Offseason Outlook: 2013 New York Jets starting roster should look like this…

I realize that writing an article based purely on speculation, prior to free agency, draft, ect… is susceptible to a little criticism, but try and have an open mind…

So, The New York Jets will give it another go with Mark Sanchez this year, and it’ll be anything but exciting to watch. Again. Right?

Probably.

But let’s take a look from the Jets perspective, and try filling every need and hole (realistically) going into the 2013 season.

Try and stay with me here!

First, let’s address the Revis situation.

Woody vs. Darrelle

Darrelle Revis is a great player. We would all like to see the two sides come to terms, especially after hearing that Revis wants to remain a Jet. But if things “get ugly”, you never know what can happen.

With that said, I envision both parties will stand pat with their individual opinions, and refuse to give in for their sake of respect and the public’s perception of just that. The Revis trade will be for 49ers 31st and 34th (Chiefs) overall picks. The 49ers will also throw the Jets a 6th rd pick.The Jets will then trade all of those picks to the Jaguars for the #2 overall pick.

**The Jets draft selection will be addressed later in the article…

Have to let ’em walk

– Dustin Keller (’08 1st Rd. 5 year Jet)

– Shonn Greene (’09 3rd Rd. 4 year Jet)

– Matt Slauson (’09 6th Rd. 4 year Jet)

– Yeremiah Bell (’12 FA signing. Age 35)

– Sione Pouha (’05 3rd Rd. 8 year Jet. Age 34)

The fact of the matter is, none of these players (excluding Keller was higher than a 3rd Rd.. Pick for the Jets. Nowadays, you can find younger replacements at lower costs, mainly through the draft.

Re-signing the Leaders

RG- Brandon Moore

DL- Mike DeVito

Brandon Moore and Mike DeVito need to remain respected leaders among the Jets locker room. Team chemistry can never be overstated. It was a major problem in 2010-11 and we (Jets fans) better not have to worry about that again.

Remember Brandon Moore’s halftime speech in Jacksonville? If it weren’t for him we would’ve lost that game.

Conor, of NJ.com wrote a great article about how Brandon Moore’s leadership is invaluable.

Potential Free Agent Signings

FS- Ed Reed (Ravens)

“[Ryan was] like a dad, like a brother, man,” Reed said. “We wanted Rex as the head coach in Baltimore. We did not want him to leave. It hurt when he left. We knew he was a great coach. There was a reason why that defense was the way it was. I would play anywhere with Rex — in a dark alley, on the street, in high school football, sandlot, anywhere — because he makes it fun. He loves this game. He truly loves this game and there’s a reason why those guys in New York back him the way they do.”

Ed Reed on playing for Rex Ryan.

SS- LaRon Landry

RB/FB- Brian Leonard (Bengals/Rutgers)

TE- Delanie Walker (49’ers)

OLB- Barrett Ruud (TB) or Shawn Phillips (SD)

Jump with us to the next page where we’ll attack the NFL Draft and see wht the depth chart could end up looking like for the 2013 Jets…

Remember the #2 overall pick we got from Jacksonville?

Meet Geno Smith.

NFL Draft

The NY Jets select (#Overall)

#2 – Geno Smith – QB (WVU) #9- Barkevious Mingo – DE (LSU)#37- Le’Von Bell – RB (Michigan State) or Giovani Bernard RB (North Carolina)

Trade all of the following picks to trade up. With 3 mid-round picks the Jets could get in return, they can solitify the offensive line…drafting a LG/RG and a RT… #72, #103, #134, #168, #199.

The LG will be the first priority. Hopefully this draft choice, whoever it may be, can start week 1. The RG will replace Brandon Moore after some grooming, of course. And the RT will eventually take over for Austin Howard.

Depth Chart

QB

1a- Geno Smith 1b- Mark Sanchez 3- Greg McElroy

Backs

1- Benard/Bell 2- Bilal Powell 3- Joe McKnight FB- Brian Leonard (FA signing– 2 years 1.3M)

TE

1-Delanie Walker (FA signing– 3 yrs 2.8M) 2- Jeff Cumberland

Wide Receivers

1- Santonio Holmes

2- Braylon Edwards (Veteran’s Min.$)

3 (slot)- Jeremy Kerley

4- Stephen Hill (with new gloves)

5 (slot)- Jordan White

Offensive Line

LT- D’Brickashaw Ferguson LG- mid round draft pick 1/2/3 C- Nick Mangold RG- Brandon Moore (re-signed– 2 yrs 4M) RT- Austin Howard (RFA tendered 2M) Jumbo OL- mid round draft picks 1/2/3

There would certainly be an open competition for the LG position.

Defense

The Defense is going to look a little different. Rex Ryan has the coaching ability to install the 4-3 defense. By drafting Barkevious Mingo, the Jets can send 4 linemen on every down. With the NFL adapting into a more passing league, it’s good to have 4 guys who can rush the passer, and defensive backs that can rotate in. This helps a defense, in avoiding tight end/linebacker mismatches. Wouldn’t you rather have Josh Bush subbing in to help out in zone on a linebacker, as opposed to a LB like Garrett McIntyre? That’s exactly the point.

More d-linemen + less linebackers + more d-backs = a greater chance to slow down a high-flying passing attack.

Back to the depth chart…

Defensive Line

DE- Quinton Coples

DT -Muhammad Wilkerson

DT- Mike DeVito (re-signed-3 years   3M)

DE- Barkevious Mingo (9th overall)

**Kenrick Ellis to compete with DeVito for starting DT in Cortland.

Linebackers

LOLB- Barrett Ruud-TB OR Shawn Phillips- SD (cheaper option)

MLB -David Harris (restructured)

ROLB- Demario Davis

Rotating- Ricky Sapp, Garrett McIntyre.

Secondary

I would pay to see this secondary, if this were the line-up. It’s definitely a stretch, because you never know how things are going to play out in free agency, but I would take this secondary and Geno Smith over Darrelle Revis and Mark Sanchez.

Remember, “The Flight Boys”?

Meet the, “No Fly Zone“.

LCB- Antonio Cromartie FS- Ed Reed (3 years 9M. Fully guaranteed) SS- LaRon Landry (6 years 35M)** RCB- Kyle Wilson Nickle (slot) CB- Aaron Berry

Rotating Defensive Backs

CB – Ellis Lankster Safety 3- Josh Bush Safety/Nickle DB – Antonio Allen

** LaRon’s 6 year deal will be full of incentives. For example, if LaRon plays all 16 regular season games, he’ll be fully guaranteed the following year. Or, he’ll simply trigger a $1.5M bonus.

Overview

When looking at the starting roster, I can confidently say that I’d be happy with the direction the team is going. In my mind, everybody wins. Let’s review:

• Revis gets his money/Woody gets value for Darrelle.
• The Jets fans finally get the pass rusher they’ve been waiting for since the 2008, in Barkevious Mingo.
• The Jets get a franchise QB and a much needed (serious) competition for Mark Sanchez and the starting QB position.
• Rex Ryan gets to coach Ed Reed again, something that would help him get over trading Darrelle Revis.
• The Jets fix their offensive line problems, and have a young group together for a long time.
• Geno Smith’s drafted by Jets #2 overall, a great fit for the West Coast system, installed by new OC Marty Mornhinweg.
• The team has great leadership, especially with the veterans on this defense; Reed, Cromartie, Landry, DeVito.
• Josh Bush isn’t thrown into the fire in his 2nd year. He could be mentored and brought up to speed by Ed Reed.
• The Jets are contenders once again.

It’s impossible for me to predict which moves the Jets will make and money could be an issue, but I can say this…

If this is the path the Jets take… sign me up.

Thanks for reading!

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