As in prior drafts, Mike Tannenbaum traded up to get the player he wanted. With LaDanian Tomlinson a short-term fix and Leon Washington being moved, Tannenbaum strengthened the all-important running back position.
He moved up 12 spots and traded his 6th round pick for McKnight and in the process, he gets a very elusive runner to complement Shonn Greene. McKnight has 2nd round ability but slid to the fourth round because of concerns about his durability.
He has fantastic all-around athleticism and played basketball and ran track in high school. He was a highly rated prospect coming out of the Louisiana prep ranks and was billed as the next Reggie Bush when he chose USC.
But injuries and competition led to diminished results as his star faded somewhat with the Trojans. His injury history, while not devastating, was nevertheless a big red flag for teams during the evaluation process.
Obviously the Jets are comfortable with his medical but they will have to be careful with how they use him. He has a tendency to get nicked up and miss time with nagging injuries.
Before his freshman year (2007) he missed time during fall practices with a stretched knee ligament. He dislocated four toes during USC’s Role Bowl vs. Illinois and sat out ’08 spring practices.
His injuries continued off the field when he accidentally closed a door on his right hand in the fall of ’08 and hurt two fingers. He hyper-extended his right elbow later that fall but was ready for the team’s opener.
He played 11 games in 2008 and compiled decent numbers – 89 carries for 659 yards, 2 TD’s and a 7.4-yard average. He added 21 catches for 193 yards and 1 TD.
He was forced out of the Ohio State game with a migraine and did not play against Washington or Washington State (due to a turf toe).
In 2009 he started 11 of 12 games and played a more prominent role in the offense. He had 164 carries for 1,014 yards and 8 TD’s. He had a solid 6.2 average and put up good receiving numbers as well (22 catches for 146 yards – 6.6 average).
He sprained his ankle vs. Washington and bruised his thigh vs. UCLA. He was held out of the Emerald Bowl vs. BC amidst a compliance investigation prompted by an alleged use of an SUV owned by a local businessman.
The Jets will have to limit McKnight’s carries until he gets stronger. Once he is in an NFL conditioning program, he should be better able to handle the rigors of the pro game.
McKnight is very versatile. He can run, catch and has some return skills. He runs a 4.44-40, which is fast enough to get to the outside.
He has quick feet, good agility and the short-area burst to get through creases. He has great vision, which helps him see cutback lanes.
McKnight has excellent change of direction skills. He is a very shifty runner and knows how to make defenders miss in the open field.
McKnight is coming into a good situation with the Jets. He will not be pressured to carry a big load since they have other runners but he should follow in Tomlinson’s footsteps once the Hall of Famer moves on.
McKnight has similar skills catching the football and should benefit from Tomlinson’s tutelage. Having solid veterans to teach younger guys is important in the NFL and Tomlinson’s presence should be invaluable to McKnight.
McKnight will need to bulk up in the NFL. He has a narrow frame with thin legs and does not show much ability to break tackles.
It will be important for him to get stronger so he can improve his yards after contact. He will also need added strength to improve his pass blocking, which is below average.
McKnight is a junior entry that has a lot of talent. He is a very fluid and instinctive runner and should be able to contribute right away.
The Jets will use him mostly on screens, draws and swing passes and will try him as a kick returner. He has great agility, change of direction and is very elusive in space.
This is a solid pick for the Jets. McKnight can contribute immediately and will be a nice complement to Shonn Greene.
Written by Alan Levin