East West Shrine Game

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

C

2009 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

The Jets did most of their heavy lifting during free agency which allowed them to make a move to grab my #1 quarterback in the draft, Mark Sanchez.  They also added one of my favorite college street free agents safety Keith Fitzhugh.

DRAFT PICKS

Sanchez was my top rated quarterback in the draft.  The reason is personal preference.  I like the smart, quietly-cocky (at least initially), accurate quarterbacks over the big-arm, occasionally mistake-prone quarterbacks.  Sanchez is the type of quarterback who may not win a lot of games he was suppose to lose, but won't lose games he is suppose to win.  When you build a top team, Sanchez will ensure they make deep runs in the playoffs and only lose when his team is out-played.  Stafford, the majority of other analysts top-rated quarterback, for me represents the other type, the one who can get an inferior team to the playoffs, but when he is on a highly talented team, could potentially lose a game with a bad throw and be beat by an inferior team derailing a Super Bowl bound team.

While I like Greene, I did have two running backs more highly-rated than him on my board that were available at this spot.  Of those two, Andre Brown, drafted by the Giants, would have been my pick to work along side Thomas Jones for now and Leon Washington down the line.  In my opinion, the difference between Greene and Brown is that Brown would be capable of carrying a team on his own if needed, while Greene would be a back a team would be looking to upgrade if he was forced to carry the full load.

The Jets had Slauson rated a bit higher than I did.  As a guard, I would have grabbed Jamie Thomas at this spot.  However, I would have drafted wide receiver Tiquan Underwood here.  He was a very underrated receiver in the draft and has terrific speed and athleticism.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Cook is a kid who is an undersized in-the-box safety who could stick as a top special teams player since he is a very sure tackler.

Davis is a receiver with a nice combination of size and speed, albeit his speed is mainly straight-line.  He could land on the Jets' development squad.

I fully expect Keith Fitzhugh to make this team and immediately become one of the Jets' best special team players.  However, his upside is much more than that.  Leonard better stay healthy because if Fitzhugh gets a chance to showcase his skills in the base defense he may never leave the field.  He is a smart player who is always around the ball and is much better in game situations than in workouts.

McKee is a very athletic tackle with quick feet who is the perfect development squad candidate.  This kid has a chance to be a solid backup in time.

Pizzotti is a heady quarterback who could be a plus running opposing teams' offenses in practice.  Interestingly, while he looked like he lacked mobility on film, he showed good quickness and acceptable speed during workouts.  He also has a NFL arm.  Look for him to land on the Jets' development squad.

Potter has the frame to add bulk and play defensive end in a 3-4.  He is another player who was made for development squads.

Steinkuler is an undersized defensive tackle who showed surprising athleticism and foot speed during workouts.  Look for him to either show he can transition to end in the Jets' 3-4 defense and make the team, or to be cut early in the process.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

The Jets had a solid (B) draft made better by landing the most dominate defensive player in the draft in Gholston.  The Jets' needs were minimized going into this draft by an active and effective NFL free agent period.

DRAFT PICKS

Gholston was the best player in this draft.  There, I said (wrote) it!  He will be a double-digit sack guy who defenses have to game plan for and account for on every play.  Even if McAlister fell to them, I would have drafted this athletic marvel.

As a tight end, Keller is a bulked-up wide receiver.  What impresses me most about him is not his speed to get deep (which he has), but his quickness and cutting ability.  He will have to be defended using zones or corners; safeties and linebackers won't stand a chance.  As far as blocking goes, he is undersized, but very strong.

While the Jets drafted Lowery as a corner, I believe his best NFL position will be free safety.  His speed and quickness are only average at corner, but are fine at safety.  One reason why I like Lowery at free safety is that he plays the ball very, very well.  He had 13 interceptions in two years at San Jose State.  I happen to like his potential at free safety better than the incumbent starter Elam.

Ainge is an accurate rhythm passer.  His long term potential is as a backup.  I guess he is on hand to pick up the pieces in case the Jets dump the loser of the Pennington/Clemens battle next year. 

Henry was a big play receiver for Kansas averaging almost 19 yards a reception and catching 10 touchdown passes.  However, his speed and quickness to do project to him being a big-play receiver in the NFL.  But the game isn't played using stop watches.  Worst case, he should develop into a reliable possession receiver.

Garner is a big kid with good strength but limited athletic ability.  I'm not sure if he'll show enough to be kept on the practice squad, although he is such a big kid you'd think the Jets would give him some time.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Caulcrick is a fullback who would prefer to be a running back.  To make it in the NFL, he will have to embrace the fullback position and become a better blocker.  If he does, he just may get some goal line carries and touchdowns.

Mattison was a smart signing by both the Jets and the kid himself.  He is ideal for a 3-4 end and could have a nice career as a backup and rotation player at that spot.

Woodhead will be fun to watch.  He is small, but strong and fast.  He should have some big plays in early exhibition games.  with another team he could win a spot as a return man.  However, the Jets already have their undersized runner/return man in Washington.  Still, Woodhead could land on the practice squad and be called up by some team as a return man as injuries hit during the regular season.

Zenon is another interesting player.  He is a smart corner with better speed and athleticism than advertised, but needs to add bulk.  This is another kid that may make plays in early preseason games and earn a spot on the Jets' practice squad where they give him lots of junk food and weight room work.

B+

2005 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

The Jets did as good a job as could be expected considering they traded out of the first round of the draft.  Nugent was a good get in round two.  He was not a reach (unlike the other day one kicker, the punter Colquitt by Kansas City), and will help the Jets win a game or two late this year.  The selection of Nugent looked even better when the Jets followed it up by selecting Miller with their second pick in round two.  Miller was the player I would have selected at pick 47, but he was sitting their for them ten spots later.  If the Jets did as I said, they, most likely, would have lost Nugent to the Vikings before their next pick.  So kudos to the Jets.  They got the best kicker in the draft, and a cornerback/kick returner for whom I had a first round grade.  Miller will be a very good cornerback in the NFL.  Pouha is a player with unlimited potential.  He did not play up to his athletic talent in college, so the Jets staff will need to get Pouha to follow coaching, and not try to get by on his athleticism alone. If the succeed, they could have the best defensive line in football (also assuming Abraham doesn't hold out).  Rhodes was a bit of a reach, however, I can see why a team would draft him in round four.  He is a rare safety with good coverage abilities.  However, he is soft against the run.  If the answer is for him to hit the weight room, then he could develop into a starter.  If the answer is lack of toughness, then he will never be more than a nickel safety.  Maddox was a nice get in round five.  I had a third round grade on him, although strong safeties often fall on draft day.  Maddox is a hard-hitting safety, who showed surprising speed during his workout.  Down the line he could settle in next to Coleman.  Houston was an outright steal in round six.  I had a third round grade on him.  Houston is a team-saving type of player.  He is the perfect backup running back.  All he lacks is game-breaking speed.  If called upon to start, he would be a dependable, move-the-chains running back.  In fact, if he started for a full year, he would be a 1,000-yard back.  In summation, Houston is not the back a team wants to be their starting running back heading into a season, but he is a player good teams will be glad they have if an injury occurs to their top back, because you can win with him as a starter.  In this regard he is much like Nick Goings of Carolina.  And, oh by the way, he can also serve as a short-yardage and goal-line back.  The Jets could have been, but were not happy getting two "Jaybird round three values" on day two, they got a third one with their second pick in round six.  I had a higher grade on the TE Dressen than many because he is a functional player who will contribute and help a team.  He has excellent hands, can block, and is sneaky fast.  He will start off as the Jets #3 tight end, but could be a starter in a couple of years.  Williams is a tall, thin receiver with decent speed.  His best chance to stick will be as a kick returner.

The Jets had a fairly quiet college street free agent signing period as far as my top available players went.  They did, however, sign two offensive lineman from small schools who are interesting developmental prospects.  Mike King played tackle in college, but is an excellent athlete and possess the quickness to play guard in the NFL.  Henry Tellis is a pur tackle prospect, but he needs to fill out his big frame to handle the tremendous increase in strength and talent he will face in the NFL.  Both are practice-squad-type players, who could pay dividends in the future.