Rex Ryan knows defense and rightfully so the New York Jets have one starting position needing to be filled with a possible upgrade at the safety position... Depth in the front seven is also something the Jets need to think long term and with twelve picks this year they can start building for the future...
Everyone knows the Jets offense was sub par last year but with a few free agent moves gives the Jets flexibility heading into this years draft... Do they need to spend all the picks on offense, no but they will fill primary needs as they have fill the depth in free agency and re-signing own players to short end deals...
So with the 18th pick the Jets could go many ways but I believe if either of these two players are available expect them to grab them without thinking... Mike Evans of Texas A&M or Calvin Pryor of Louisville are those two a top the big board as long shots they will draft over everyone else in this draft...
Honestly I don't think Evans would be a successful upgrade in our offense but they feel he could be a big target for whomever is our quarterback... As for Pryor he would be a different upgrade in our secondary as currently we have two starting strong safeties, and Pryor a rangy coverage safety would replace Antonio Allen in the starting lineup... Allen has promise to eventually replace Dawan Landry as the team's starting strong safety, but Pryor would instantly upgrade the porous pass coverage in the back end...
If both are off the board as many expect them to be, the one player who is NFL ready right now and would be an instant starter in Rex Ryan's defense would be Darqueze Dennard from Michigan State... Dennard has be referenced to the next Darrelle Revis - hate comparisons... Dennard is a physical, bump n run cover corner who plays with good hand placement and knows where the ball is while keeping his receiver in check... He looks like he can convert without missing any steps transitioning to the next level and the Jets have a need for that type of prospect... Just in case Dennard has faults in his rookie season the Jets took care of that in the off season bringing in a spot starter CB in Dimitri Patterson...
For me I think Justin Gilbert would be a better prospect long term but Rex Ryan doesn't have the long term to invest, he needs to produce now or Owner Woody Johnson could scrap the Ryan plan after this season...
New York Jets Blog
