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JC was somewhat critical of the Jets for the Scotty McKnight pick, but there is question this kid has a lot of ability.
We just felt they could get him as an undrafted free agent, and they should have added a pass rushing outside linebacker at some point, and there were some available (Like Mr. Irrevelent – Rice’s Cheta Ozougu). They could have used an backup offensive lineman as well.
There were two much more pressing needs than wide receiver.
And let’s be honest, did the Jets really need to pick a slot receiver in the seventh round after they picked Jeremy Kerley in Round Five? The pick was somewhat redundant.
And quite honestly, who cares if he’s friends with Mark Sanchez. They already delivered Sanchez his college friend Patrick Turner, did they need to give him another gift?
Let Mark focus on quarterbacking the team.
But with all that being said, McKnight is a good football player. I don’t want to sell him short. None of the above criticism has anything to do with him.
He is the all-time leading receiver at Colorado, and even though the Buffalo’s program has been down the last few years, that is still quite an accomplishment. They played in a very high level conference, the Big 12, with a lot of good defensive backs (they are now in the Pac 12).
Think about all the good defensive backs Texas and Nebraska have produced in recent drafts. Each school had three DB’s picked in the recent draft.
So he put up big numbers against some very good defensive backs.
And remember, while went to Colorado, he orginally signed with Boise State, one of the best passing offenses in the country in recent years. If they sign a receiver, you know he’s a heck of a prospect. They had two receivers picked fairly high this year – Titus Young (Detroit) and Austin Pettis (St. Louis).
Boise State pulled the scholarship offer after McKnight got accused of threatening a high school teacher in a writing assignment (it was a bizarre story, but I don’t think we should judge him by it. It was just a stupid mistake by a 17-year-old).
So don’t think of him as a walk-on (not that there is anything wrong with that). He was offered a full scholarship by a major program (Boise State), but then wrote that paper, and most schools didn’t want to touch him. So he walked on at Colorado.
At the Colorado Pro Day, McKnight ran a 4.49 forty, which is more than adequate to gain separation on the next level.
He’s one of those receivers, like Wayne Chrebet, who is very good at finding holes in zones and sitting down in them. McKnight is a good route runner with soft hands. He’s a smart, saavy football player.
My guess is that he winds up on the practice squad, and if the Jets have an injury or two at wide receiver, he would get called up.
