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Let’s take a closer look at 18. It’s possible the Jets could move up, especially with 12 picks, but they can get great value staying put.
I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit, and my gut is telling me the Jets should go with Marqise Lee (and it’s not because he’s on the cover of the latest JC Magazine).
After thinking about this for a while. There is no question somebody outstanding from a value standpoint, at another position, could slip to 18, and steer the Jets to another position
But all things being equal – let’s say Lee, Odell Beckham and Brandin Cooks are on the board, Lee is the way to go.
This is a special kid.
He’s an old soul at 22 having been through so much in his life already.
Living in the projects; both parents being deaf (Lee speaks sign language); had a brother murdered in a gang-related crime. But he never got in trouble, and actually moved in with a friend’s family in high school, in a better neighborhood, to make sure of that.
He’s not the biggest receiver in the draft, not the fastest, but he’s just a heck of a football player. He’s already a good route-runner, is terrific running after the catch and has very good hand-eye coordination.
As the scouts like to say, “film doesn’t lie,” and this guy has great film.
What will a team be getting in Lee, in his opinion?
“Pretty much everything they see on film,” Lee said. “Somebody who is going to go out there and get it, to honestly tell you the truth, give it your all, 120 percent, just go out there and make plays.
“The main thing is, I’m going to compete, 24-7, no matter what vet is there, who is coming in, what free agent they got, I’m always going to compete and bring a positive mindset to the game. No negativity, not going to question anything, just going to get the job done.”
Man do the Jets need a #1 receiver like this – all business, all focus, no drama.
The Holmes drama sucked the life out of the receiver room at times.
Lee might be a little undervalued because of all the turmoil at USC during his time there – three different head coaches, NCAA sanctions, a lot of injuries as a junior.
Now with all this being said, the Jets are going to stick to their value board.
While a lot of fans want them to pick a receiver in the first round, that might not be the best value at the time.
Look at Sheldon Richardson last year. Defensive end wasn’t a big need, but the value Richardson presented at 13 was so enormous, the Jets picked him. That worked out very well.
So the pick could be CB Darqueze Dennard, CB Bradley Roby, S Calvin Pryor, LB Ryan Shazier (Jets need to improve their linebacker coverage, and this guy can fly), G/T Zach Martin or perhaps TE Eric Ebron. We will see how the first 17 picks evolve.
There are a lot of directions the Jets could go at 18 from a value board standpoint, but the wide receiver position could constitute the best value at 18, and if I were pulling the trigger, the pick would be Lee.
But this guy is the real deal – a true #1 receiver.
April 22, 2014
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