2013 NFL Mock Draft: The New York Jets Select…

The Fansided Mock Draft has the Jets taking Taylor Lewan, although I do not agree.

The 4th Fansided Mock Draft is out and this week and for the first time in the draft the guys over at Fansided has the Jets selecting an offensive position as they have them going after an OT in the first round…..

Taylor Lewan, OT/Michigan is the pick….

Potentially upgrading the O-line would be worth the exploration considering Brandon Moore might be a cap casualty and the Jets might be looking to upgrade the Right Tackle position or at least provide some adequate and talented competition for Austin Howard who for the most part has played pretty solid football consistently but may not be the answer.  That uncertainty is reason enough to look into upgrading it and that I have no problems with but I don’t think that small uncertainty warrants reaching for a top OT prospect in the top of the 1st round, I just don’t!

First, the pick;

Lewan appears to have prototypical height and a wide berth, Lewan is a well-rounded player who excels as both a pass protector and run blocker. He has great kick steps, holds the edge very well, and uses his hands to extend defenders away from his body. When you first see him you immediately notice his long arms and notice his ability to move laterally with ease.

According to his highlights he seems to struggle a bit with run blocking. As a run blocker, he does not have ideal strength. Could most certainly afford to add bulk to his lower half and is not a drive blocker. A potentially good fit for a zone blocking scheme, something the Jets utilize quite a bit. Despite large frame, a bit too narrow through his hips and needs to learn to play with more active feet when trying to move defenders off the line. He hits the second line quickly and uses his momentum to clear a path for the ball carrier.

According to reports, there are no concerns about his motor or nasty streak. Brings 100-percent effort on every play and has a great competitive streak. Once engaged, he really gets after his assignment to the whistle. Good to hear as this Jets locker room can certainly afford to use someone with a great work ethic and high character such as his.

The pick itself in regards for the Jets; As I previously stated, the Jets CAN afford to upgrade their offensive line but rushing to do so and making it a priority after an abysmal week 15 performance that included a lot of factors and variables seems a bit rash considering the Jets O-line has been consistently solid over the past 3 seasons whereas the Jets pass rush has been consistently horrible during that same time frame and it’s not even close.

Lets get this clear; Jets are way past the threshold on desperately needing a playmaking pass rusher. They can no longer afford to ignore the immensely counterproductive play from the OLB/Pass Rusher position as it has become a serious detriment to the defense and the overall team’s success. Simply put; the Jets need a dynamic pass rusher with great upside, a talented pass rusher that when added to this defense/D-line and when paired with Quinton Coples and Muhammad Wilkerson, it causes massive disruption for opposing QB/offenses and provides Rex and this Jets team with the elite defensive line that Rex has been speaking about since becoming the Head coach 3 years ago….nothing short of that and nothing less. Period.

So who would I draft here?

At this point in the Mock Draft, there are 2 notable pass rushers still on the board; LSU’s DE Sam Montgomery and Oregon’s DE Dion Jordan….. In this case, the choice is simple for me as I believe Montgomery plays on the better overall defense but Jordan is the better overall player.

The better pick would be to upgrade the pass rush with Dion Jordan out of Oregon.

Montgomery lacks everything that Jordan has in explosiveness/burst off the line, hip fluidity and ability to not only drop in coverage and defend TEs (cough – Hernandez/Gronkowski -cough) but to do so adequately since he’s use to doing so at Oregon, something Montgomery has no experience with. Montgomery attempts to make up for what he lacks in burst and quickness off the snap by trying to utilizing his power and strength with bull rush moves and that won’t get it done on the next level.

Dion Jordan; Jordan possesses a rare freakish blend of size and athleticism. At 6-feet-7-inches tall, Jordan moves like a safety. He has fluid hips in coverage and excellent explosion off the line of scrimmage. Oregon frequently called upon Jordan to cover tight ends and slot wide receivers one on one. Jordan’s quickness and straight line speed will allow him to matchup with the athletic tight ends NFL teams are utilizing definitely something the Jets will be interested in considering they play against 2 of the best/most athletic TEs in the NFL…

As a pass rusher, Jordan has plenty of room to grow, but few players in this class rush the edge like he does. Jordan gets incredible bend around the edge, showing the flexibility to maintain his speed and get after the quarterback. Jordan also has tremendous length for a pass rusher, which he combines with an explosive first step off the line off scrimmage to consistently beat tackles. Jordan also has great closing speed both when getting after the quarterback and chasing down ball carriers in the open field. The biggest pros to Jordan’s game are his upside and his versatility.

I believe the Jets in this case are best suited to grabbing a pass rusher they can throw right in to help maximize the potential on this defense next season and I believe Jordan, the best pass rusher on the board at THIS time does that for them.