At 25, Pool is in the prime of his career but his production has not matched his physical ability. A second round pick out of Oklahoma in 2005, he came to the Browns with a lot of promise and but never really met his potential.

He has good size (6-2, 210) for the position and above average athleticism but never established himself as a consistent performer in Cleveland’s deep patrol. He was on his way to having his best season when he suffered a season-ending concussion against Cincinnati in week 12.

The speculation since has surrounded his injury history and some sources have suggested that he has suffered as many as four concussions since coming into the league. His agent insists he has suffered only one.

Pool has been cleared medically and since the Jets are extremely thorough in their due diligence when it comes to personnel decisions, we can assume he was checked out properly and is ready to play.

Signing him to a one-year deal makes sense because you just don’t know when it comes to concussions. History tells us that players with this tendency continue to get them so it is not very encouraging for Pool.

Although a few media outlets have already slotted him in as the starter opposite Jim Leonhard, I am not sold. He was signed more for depth than anything else and will have to compete for a roster spot with Eric Smith, James Ihedigbo and whatever prospect the team drafts.

I think it is very likely the Jets will use a high pick at the safety position. Despite Pool’s signing, safety remains one of the team’s bigger needs.

From a scouting perspective, Pool is a fluid athlete and can cover a lot of ground. He has good hands and is capable of creating turnovers although he did not have as many as one would hope.

He had 11 in five seasons in Cleveland with 4 coming last season, which makes one think – “Is he on the cusp of breaking out as a playmaker or is he just an average player?” The Jets see something in this guy but right now he is a more of a roll of the dice.

There is no certainty Pool will even make the roster come opening day but for now he is someone with starting experience and is capable of raising his game now that he is in a strong system like the Jets’.

Pool is not very physical so I question his ability to play near the line of scrimmage. He does not appear to be much of blitzer but as a safety in Rex Ryan’s system, he will need to step up this part of his game if he wants to stick around. Ryan likes to use both safeties in his blitz packages in addition to putting them in single coverage scenarios on passing downs.

Ryan and Tannenbaum see Pool as a diamond in the rough – a guy with plenty of skills who has been slow to develop in a losing, and sometimes dysfunctional, culture. They are figuring that with the right coaching and more opportunities to make plays, Pool has the ability to be more of a contributor.

He definitely has the talent. Whether Ryan can maximize that talent is the question.
In only one year, Ryan has done wonders for a Jets’ defense that was middle of the pack at best before he arrived.

After elevating the play of Darrelle Revis, Bryan Thomas and Sione Pouha, to name a few, the organization is counting on him to do the same with Pool. If he can develop him into a contributing member of the Jets’ nickel and dime packages, he will be worth the money.

At worst, Pool is a one-year experiment but his talent makes him worth the risk.