There could be as many as 21 underclassmen taken in the first-round alone which would certainly push many seniors down the draft board. This will no doubt favor the Jets who pick 29th overall.

If there is no extension of the CBA before March, 2010 will be an uncapped year but there will be restrictions placed on all of this year’s playoff teams. First and foremost, they will be unable to sign unrestricted free agents unless they themselves lost one.

Fortunately for the Jets, they do not have many glaring needs. In addition, many of their free agents to be are back ups so it will be important for them to resign a lot of these players to maintain depth.

Free agency always dictates draft needs but with little player movement expected this off-season, the draft will play an even larger role than usual.

Although many mock drafts have the Jets selecting a wide receiver, I believe they have more urgent needs at cornerback and outside linebacker. Their loss to the Colts highlighted the need for a solid #2 corner opposite Darrelle Revis.

Lito Sheppard was a disappointment. In the biggest game of the season, Rex Ryan was forced to start Dwight Lowery because he knew Sheppard would be exploited, just as he had been in the Jets’ first match up against Indy.

Lowery played well early but was targeted by Manning in the second half. He is better suited to a nickel role so adding an every down corner will allow the Jets to maintain their depth.

Vernon Gholston has been a huge disappointment. As the sixth overall pick he was supposed to be the dominant pass rusher the team sorely needed but he has been unable to earn any real playing time and could be an off-season casualty.

Gholston is a freak athletically but not a very good football player. He shows no instincts and struggles to locate the football.

The Jets were able to pressure the quarterback this year but it was usually manufactured by Ryan’s schemes. As the Colts showed, teams can stop the Jets’ pass rush if they figure out the blitz schemes.

What the Jets still lack is a pass rusher who creates match up problems no matter the scheme. Calvin Pace is the closest thing they have but he is good for 5-7 sacks per year. The Jets need someone who can collect double digits year in and year out.

With Kerry Rhodes due to be a free agent, safety could be another position the Jets look at. He is due a $2 million roster bonus in March and it is uncertain whether the Jets will bring him back.

Rhodes has tons of talent but consistently underachieved this season making few big plays. He also showed a lack of toughness, avoiding contact when he had clear shots on ball carriers.

It is this last issue, a lack of aggressiveness, that landed him in Ryan’s doghouse and could doom his future in New York. I think Rhodes would make good trade bait. He played well in the playoffs and that might drum up some interest in him.

However, his contract status makes him hard to deal since teams know the Jets will be hesitant to payout the bonus. Whether by trade or free agent defection, if the Jets were to lose Rhodes they will certainly be shopping for a safety come April.

What follows are a number of prospects from the Senior Bowl who would make sense for the Jets. Despite having the best defense in football this past year, their more glaring needs appear to be on that side of the ball with CB, OLB and safety being the most significant.

Here are 12 guys that had a good week in Mobile and fit the Jets’ system. Many of these guys will come off the board after round 1 but would still make sense for the Jets from a value standpoint.


LeGarrette Blount RB Oregon
6-1, 249

Had three great days of practice. Runs with a lot of power and also flashed the ability to break off big runs with speed to the hole. Good pass protector. Has good speed when running between the tackles. Has to answer questions about anger management. Was suspended for the 2009 after starting a bench-clearing brawl after sucker punching an opponent.


Stafon Johnson RB USC
5-11, 214

Inspiring story about this guy. He suffered a crushed larynx during a weight lifting accident and almost died yet he recovered fast enough to be able to play in the Senior Bowl. He did an interview and it was hard for him to speak but one could tell that he wanted to play in the game so badly and would not be denied. This guy has a lot of heart and desire and you can never have enough guys like that on your team. Johnson runs with a lot of power yet has the quick feet to break it to the outside. He runs with good body lean and is always picking up positive yardage. Johnson is one of those players you root for because he loves the game so much and will do whatever it takes to win.


Mardy Gilyard WR Cincinnati
6-0, 182

Very quick in and out of his breaks. Very slippery after the catch and can make tacklers miss in the open field. Does not have long speed but is explosive in short areas and can take it the distance on a quick out. The Jets have lacked a slot receiver since Chansi Stuckey was traded and Gilyard would fill that role nicely. He will come off the board around the 2nd or 3rd round and might draw some interest from the Jets who could use more playmakers around Mark Sanchez.


Mike Iupati Guard Idaho
6-5, 330

Tough, aggressive and plays with a mean streak. Versatile. Can play all five positions along the line although he looked much comfortable at LG, his natural position. Tends to grab and hold sometimes, particularly when lined up at tackle. Has to do a better job of moving his feet and using his punch. This is something that can be improved when he starts working with an NFL line coach. Was the best blocker in Mobile and consistently dominated at the point of attack as both a run-blocker and in pass protection. He came out of the week as the top-rated overall prospect on either roster. Because of that, he probably won’t last until pick 29 but if he does, the Jets might bring him in to the fold to groom as Alan Faneca’s successor.


Alex Carrington DE Arkansas State
6-5, 278

Takes on the double team well. Can hand fight to get by offensive tackles. Controls the point of attack well. Very strong. Will not make a ton of plays but very solid with his technique and is rarely out of position. Does a good of standing up blockers and penetrating into the backfield against the run. Should be a third or fourth rounder. The Jets do not have an imminent need at DE but Shaun Ellis is not getting any younger and the Jets will have to start thinking about his replacement soon.


Dan Williams DT Tennessee
6-2, 311

Williams was one of the best players on the field in Mobile. He has the size to play the nose in the 3-4 and takes on the double team extremely well. He is tough to move off the football and is exactly what you look for in a 3-4 nose tackle. Williams uses his hands well and can even push the pocket on passing downs. With Kris Jenkins’ injury history, you can never have enough nose tackles. Sione Pouha did a good job of filling in for Jenkins when he went down but he does not have the same skill level as Williams. It is hard to imagine Williams lasting to the 29th selection but he has been slotted in that area in early mock drafts. It would be interesting to see what the Jets do if Williams is still on the board. They do not have an urgent need at the position but he would be hard to turn down.


Brandon Lang  OLB  Troy
6-3, 252

Played defensive end in the Senior Bowl but projects to OLB in the 3-4. Has good pass rush skills. Needs improvement against double teams but this could be due to his inexperience, having played in a 4-3 system in college. He is strong and tough so I expect him to improve in this area. He is fluid enough to drop into coverage so combined with his pass rush skills, he can stay on the field on third down.


Brandon Graham OLB  Michigan
6-1, 274

My favorite player at the Senior Bowl. Unfortunately he is the favorite of a lot of teams. He played lights out in Mobile and just took over this game. He has great functional strength and knows how to use leverage to throw offensive linemen around. He has a variety of pass rush moves and can get to the quarterback in a hurry with a great first step. His short stature leads one to believe he is too short to play OLB but he has a thick trunk, which allows him to anchor vs. double teams. His superior leverage enables him to take on blockers at the point of attack and to get under their pads when rushing the passer. He reminds me of James Harrison, linebacker for the Steelers. At Michigan, Graham had 29 ½ sacks and 56 tackles for loss. He was unblockable during Senior Bowl practices and continued his dominance in the game. He was hands down the best player on the field and was awarded player of the game honors after recording 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 sacks, 2 pressures and a forced fumble. That’s serious production and it came against some of the best college players in the country. I think he made himself a lot of money with his performance in Mobile. Before the Senior Bowl he was probably a second round pick. Now he should come off the board in the mid-late first round.


Kyle Wilson CB  Boise State
5-10, 182

Quick, agile and strong. On the small side but plays bigger than his size. Very physical in press coverage. Mirrors receivers well in man coverage. Breaks on the ball quickly. Very confident. Shakes off mistakes quickly. Will likely slip in the first round due his lack of size and speed but he has the skills to be a lock down corner and would be a great complement to Darrelle Revis. He does not have great recovery speed but does not need it as a #2 CB. There is a very good chance Wilson could be on the board when the Jets pick. He would make a lot of sense for them and would fill a primary need as well.


Myron Rolle  S  Florida State
6-2, 223

Rolle showed up in excellent shape despite taking a year off from football to study at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He started the week slowly and appeared hesitant in practices at first but became more aggressive as the week progressed. His intelligence isn't limited to his academic pursuits. He rarely took false steps in run support and regularly put himself in position to make plays on the ball in coverage. Very smart, mature player who picks up schemes quickly. Needs to improve his tackling but should be solid in coverage and has the athleticism to make plays on the ball. Rolle plans on being a doctor and will have to convince the NFL brass that he is committed to playing football first.


Larry Asante  S  Nebraska
6-0, 210

Tough and aggressive. Solid tackler. Asante made some big hits in the Senior Bowl and forced a fumble. He was one of the most physical players on the field. He is already a solid in-the-box safety and fills well against the run. He will make a lot of plays near the line of scrimmage. He is not super instinctive in pass coverage but can press wide receivers effectively at the line. Assante should come off the board in the fourth-round area.