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Florham Park – The Jets’ draft is done, and now it’s down to underrated free agency.
So how did they do?
In the first round, they landed two difference-makers who should help them from Week One.
Dee Milliner was the best cornerback in the draft, so to get him at nine, is sterling value – it really is.
In a pass-happy league, there is a premium on top-shelf corners in the draft. The top guys usually doesn’t last until nine.
Most people didn’t think that Milliner would last to the Jets’ spot. He did, and the Jets jumped on him. Smart move.
Milliner’s not coming in to replace Darrelle Revis like they been saying repeatedly on NFL Network. He’s coming in to compete for the #2 cornerback spot.
The media loves the angle that Milliner was picked to replace Revis, even though it’s not accurate.
Milliner should start for Day One, and could be visiting Hawaii one day. He just needs to stay healthy.
Is Sheldon Richardson a great fit for a 3-4 defense? Probably not.
Just looking at him up close yesterday, he’s not a huge guy by NFL defensive line standards.
But he’s so athletic and explosive for a 292-pounder, the Jets will make it work. This guy runs and changes direction like a 245-pound linebacker. He’s a freak.
As one observer put it, “Richardson is one of the most physically-gifted athletes in the draft.”
And plus, Rex really doesn’t play a pure 3-4 defense – it’s kind of a hybrid system.
So while Richardson’s size isn’t ideal for the defense, Rex can move him around, and play the kid to his strengths.
I would not be surprised if Rex lined him up at linebacker on occasion to throw teams a curve ball.
Geno Smith is a good pick if the Jets red-shirt him this year. His raw tools are off the charts, but he needs to be put on ice in 2013. This kid needs a lot of work, and rushing him into action could wreck him. He also needs to get a lot stronger. He has spindly legs.
The Jets third round pick was rock solid. Brian Winters is likely going to be a long-time starter in this league. He’s big, tough, athletic, smart and durable. It’s just a matter of how long he takes to acclimate to guard. He was a tackle in college.
Virginia tackle Oday Aboushi is a great fifth round value. He can offer the Jets two things immediately – competition for Austin Howard at right tackle, and a backup swing tackle.
I have no opinion on the sixth round pick because I’ve never seen him play offensive line.
The seventh round pick makes a lot of sense. Tommy Bohanon is a good West Coast offense fullback because he has soft hands out of the backfield. He’s a typical Wake Forest prospect – solid kid with good smarts. He should also help on special teams. He played on special teams for four years for the Demon Deacons. Jets special team’s coach Ben Kotwika is going to love Tommy.
So overall, this looks like a draft loaded with good value – two play-makers on defense in the first round, two potential starting offensive linemen, and a perhaps the quarterback of the future.
April 27, 2013
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