?
It's been said that the best thing that can happen for a Secondary is a strong Pass Rush. The Jets did not resign OLB Bryan Thomas, but brought back OLB Calvin Pace at a discount rate and also signed Free Agent Pass Rush specialist Antwan Barnes. Barnes is familiar with the Jets Defense having played for Head Coach Rex Ryan in Baltimore. Barnes is not considered an every down player and Pace is not capable of getting double digit sacks. The Jets have been linked to multiple Pass Rushers for the upcoming Draft, including Barkevious Mingo DE/OLB LSU, Dion Jordan DE/OLB Oregan and Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia among others. The Jets haven't had a Player that notched over 6.5 Sacks in one Season since Rex Ryan joined the Jets in 2009. The Jets have a chance to change this with one of the players previously mentioned, but the Jets had one of the worst Offenses in the NFL last year, and have just as many holes on that side of the ball.
Many Jets fans want QB Mark Sanchez gone yesterday, but this years Draft Class of QBs is widely considered to be weak with a lack of Franchise players. Granted OC Tony Sporano was such a failure at his job that He was let go after just one year in that role with the Jets eating his contract, but Mark Sanchez had been on the decline before Sporano came to the Jets. Marty Mornhinweg was brought in to change the philosophy on Offense and is considered a Top 3 Offensive Coordinator with a West Coast philosophy that is very QB friendly. Even if Sanchez could be saved and reach the potential that made him the 5th overall selection in the 2009 Draft, the Jets lack a number of talented players around him. Sanchez's favorite target TE Dustin Keller is now in Miami and both starting Guards are either playing elsewhere or not currently on the team. Lets not forget that their best skill player WR Santonio Holmes is returning from a foot injury that cost him all but three games last year and lead Back Shonn Greene is now a Tennessee Titan. The Jets signed Guard Willie Colon and RB Mike Goodson, but the Jets aren't sure if Colon can stay healthy and if they have a lead RB which is why the have made an offer to the Saints for RB Chris Ivory.
So here the Jets stand heading into the Draft with needs at QB, G, RB, TE, WR, DT, OLB, CB, FS, and SS. The Jets now have 2 first round picks, and a selection in the remaining rounds. With multiple holes here is my thinking on what the Jets can do to rebuild their Roster. With the #9 Overall pick I think the Jets should select Chance Warmack G Alabama. Warmack is considered better than any other interior lineman since C Nick Mangold. The Offensive Line is needed for the Passing game and Running game and adding either Warmack or moving down and selecting G Jonothan Cooper UNC would instantly return the Jets Offensive Line to one of the best in the League and giving them a Line up of D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Willie Colon, Nick Mangold, Chance Warmack/Jonathon Cooper, Austin Howard.
With the #13 Overall selection the Jets are hoping that OLB Jarvis Jones Georgia falls back now that a couple of red flags have popped up, spinal condition and slow 40 time. If he or DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo are both gone by this pick then the Jets should absolutely trade back and stock pile more picks, but either player would give the Jets a young dynamic Pass Rusher that would reak havoc in the back field. Jarvis Jones is a playmaker and regardless of a disappointing 40 time you have to rely on game tape. When you are compared to Von Miller you can pretty much pencil him in for 10+ sacks a year. If the Jets have an OLB constantly putting pressure on the opposing QB the Secondary will have a good chance to pick off quite a few passes.
In the 2nd Round the Jets will run to the podium to hand in the card for TE Zack Ertz Stanford. Dustin Keller was a very good Recieving threat, but was a horrible blocker and the Jets currently have Jeff Cumberland, Konrad Reuland and Rugby Player project Hayden Smith manning the TE position. Ertz is the best TE not named Tyler Eifert and has great hands and Route Running and can also be expected to block better than any of the TEs currently on the Roster. Ertz is a threat and with a Guard in the 1st Round keeping the QB upright Zach Ertz will have plenty of time to embarrass whatever Line-Backer or Safety is in charge of matching up with him.
Since we can't predict any trades the Jets may make during the Draft I won't add in any extra picks, but before I give you my selection for the 3rd Round let me just say that if the Jets are able to pick up another 2nd Round pick by trading down in the 1st Round they should absolutely select DE Margus Hunt BMU to fill the hole left by Mike Devito and give the Jets a Pass Rush that Devito could only dream of. Sticking with the current available picks though this slot should belong to CB Logan Ryan Rutgers. We aren't making this selection to make up for the loss of Revis, cause there is no replacement. This should've been the pick even if Revis was still on the team. Ryan is a big Corner and will be able to help with the Jets problem covering TEs. Kyle Wilson will remain at the #2 Corner Spot making Ryan the new Nickel and Dime spot and giving the Rookie Corner some time to develop.
With the 4th Round pick the Jets should continue filling up the holes to their Secondary and make their new Defensive Backs Coach a verry happy and proud Father by selecting His Son S T.J. McDonald USC. McDonald would not be considered just a favor to one of their own. McDonald is a big Back that will help with opposing TEs and considered a hard hitter that will help against the Run. He will have a chance to start opposite Dawan Landry or at least be part of a very young rotation with last years selections Josh Bush and Antonio Allen.
In the 5th Round I believe the Jets need to begin planning for a future not including Santonio Holmes being a long term member of the Jets and instead being a Cap Casualty next year by selecting WR Aaron Dobson Marshall. Dobson is a tall WR that can stretch the field and if both players are able to develop give the Jets their starting #1 and #2 along side last years 2nd Round pick Stephen Hill. Dobson has a similar build to Hill and will be able to be an immediate Red Zone threat and add depth to the WR position.
Since the Jets are currently offering their 6th Round pick t i the Saints for Ivory I'm going to include the 7th Round pick to complete that trade. Even if this trade falls through I would suggest the Jets trade both picks for selections next year. They are in a rebuilding mode and can't afford to hope for a late Round gem adding more picks next year will give them the opportunity to trade up and select players that they want to fill up the few holes they should have after their young players develop and they make a splash in Free Agency with the over $35 million in Cap Space they are expected to have.
So this is my plan to fix the Jets. What do you think of this plan and what would you do to fill the holes on the team? Leave your comments and enjoy the moves that the Jets are on the verge to make.
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