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New Jersey – Here is a pre-draft press conference with the names of prospects brought up. Let’s get going. Load it up . . .
Q)Who are some of the players you will consider at 18?
Leberfeld: The best strategy is to pick the best player available. Ideally, it’s best when you can marry need and the best player available. That is ideal.
If Eric Ebron slips to 18, he would be a nice addition for the Jets. I know a lot of people don’t think he will be there, but stranger things have happened. Don’t rule it out, it can happen. He is 6-4, 250 and runs 4.6, and can threaten all levels of the defense. Ebron, and the underrated Jeff Cumberland, would make quite a duo. Two tight ends who run 4.6, and can both get way down the seam.
Wide receiver is a possibility at 18, but we all need to keep in mind, that quarterbacks make receivers, receivers don’t make quarterbacks. Adding a receiver in the first round isn’t going to magically made Geno Smith read defenses better. One has nothing to do with the other. What makes great quarterbacks great is decision-making, knowing when and where to go with the ball. Geno needs work on this.
New weapons are fine, but they don’t deal with a QB’s telegraphing issue or the ability to manipulate safeties with your eyes. Hey, Geno could take a big leap in these areas. We shall see, but weapons have nothing to do with these issues. It’s important to keep what he needs to work on, and the need for weapons, entirely separate.
But if the Jets add a receiver, Odell Beckham or Marqise Lee are probably the way to go. These two guys are big-time playmakers who run good routes, have loose hips, and are both great at running after the catch. This is what the Jets need at wideout – an electrifying playmaker to move into the #1 receiver spot.
I think Brandin Cooks is too small to pick at 18. And Kelvin Benjamin’s hands are too inconsistent and speed is too average to pick at 18. Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans won’t be there. The Jets would have to trade up for one of those guys.
As far as marrying need and value, cornerback could be a way to go at 18.
Darqueze Dennard, Bradley Roby and Kyle Fuller could all be there. Roby’s inconsistency and off-the-field issues are a concern, so I’d go with Dennard and Roby. I wish Dennard ran a little better, but he’s super-tough as a press corner and in run support, and has terrific instincts. Fuller is the X-Factor. His name hasn’t been mentioned as much as Justin Gilbert and Dennard, but he might be better. He’s a bonafide press corner – perfect for Rex’s defense. The one concern is his strength – he lifted 225 just 12 times at the combine, but a good strength program can fix that, and his cover skills are terrific.
Notre Dame offensive tackle Zach Martin could be enticing at 18. Think about the Jets guard situation. Brian Winters is has a lot of potential, but was wildly inconsistent as a rookie. Perhaps he takes a quantum leap in Year Two, but none of us know what is going to happen. Willie Colon is on a one-year contract, and is coming off the second torn arm muscle of his career. Will he get his tremendous arm power back, a big part of his game – we don’t know. Most expect Martin to move inside to guard as an NFL player. This guy is a heck of a football player – smart, tough, technically sound – very little chance of being a bust.
So there you go, a pre-draft press conference, if you will, with names.
Not the mush we’ve heard around the league this week.
May 2, 2104
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