I have a little extra time on my hands, so thought it might be helpful and of interest to create a series of threads on different positions that are needs for the Jets. The first was on RBs. This is the second. Additional threads on TEs and CBs will follow. I'll include where they are ranked by several different web sites, links to draft profiles where I can find them, and will include comments from these profiles about their strengths and weakness that I think are relevant to the Jets. I invite your feedback regarding these players, any OLBs I might omit that you like, and a poll that will of course have a limited number of options, but will include space for "other" and "Do not draft an OLB." I listed the top OLBs and DEs projected to play in a 3-4 D alignment., and then the other three RBs listed were ones that I have seen mentioned most often here on I didn't include Myles Garrett because there's no way he will be there, nor do I think they should try to trade up to get him, but if you do, vote for other and then please post your reasons in the thread. Each site lists edge rushers differently. NFL.com lists some under DL and others under LBs. BS Draft Scout lists them under DEs and OLBs. Draftwire lists them together as "Edge Defenders." Drafttek lists then under OLBs and "Edge." NFL.com Ranking: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-position/dt-by-position-input:dl http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-position/dt-by-position-input:lb CBS Draft Scout Ranking: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2017/DE http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2017/OLB Draftwire/USA Today: http://draftwire.usatoday.com/2017/02/15/2017-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-edge-defenders/ Drafttek: http://www.drafttek.com/2017-NFL-Draft-Prospect-Rankings/Top-College-43-Outside-LBs-2017-Draft.asp http://www.drafttek.com/2017-NFL-Draft-Prospect-Rankings/Top-College-43-Outside-LBs-2017-Draft.asp I don't have access to ESPN Insider, but if anyone does, would love to add their rankings. These are listed in no certain order as the 4 sites had them listed in different rankings. Rounds 1-2 Haason Reddick: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/haason-reddick?id=2557887 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2001828/haason-reddick NFL.com grade: 6.34 STRENGTHS Explosive, quick-twitch athlete. Great flexibility with loose hips to turn, twist, and chase. Excellent reactive quickness and change-of-direction agility. Dynamic playmaker in space. Locks onto targets and instantly accelerates to the ball. Finished 2016 regular season with 21.5 tackles for loss. Fluid mover around field. Has chase range over extended territory. Eyes work past blockers and into backfield. Slips and slides around the edge and through small creases. Always working feet into improved positioning after contact. Came in as a defensive back and has experience on all three levels. Has athleticism in space and necessary instincts to be legit cover talent as linebacker. Rushes with good bend and forward lean. Difficult to handle on tackle/end twists back inside. Turns corner with tight track to quarterback once he pries the edge open. WEAKNESSES Undersized by NFL standards for position he's currently playing. Labors to disengage once size is on top of him. Will need more play strength to ward off NFL blockers. Improving with hands, but needs to continue technique work to control blockers. Lacks necessary bulk, length, and play strength to set a strong edge as an NFL 3-4 outside linebacker. Marginal speed-to-power ability. Connects and sticks to tackles when trying to bull-rush under their pads. Pass rush reliant upon athletic talent and cursory hand play. Needs more diversified rush plans. Slides off of too many tackles. Missed 16 tackles over final two seasons at Temple. Needs to chest-up and run feet through contact. Played in fewer than 70 percent of team's defensive snaps. NFL COMPARISON Ryan Shazier BOTTOM LINE Injuries limited Reddick to just four games over last two years of high school, forcing him to walk on at Temple. The Owls staff helped him unlock his explosive athletic traits on the field, which resulted in three forced fumbles, 9.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in 2016. Reddick's speed and athleticism might give him a greater shot at impacting the game as a 3-4 inside linebacker or a 4-3 WILL rather than trying to bulk up and play the edge. An ascending prospect with a high-end potential if he can continue to hone his craft. 2.Takkarist McKinley: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/takkarist-mckinley?id=2557872 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2160964/takkarist-mckinley NFL.com grade: 6.21 McKinley signed with Cal coming out of high school, but failed to qualify academically. He went to Contra Costa College in 2013, winning all-league recognition with 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He transferred to UCLA the following year, once his grades were settled. McKinley played in 10 games, starting one, that season (six tackles, 3.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks). He started 12 games as a junior, really beginning to show promise as a pass rusher (7.5 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles). "Tak" stepped out in his senior year, receiving first-team All-Pac-12 notice with 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and six pass breakups. STRENGTHS Relentless worker bee on the field. Refuses to give offensive tackles a snap to catch their breath. Not a content player and is always charging towards the ball. Plus closing burst to sideline enables contain. Makes as many effort plays as anyone in the Pac 12. Unusually adept at bouncing off of blocks and maintaining play focus. Good stop/start change of direction talent. Long strides eat up ground in space. Scouts expect a strong forty time at combine. Combines speed with long arms for increased tackle radius. Became a playmaker. Saw 36 percent of his tackles come within two yards or less of line of scrimmage while sack total spiked considerably. Spins out of wash down blocks to work back towards the play. Consistently stuffs cut attempts. Raw, but pass rush flashes some speed to power. Pass rush counters fueled by lateral agility and effort. WEAKNESSES Hand skill and overall usage is completely uncultivated and impedes pass rush potential. Lacks slaps, swipes and a serviceable rip move to grease the edge as a rusher. Punch has very little force. Needs to get hands and feet need in unison. Long arms are irrelevant at times due to slow punch. Lacks bend around the edge. Upright pass rush allows tackles to flatten him up and over the rush arc with just an average punch. Movements are a little bit stiff. Redirected too easily. Needs to continue to add play strength. Success predicated on effort over rush talent and functional power. Needs to combine all three elements to his game. SOURCES TELL US "He was my sleeper headed into the season, but that went out the window with the season he had this year. I think he's a second rounder who needs time but he'll probably get overdrafted. He's going to be a productive pro." - AFC area scout NFL COMPARISON Tamba Hali BOTTOM LINE Ascending edge prospect who racked up impressive TFL and sack numbers this year despite a relatively raw approach and skill set. He's a little stiff in his lower body, but flashes good athleticism once the ball is snapped. McKinley's motor is a translatable characteristic, but improved hand usage and pass rush mechanics are what could elevate his game to another level as a starting, 3-4 outside linebacker.
Rounds 1-2 Continued Derek Barnett: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/derek-barnett?id=2557984 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2133516/derek-barnett NFL.com Grade: 6.19 The defensive line talent seen in the Southeastern Conference makes it difficult to make an all-conference squad. Barnett made the honor roll three times in three years. The Nashville native was the first freshman ever to start on the line for Tennessee in 2014, making 20.5 tackles for loss (which led the SEC) and 10 sacks on the year. Barnett led the Vols with 10 more sacks in 2015, earning a spot on the Associated Press All-Bowl Team with eight tackles and a sack versus Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. In his junior year, Barnett was a first-team All-SEC pick and first-team All-American by multiple outlets with 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks (which ranked sixth in the FBS). STRENGTHS Championship hand fighter on college level. Hands are strong, fast, efficient and lethal. Punch-and-discard winner. As rusher, swats are well-timed discarding tackle's punch attempt. Attacks the edge with good forward lean and works hands and feet in harmony on road to the quarterback. Uses jab steps and lateral movement to search for the edge of the blocker. Has leverage and strength to play right through redirects. Elite production on par with former Vol and Hall of Famer Reggie White against run and as sack artist. Not content to just set the edge -- wants to make the play. Uses hand fighting and play strength to work through leverage points. Long strider who can crash down the line to challenge gap plays if unblocked. Punishing hitter. Delivers crushing tackles and sacks when given the opportunity. Hustle player who pursues the play with intent. Rag-dolls tight ends at point of attack. Plus field awareness recognizing play-action, reverses, and screens. Fluid enough to drop into space and play some zone. WEAKNESSES Admitted slow starter who has had issues with sluggishness to start a season. Will overthink it at times rather than just reacting. Can be undisciplined with guessing snap count and taking penalties. Change-of-direction issues typical of a broad-waisted big man. Struggles to redirect movements suddenly once momentum starts rolling downhill. Quarterbacks with pocket mobility can elude him. Substantially more twitch in hands than in feet. Feet are average. Initial burst upfield is average. Times snap count to help with his get-off. Aggressive forward charge opens him up to cut blocks. Long stride creates base inconsistencies at point of attack. Length is a concern. Can he still win without decisive, early victories with his hands? Loops to quarterback are rounded and might need a winning, inside counter move as a pro. NFL COMPARISON Nick Perry BOTTOM LINE Strong edge presence with NFL-caliber hand usage and play strength. Barnett is one of the most productive defensive linemen to come out of the SEC in quite some time despite lacking the length and twitch that teams usually look for off the edge. His awareness and play traits should keep him near the action and he has the talent to step into a starting base end spot right away. There could be coordinators who view him as an early down, outside backer in a 3-4 with the ability to put his hand in the ground on sub packages. Tim Williams: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/tim-williams?id=2557841 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2082733/tim-williams NFL.com Grade: 6.04 Williams was expected to climb up draft boards with a strong senior season because of his athleticism and strength, given that he would be a full-time starter for the Tide. He didn't quite meet that expectation, though, as he started only two games in 2016. Williams was a second-team Associated Press All-American and All-SEC pick, however, as he made 31 tackles, 16 for loss, and had nine sacks on the year (no solo sacks in the season's final five games). That sack number actually decreased from the year before, as he had 10.5 as a pass-rush specialist among his 12.5 tackles for loss. In his first two years on campus, Williams was a reserve defender that played in 19 games total (three tackles, one for loss in 2013; five tackles, 1.5 sacks in 2014). The Baton Rouge native reportedly failed multiple drug tests during his time with Alabama, but was never suspended. He did, however, sit for the first half of the team's game against Kentucky in 2016 after being arrested on a misdemeanor gun charge. STRENGTHS Muscle fibers are tight and twitchy. Rockets out of stance like a track sprinter, but with shoulder pads on. True edge bending ability as a rusher. Pass-rush approach is more sophisticated than he is given credit for. Can win outside or inside making every rush a potential two-way go. Shows good feel for the pass-rush arc and understands when to attack the corner. Able to dip shoulder and pivot under and around an offensive tackle and into the quarterback. Hand usage well-timed as a rusher. Primarily a rusher but showed continuing improvement in technique at the point of attack. Should post impressive straight-line speed at the combine. Plus foot quickness with the smoothness to drop into coverage and operate in space on zone blitzes. WEAKNESSES Scouts say he struggles with Alabama scheme and needs to have things simplified. Can be taken advantage of with screen passes and misdirection. Has sinewy build that resembles a move tight end more than an NFL edge rusher. Arms and chest lack thickness and that shows up in his play strength. Is improving as edge-setter but he still needs work. Would benefit from a stronger initial punch. Athletic tackles with a well-timed punch can stymie his rush plans. Needs to do better job of getting set pre-snap. Has some hip tightness that limits his stride length upfield and laterally. SOURCES TELL US "He's like the Predator. When he's allowed to do just one thing -- get the quarterback -- he is really good at it. Don't ask him to do much more than that, though. He's going to be a high-rep player and I don't know if NFL defenses are going to trust him to do more than just rush." -- NFC area scout NFL COMPARISON Leonard Floyd BOTTOM LINE Alabama has the type of talent and scheme on defense that can make life much easier for everyone along the front seven, but Williams has explosiveness and pass-rush talent to create his own havoc as a pass rusher regardless of what is around him. Scouts say he is lighter than his listed weight and needs to prove he can play with increased toughness in order to reach his potential. Williams' career might be as a pass-rush specialist, but he's talented enough at that endeavor to become a dangerous rush linebacker in the NFL.
Trading up from round two into the bottom of round one could add a huge value for us (especially if we get more ammo by moving down from # 6). If we are lucky perhaps we get Forrest Lamp. Players like Harris or McKinley could be available at OLB. Kamara or Mixon should also be available at RB. We might even get Watson or one of the top 3 WRs. ILB, CB, and S should also have some interesting options that may not be there for us in round two.
The Jets have NO business trading up. They can't afford to give away any draft picks. The only scenario where they could possibly trade up, would be using Richardson, and imo they'd get more value for him trading him for a 4th and/or a conditional pick next season, than using him to trade up.
I see the available (discounting Garrett as you did) pass rushers sort of like the OT: We need a great one, but none are really worth a #6 pick more than the offensive playmakers that would be available: Mahoomes, Watson, Fournette, Howard, which to me represent a higher payoff. But like QBs. pass rushers tend to get overdrafted, so I doubt the top ones listed here last to even the bottom of the 1st round, so if they want one, they can't afford to drop too far back to get him. I like Reddick and Barnette, but as I said I think the Jets need to upgrade the offense first, and they won't be there with their 2nd pick. So I would look for Harris or Watt with their 2nd pick, unless they go for Howard or Fournette first and Mahomes or Watson is setting there for them in the 2nd round. Personally, that's what I would do, but I don't think Macc will.
Rounds 1-2 Continued Charles Harris: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/charles-harris?id=2558001 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2082540/charles-harris NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.0 Harris came to the game late, not putting on a football jersey until his junior year of high school. It didn't take him long to figure it out, however. His athleticism earned him a scholarship from his in-state university, though he redshirted his first year on campus to work on his game while guys like Shane Ray, Markus Golden, and Michael Sam were chasing quarterbacks. As a reserve, Harris had four tackles for loss and two sacks, starting once while Golden was injured. His breakout season came in 2015, as he garnered second-team All-SEC honors after leading the conference with 18.5 tackles for loss (seven sacks). League coaches voted him second-team all-conference again in 2016 (12 tackles for loss, nine sacks), despite his team's poor 4-8 season. STRENGTHS Long legs with well defined bubble. Has loose, fluid hips. Explodes out of his stance in search of gap work vs. run game. Lateral quickness makes it a challenge to reach him or cross his face for offensive linemen. Good first step quickness. Plays with energy and keeps it cranked up until the whistle blows. Runs with high knees and athletic, long strides in the open field. Basketball standout in high school who uses nimble feet for an effective spin move. Can unleash spin counter in either direction. Plays on either side of the line and can play with a hand down or standing up. In 2015, led team in sacks, tackles for losses and hurries and was second in tackles. Uses early speed-to-power to create movement before attacking the tackle's inside shoulder. Showed some ability to drop in space when called upon. WEAKNESSES Found himself too easily engulfed by size this season. Gives ground on the edge and can be widened out of his run fit. Hands must get better at point of attack. Needs to punch and own the point. Rides on blocks rather than shucks them. Lacks desired glass-chewing mentality against the run. Plays with slow reaction time to counters and misdirection and can lose track of the ball. Needs earlier shoulder turn as rusher to prevent early pass sets from punching him as squared-up rusher. Slow to activate his counter spin back inside. More violent approach with hands at top of his rush would help grease the edge. Productivity dropped after struggling with new defensive scheme. SOURCES TELL US "Don't get caught up in his numbers this year. He just didn't mesh with what they asked him to do. He's also got to be coachable and I think he may have fought the changes a little too much. What I saw in 2015 is what I think he's going to be." NFC North regional scout NFL COMPARISON Connor Barwin BOTTOM LINE High-cut pass rusher with good athleticism but concerns regarding his ability to drop anchor against the run. Ironically, Harris might be best suited as a penetrator which is something he fought against this season. His hands can be improved as pass rush weapons, but he has agility and footwork that can't be taught. Harris can play on the edge in a 4-3 or 3-4 front and should be the next in a line of early contributing defensive ends coming out of Missouri. T.J. Watt: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/t.j.-watt?id=2558064; http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2071793/tj-watt NFL.com Draft Grade: 5.88 In fact, it wasn't easy for Watt to get on the field his first couple of seasons with the Badgers, redshirting as a tight end in 2013 and losing the following season with a right knee injury. Watt then tore up his left knee during spring practice in 2015, having surgery but returning to play as a reserve linebacker in all 13 games (eight tackles, 1.5 for loss). Finally healthy in 2016, he won a starting job and excelled, garnering second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors with 63 tackles, 15.5 for loss, and 11.5 sacks. STRENGTHS Produced at high-end level with just one season of full-time football. Has desired length for the edge with room to accommodate more size. Attacks blockers with early arm extension and utilizes push-pull technique to upset their balance as his pet move against run and pass. Outstanding hand play in his game. Disruptive as first man in on twists. Always ready to leap into passing lane and deflect the throw. Strikes fast and early to create leverage points. Rarely has helmet involved in play and is constantly searching for the ball. Understands art of quick disengagements and can flatten out against outside run. Has good agility to clear trash near his feet and pursue the ball. Functional in space when asked to cover. Can get skinny when shooting gaps and has decisiveness and pursuit quickness to crash down the line and close-out cutback lanes. Consistent, wrap-up finisher as tackler. WEAKNESSES Not overly twitched-up as an athlete. Short strider who lacks explosion out of stance and up the field to bend the edge as a pass rusher. Foot quickness is average and needs to win with technique and great hand play. Won't generate enough acceleration to crank up speed-to-power rush with consistency. Plays with a narrow base. Needs to play with more consistent bend to play through redirection by offensive line. Will have to add power in his base to hold point of attack against tackles. Pass rush menu will need more options against NFL tackles. SOURCES TELL US "He looked a lot stronger and a lot more confident on tape this year. He needs to get bigger, but he's already a strong guy. I can see him standing or playing base end for a 4-3 team. He's going to keep getting better." -- Midwest area scout for AFC team NFL COMPARISON Paul Kruger BOTTOM LINE A long-limbed effort rusher who posted impressive numbers against the run and pass in just one year as a starter. He is a tireless worker who pursues from snap to whistle and his brother, J.J., will be a tremendous resource for technique and pass-rush plan. While he is unlikely to win a race to the edge, he's a plus run defender who can get to the quarterback with plus hand work and relentless effort.
Rounds 1-2 Continued Ryan Anderson: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/ryan-anderson?id=2557853; http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1984218/ryan-anderson NFL.com Draft Grade: 5.83 Anderson was a five-star recruit, but redshirted in 2012 and played just a bit in 2013 (five tackles, 1.5 sacks); he considered leaving the program. He received more time on defense in 2014 (25 tackles, 8 TFL, three sacks with no starts) and was a key reserve pass-rusher as a junior (11.5 TFL, six sacks) before finally getting the starting gig in 2016. Anderson didn't receive all-conference notice from league coaches, but the media voted him first-team all-conference (61 tackles, 19 TFL, nine sacks, three pass breakups, one interception for a touchdown). STRENGTHS Thick through shoulders and chest with good upper-body power. Exhibits professional approach on the field. Disciplined and married to his assignments. Stays clean. Comes into the league with NFL-caliber hand work. Ready hands at point of attack with a willingness to stick and move to avoid being swallowed by size. Sets a sturdy edge and makes a point to physically challenge tight ends early in the game. Will "dead arm" inside shoulder to alter blocker's balance and sneak around the outside hand. Relentless charge as a pass rusher and gets home thanks to his effort. Leverages runners to the sideline and rarely gives up a cut-back lane. Tackle finisher who is always hustling. Plays teammate ball over hero ball. Has experience at outside linebacker in both 3-4 and 4-3. Forced five fumbles over last two seasons . WEAKNESSES Relatively average athlete for the position. Lacks desired pursuit speed and closing burst as a 4-3 linebacker. Hips are a little stiff and he lacks plus range of motion. Could struggle with cover skills in space. Short arms could become an issue if asked to stack the edge against NFL tackles. Effort rusher missing desired traits found in consistent NFL pass rushers. His edge rush is more elongated and gradual than tight and sharp. Gets punched by tackles while shoulders are still square, causing him to flatten out as a rusher. SOURCES TELL US "Size is more suited for 4-3 SAM but he could play some rush outside backer in a 3-4. He would fit Baltimore and Pittsburgh as a 3-4 SAM, too." -- NFC area scout NFL COMPARISON Ahmad Brooks BOTTOM LINE Well-schooled with a high football IQ and a history as a winner. His disciplined, assignment-based approach to the game should resonate with defensive coordinators. Lack of length and average athletic traits could put a cap on his draft stock, but he should be a safe pick and a long-time starter as an outside linebacker. Tyus Bowser: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/tyus-bowser?id=2558166 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2071873/tyus-bowser NFL.com Draft Grade: 5.86 Bowser was looking for a huge senior season, coming off of a junior year where he started every game, making 50 tackles, 6.5 for loss, and 5.5 sacks. Unfortunately, a fight with one of his teammates resulted in his missing a month with a broken orbital bone. He overcame that setback to still garner second-team all-conference honors, leading the team with 8.5 sacks among his 12 tackles for loss in just eight games. Bowser played basketball and football over his first two years on campus. He played all games on the gridiron as a freshman (26 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks) and sophomore (13 tackles, 3.5 TFL, three sacks), starting once each season. STRENGTHS Explosive, quick-twitch athlete. Bursts out of his stance and challenges the edge. Good shoulder turn at the edge of rush and can dip and corner with very tight radius. Showed ability to play in variety of spots. Crisp change of direction ability. Took to his coaching and showed drastic improvement against the run this year. Played two years of college basketball at Houston which shows up with his footwork and fluidity when dropping into space. Has ability to pattern match tight ends. Light is starting to come on for him. Should have a big day at the combine. WEAKNESSES Undersized on the edge. May not have the frame to carry much more weight. Can be engulfed by size. Needs to get better with hands at point of attack. Still has issues where he looks like a basketball guy learning football. Production as pass rusher doesn't match his explosive traits. Pass rush is built around athleticism and not enough around skill. Has to get even tougher and more skilled against the run. SOURCES TELL US "He's got all the athletic traits and explosiveness and none of the consistency of production you want. I still think you are kind of gambling on him if you take him too high but it's going to be really hard to pass on the athlete after what he's done this postseason." -- NFL general manager NFL COMPARISON Eli Harold BOTTOM LINE Ascending pass-rush prospect who is still learning the fundamentals of his position thanks to a late commitment to the sport. Bowser's movement ability in space creates interesting possibilities for teams looking for a twitched-up toy to play with. Bowser lacks production, but his explosive characteristics off the edge will push him up the draft board and give him a chance to play well above where some scouts might project him. Carl Lawson: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/carl-lawson?id=2557901 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2079872/carl-lawson NFL.com Draft Grade: 5.67 After struggling to stay on the field for a couple of seasons, Lawson came through with the effort everyone expected in 2016. The first-team All-SEC selection had 13.5 tackles for loss including nine sacks for the Tigers in his junior year. This production was anticipated by Auburn coaches in 2014 after Lawson was a Freshman All-American the previous season (7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles). He injured his left knee (ACL) in the spring, however, forcing him to take a medical redshirt. The following year he was named a team captain but again missed half of the year with a hip injury, managing just one sack in seven games. STRENGTHS Well-built with good muscular definition. Strong upper body. Has crisp, sharp hands. Able to strike and release to shed tight ends quickly. Aggressive setting edge and works with maxed-out arm extension after punch. Fights through down blocks from tight ends and receivers to string outside runs to the sideline. Could play standing up or with a hand on the ground. Has NFL power and aggressiveness. Explosive get-off with some heat in his feet over first two steps upfield. Good forward lean into his rush. Slaps and chops at tackle's punch to soften the edge. Takes tight, linear track to quarterback with big close-out burst once he turns the corner. Experience rushing from interior-line spot and stand-up inside backer. Finesse tackles will struggle to handle his speed-to-power bursts. WEAKNESSES Injuries have side-tracked playing time and production over the years. Missed 2014 with ACL tear and six games in 2015 with hip injury. Face-up rusher who struggles to get hip flip or shoulder turn at the top of his rush. Takes predictable tracks in his pass rushes and gets stuck on blocks. Needs creative rush attack with legitimate counters. Hips are tight and restrictive in lower half. Needs better knee bend throughout the rep. His momentum is sometimes too much to overcome. Washed up and around the arc and unable to drop anchor and take a stand. Poor tackle production. Pursuit is too measured and uneven. Below-average lateral agility limits tackle radius. Too content to ride out the edges he sets rather than looking to eat as tackler. NFL COMPARISON Owamagbe Odighizuwa BOTTOM LINE Linear player with natural power and aggressiveness, but a lack of flexibility could hamper his potential as an NFL rusher. Lawson's twitch shows up in short, controlled bursts, but he struggles to finish if the play isn't right in front of him. Lawson's ruffneck demeanor will appeal to teams looking for an aggressive edge-setter along a physical front, but his draft grade could vary quite a bit from team to team.
Reading all these draft profiles by Lance Zierlein at NFL.com is a little depressing. He writes more negatives about each player than some of the other scouting reports I've seen, and no prospect winds up looking good. LOL At this point, I'm not sure I want any of these OLB/Edge Rusher prospects. No player is perfect, but all of these players seem pretty severely flawed in one way or another. Some have the athleticism we want, but not the production, others have production, but their limited athleticism could mean that their production in the NFL won't come close to matching what they were able to do in college. It's just one man's opinion, but the NFL players he compares these prospects to are often underwhelming as well. We do know that neither Jenkins nor Mauldin are that fast and athletic. Jenkins seems like he's going to be solid, if not very good at setting the edge. Mauldin may wind up being a disappointment. If we draft an OLB/Edge Rusher prospect, I think he needs to be fast and very athletic. I think Greene can teach him the fundamentals/technique that the player will need to succeed. I know that a lot of you like T.J. Watt, but imo he's not a good prospect for the Jets. He has an injury history, his athleticism is average, he's a little on the slow side, and is therefore too limited and too much like Mauldin. I'll be surprised if Mac trades down in the first and then takes an OLB/Edge Rusher. Barnett is likely to go in the first as is Reddick. Barnett could be a good choice, but imo Reddick is too light/small, so probably is better suited for a 4-3 alignment, or as an ILB in a 3-4. EDIT: I think my three favorites are McKinley, Harris and Bowser. The CBS profile conflicts with the NFL.com profile for Harris saying that the change at Missouri worked against what Harris had been doing and was best at. I think all three have the speed, athleticism, effort, and are ascending players who just need work on developing/refining their technique/fundamentals and learning some additional rush moves.
I like Takkarist Mckinley. He's an athletic freak with a strong motor. He does need some refining in some of his moves, but uses his hands and can play on run downs. He's a target at the end of the first round. Also like Charles Harris as well. Both I think are good compliments for Jordan Jenkins who I think has a future on this team. Reddick you are correct, I don't think he's a true EDGE rusher. I've seen comparison to Bruce Irvin who doesn't really play the 3-4 OLB / 4-3 DE. I've seen mocks where Reddick might play more-so inside as a 3-4 ILB and a 4-3 weakside that can rush the passer on certain packages. Reddick can cover ground very well. I've been hearing more about Bowser, I'll have to check the tape. Great thread sir.
Yes, I like McKinley a lot as well. I meant to list him as one of the 3. I'll have to go back and edit/fix that. Yeah, I hadn't heard of Bowser until I started researching OLB prospects. I think he has a ton of potential. Thanks for the compliment!
If the Jets wait until day 3 to pick an OLB, Price from Pitt could be a target. He will probably be a pass rush specialist in the NFL, but he was a productive player in college that is used to being keyed on. He has some injury concerns (I think he was medically redshirted twice), so he will be available much later than he normally would be.
