Still, the Jets only made a league-low four selections in the draft, and we’ll take a look at how they’ll impact the anticipated AFC East race.
The Picks
First round, No. 29 overall: Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson
Second round, No. 61 overall: UMass guard Vladimir Ducasse
Fourth round, No. 112 overall: USC running back Joe McKnight
Fifth round, No. 139 overall: Kentucky fullback John Connor
Best Prospect
In the hours leading up to the first round, Wilson was heavily rumored to be going to Cleveland at pick No. 7, so the cornerback’s talent is very real. Along with those rumors, though, came the suggestions that Wilson can be arrogant and will need a gut check, and that’s why he slipped to the bottom of the opening round. He obviously enters a good situation with Rex Ryan’s defensive system, and Wilson’s man-coverage skills are highly lauded.
Wilson will remain behind Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie on the depth chart, unless someone gets injured or Cromartie is tied up at a birthday party for one of his (at least) seven children. Wilson gives the Jets a good insurance policy in that area, as well as in 2011 if Cromartie’s contract talks fail to materialize.
2010 Impact
Despite the Jets’ depth at cornerback, Ryan will definitely find enough playing time for Wilson. Ducasse figures to take over the starting job at left guard after the Jets released Alan Faneca this week, and McKnight will be third on the depth chart behind Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson. Connor will push longtime veteran Tony Richardson, but it would be very surprising if the rookie beat out the 38-year-old. But if Connor’s blocking skills rival his ability to travel through time and battle futuristic machines, he could wind up on the practice squad.
Overall Impression
Similar to the rest of the Jets’ offseason, they added some exciting names but might have overlooked roster chemistry in the process. The Jets are loaded in terms of talent, so they were afforded the luxury of adding depth for the future. But in the process of drafting Ducasse and McKnight, the Jets said sayonara to Faneca and Leon Washington. So far, the Jets have managed to build a tremendous video-game team, but their locker room will provide one of the more intriguing social experiments in the league in 2010.
