OK, so the Jets are $10-20 million under the cap, depending on who you believe and what transpires with John Abraham. It looks like Ramsey for a #5 pick will get done, so headed into Free Agency tomorrow, what should the Jets' priorities be? LT: There is no doubt blind side OT is a key spot. If the Jets plan to draft Cutler #1 they will likely use the 2nd #1 they get for Abraham somewhere else, like RT or RB or LB/DE. Brad Hopkins is a short term solution...but may be where the Jets go. LJ Shelton has talent but has been lazy. Other posibilities: Kevin Schaffer, Tom Ashworth. C: With enough money, I'd sure like to push to sign LeCharles Bentley to replace Mawae. Melvin Fowler of the Vikings is an underrated guy we should consider if we can't get Bentley. DE: If we are looking for a hybrid guy to replace John Abraham, there's former top pick DeLawrence Grant of Oakland. Andre Carter of the 49ers is another guy I liked out of college...who may fit the swing DE/LB spot? DT/NG: none of the guys out there look promising, unless we fill in with an older guy like Grady Jackson. I'd rather draft Ngota! RB: James Mungro has shown flashes as a break away back in Indy...and may come fairly cheap.
I forgot to mention WR and TE... WR: Antonio Bryant is available...and so is Nate Burleson. One of them could help us. Jabbar Gaffney (son of Derek) is a RFA, but young and talented. Corey Bradford, Josh Reed, and Az Hakim are all UFAs. TE: Cincinnati's Matt Schobel is a heck of a 3rd down guy! I've always liked Marcellus Rivers' talent.
If I could take two guys from this list it'd be Bentley and Shaffer. Not too many others fill me with much confidence. I do like Mungro through, that was a great point out. I just wonder how expensive he would be.
We're not signing a back. We have 3 under contract. If we trade for Ramsey, I would also doubt we take a QB in round 1. Ramsey's agent I'm sure asked the Jets for their plans because he got screwed by Gibbs taking a QB last yr.
I think we should make a big push for Bentley. Also the talent available at FB and LB is outstanding. I think we have enough cap room to add the best FB available and one of the top 5 LBs. QB is another big need. Ramsey for our 5th or 6th rounder sounds fine to me. In the draft I would try to parlay the 4th pick and the John Abraham trade into three first rounders. If we use them to come out of the draft with Eric Winston, Antonio Cromatie, and Broderick Bunkley we will compete for years to come. Later in the draft I would look for a TE (Fasano?), and OL help.
Personally I want to see a push for Bentley and Putzier. Trade for Ramsey or sign Kitna. Then draft Brick. IMO
if the jets made the push for bently.we take d brick andvernon davis with the 4h and 9th pick then draft manny lawson in the 2nd. D'brick Kendell Bently Moore AJ V. Davis Barton Vilma Lawson Hobson
There's no way in hell we would tell an agent what our draft plans are. Definitely not with this tight-lipped regime. In fact, based on the NY Post article on Ramsey this morning, I'm willing to bet Tan-Gini got the whole staff together and threatned terminiations if leaks like this get out moving forward.
According to Mel Kiper Jr. today - if the Jets do sign Ramsy, then they will not go for a quarterback with the #4 pick. That means they would consider D'Brickashaw Ferguson with the #4 overall or trade down. If they do trade Abe for a second #1, I would like to see them slide down and grab Ngota and then a RT...and sign a FA LT.
Our first priority should be a RT not a LT jones is our LT and isnt strong enough to be a RT. We need a RT. Then we need a NT, to take up blockers. The rest can be taken care of in the draft. Mangold. With our remaining first round pick. This is after we draft mario williams with our 4th pick.
I think the CS and everyone has decided that A. Jones is not the guy at LT? He's ok as a backup...maybe a stop gap, but not a long term solution. If we can't get a strong LT maybe he can stay there this year? I would LOVE to sign Bentley! He'd anchor our line for years like Mawae did, only he's stronger against big DT/NT's. Add him and we have a strong interior with Kendall (where he belongs at G) and Moore. Jones is solid, and if we do draft a run driving RT we have the makings of a very good OLine.
The only reason to let go of Mawae would be to replace him with a younger (better) player. It would be stupid to release a Pro Bowler and a fan favorite who only costs 1 MM and replace him with a more expensive, less accomplished center. The only Mawae this cut becomes palatable is if Tangini brings in Bentley or Mangold. Period.
The two guys I would look at most in free agency are Bentley and Kemoeatu. Other OL guys I would look at would be Shaffer (if we're committed to replacing Jones), Ashworth, and Neal.
