2011 NFL Mock Draft: Final Projections For Jets

One last time...a look at who many of the experts (and our writing staff at Turn On The Jets) have the Jets selecting the with the 30th overall pick in the first round tonight --

Mike Mayock (NFL Network)

Round 1: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News)

Round 1 Derek Sherod, OT, Mississippit State

Wes Bunting (National Football Post)

Round 1 - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

Mocking The Draft (Kadar)

Round 1 - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

Football's Future

Round 1 - Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona

ESPN (Kiper)

Round 1 - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

ESPN (McShay)

Round 1 - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

SB Nation

Round 1 - Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

NY Daily News (Mehta)

Round 1 - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

ESPN NY (Cimini)

Round 1 - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

Turn On The Jets (Malvisi)

Round 1 - Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

Turn On The Jets (Myself)

Round 1 - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

In its final mock draft prior to the real thing beginning on Thursday, SB Nation is sticking with Temple defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson as the pick for the New York Jets at No. 30 in the first round.

SB Nation chooses between Wilkerson, who would slot in at defensive end, and Phil Taylor of Baylor, who would play nose tackle in the Jets’ 3-4, and pick Wilkerson. SB Nation says the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Wilkerson “Wilkerson offers better versatility and more upside.”

In my own mock draft, I faced the virtually identical choice. In my scenario I chose Taylor for the Jets. He may not be quite as highly-ranked on most draft boards as Wilkerson, but 3-4 defenses do not function properly without dominating nose tackles.

Taylor profiles as one of those, and for me that would be an excellent place to start adding to the Jets’ defense. Of course, I also think Wilkerson could be an excellent player. We will just have to see which player ends up having the better career.

It has been a long road of updating mock drafts here at SB Nation but we are finally at our last edition with the draft only a few days away. From all indications it would seem to be a safe bet that the New York Jets will be selecting either a defensive lineman or outside linebacker with the 30th overall pick. It remains relatively wide open on who that specific player will be, especially since long time mock draft favorite Phil Taylor now has injury concerns over a condition in his foot. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Jets trade down from the 30th pick, but if they do stay put, here is a look at who various experts at have them selecting:

ESPN (Kiper) - Cameron Heyward, Ohio State, Defensive End

ESPN (McShay) - Phil Taylor, Baylor, Defensive Tackle

National Football Post (Bunting) - Justin Houston, Georgia, Outside Linebacker

CBS (Rang) - Taylor

CBS (Reuter) - Jabaal Sheard, Pittsburgh, Defensive End

Sports Illustrated (King) - Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple, Defensive Tackle

Walter Football - Akeem Ayers, UCLA, Outside Linebacker

DraftTek - Sheard

Turn On The Jets (Malvisi) - Houston

Turn On The Jets (Caporoso aka myself) - Heyward

An interesting selection for the New York Jets this week in the latest edition of the SB Nation Mock Draft. Our friends at the mothership have selected Temple defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson [full profile] for the Jets with the 30th pick of the first round.

Wilkerson is a 6-foot-5, 315-pound player who has been rising up draft boards in recent weeks during the pre-draft process. Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor is often connected to the Jets with this pick, as he would provide them with a nose tackle for Rex Ryan’s 3-4. SB Nation, however, calls Taylor “poor value” at 30.

The Jets are also in need of edge rushers at both linebacker and defensive end. Wilkerson is an intriguing athlete who could provide them with an explosive player at the defensive end spot.

SB Nation’s most recent mock draft is a two-rounder. The Jets, however, do not have a selection in the second round.

The glorious days of mock drafts are finally coming to a close with the draft now only two weeks away. Today we provide you with who ten of the latest mock drafts have the New York Jets selecting with the 30th overall pick. Over the past months, the names haven't changed that much. It continues to be a safe bet that the Jets will address either the defensive line or outside linebacker position in the first round of the draft. Personally, my money remains on Phil Taylor, which will allow the Jets to move Sione Pouha to defensive end in many situations.

This Week's Mock Drafts

- SI.com (Banks) – Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

- CBS Sports (Rang) - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

- CBS Sports (Reuter) - Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh

- CBS Sports (Prisco) - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois

- CBS Sports (Judge) - Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

- Walter Football - Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

- DraftTek - Rahim Moore, Safety, UCLA

- National Football Post (Bunting) - Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia

- SB Nation - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

- ESPN (McShay) - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

Last week our New Jets correspondent, Joe Caporoso, found that mock drafts are pretty much settling on a choice of either UCLA outside linebacker Akeem Ayers or Baylor nose tackle Phil Taylor as the Jets selection at No. 30 in the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft.

In this week’s SB Nation Mock Draft, released Tuesday morning, the choice was easy. Ayers went to the New York Giants at 19, a selection that honestly makes quite a bit of sense for them.

Taylor was still on the board at 30 for the Jets, and that made him SB Nation’s obvious choice for the Jets. Here is the explanation:

Rex Ryan will like Taylor’s size and athleticism enough to take him here. Finding a suitable replacement for Kris Jenkins is a rarely-cited option for the Jets.

Nose tackle is critical in the 3-4, which is the defense employed by the Jets. They need a long-term replacement for Kris Jenkins, and this pick makes sense.

If you have been tracking mock drafts over the past two months, you shouldn't be surprised to see all defensive lineman or outside linebackers being selected for the New York Jets at No. 30. However, at this point it seems like two players are rising to the top as being the most likely selections, Akeem Ayers and Phil Taylor. The Jets could use a boost at defensive line or outside linebacker and either pick would likely be popular with the fanbase.

This Week's Mock Drafts

-- SI.com (Banks) – Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
-- FoxSports.com (Schrager) - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
-- ESPN.com (Kiper) - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
-- ESPN.com (McShay) - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
-- CBS Sports (Rang) - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
-- NFL Network (Baldinger) - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
-- DraftTek - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
-- Walter Football - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

Akeem Ayers to the New York Jets. This is an idea SB Nation Mock Draft guru Brian Galliford seems to be stuck on, since this is the second consecutive week he has used the 30th pick in the SB Nation Mock Draft to give the UCLA linebacker to the Jets.

Only one thing about this pick really upsets me. I am a Giants guy, I think Ayers could be a terrific pro and I really like the idea of Ayers to the Giants with the 19th pick.

Here is Galliford’s explanation for the pick:

— Akeem Ayers’ profile

The prevailing opinion is that the New York Jets will do something to bolster their defense with their first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, 30th overall. The most common belief is that the Jets will select the best 3-4 defensive end or outside linebacker on the board.

That is a theory that our friends at the mothership, SBNation.com, apparently buy into. In its most recent mock draft, SB Nation has chosen UCLA outside linebacker Akeem Ayers [full profile] for the Jets.

Here is the rationale:

His stock has taken a bit of a hit thanks to pedestrian athletic workouts, but Ayers is still valued in the draft community thanks to his versatility and well-rounded game. In Rex Ryan’s defense, he’d be an outside linebacker capable of blitzing and dropping into coverage.

Considering that I recently selected Ayers at No. 19 for the Giants in the Big Blue View Community Mock Draft I certainly see this as a terrific value pick for the Jets.

My only question about Ayers for a 3-4 team like the Jets is the transition he would have to make after having played his UCLA career in a standard 4-3. Most analysts think he would be just fine outside in the 3-4, but it is still a question until he proves it.

This week’s SB Nation NFL Mock Draft has tossed a new name into the mix for the New York Jets. Brooks Reed, a defensive end/outside linebacker prospect from Arizona, is this week’s choice at No. 30 for the Jets by SB Nation.

I am wondering if SB Nation Mock Draft writer Brian Galliford knows something no one else does. This is, to my recollection, the first time I have seen Reed’s name in the first round of any mock draft anywhere.

Here is the explanation for this pick:

Rex Ryan collects pass rushers and cornerbacks like trophies, and his sack production has been lacking through two years as a Jet. Reed has elite potential off the edge.

I would agree with the idea that Ryan loves pass rushers, and that the Jets need help on the edges of their defense. From most of the scouting reports I have found on Reed, though, he seems like a reach at this point. In most of the reports I have seen he is considered a second- or third-round selection. So, a curious pick.

- Draft Countdown’s Reed profile
- National Football Post’s Reed profile

In its most recent 2011 NFL Mock Draft SB Nation has selected Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget for the New York Jets. I will admit this is a pick I really do not understand.

Liuget, by all accounts, is a good player. He is, however, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive. That makes him a guy ill-suited to play the nose in the Jets 3-4 defense, which is where he would have to play. At 300 pounds he just isn't big enough to handle that spot on an every down basis.

If the Jets want a nose tackle with this pick, how about Baylor's Phil Taylor, a 6-foot-3, 337-pound tackle who would seem a more natural fit for that spot in the middle of the Jets defense.

Rex Ryan's defense also needs playmakers at defensive end and linebacker, and a few of those were left on the board with the Liuget pick for New York. How about Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston to rush the passer? If you want to think offense, how about Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph as a play-making target for quarterback Mark Sanchez.

I just think picking Liuget, a player who does not seem to be a natural fit for what the Jets do, is probably not the best way to spend a first-round pick.

This week's mock draft update for the New York Jets finds a few surprising names, along with a few familiar ones. Defensive line is still a popular area, as Phil Taylor and Muhammad WIlkerson remain linked to the team. Mel Kiper Jr has stuck to his belief the Jets will address their need for a playmaking safety by taking Rahim Moore.

The names that surprise me are Jimmy Smith from Colorado. I have a hard time seeing the Jets select a cornerback again in the first round, no matter how much Rex Ryan loves the position. I also highly doubt they would look towards Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph. Dustin Keller is enough at tight end and the Jets have bigger needs.  

This Week's Mock Drafts

Draft Tek – Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

ESPN (Kiper) - Rahim Moore, S, UCLA

SI (Banks) – Corey Liuget, DL, Illinois

Walter Football - Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

Pro Football Talk - Wilkerson

Football's Future - Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh

Draft Insider - Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

SB Nation - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame

As they did a few weeks ago, our friends at SB Nation have selected Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph for the New York Jets with the 30th selection of the first round in the most recent SB Nation Mock Draft.

The rationale comes from the ‘If you can’t beat ‘em — at least in the regular season — join ’em’ school of thought:

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: some smart team is going to take Rudolph in the first round, pair him with a good tight end, and emulate the Patriots’ two-TE offense. Who better than their division rival Jets, who might lose Braylon Edwards at wide receiver this off-season?

If the Jets choose not to go defense with this pick, which seems to be the majority opinion of what they will do when the 2011 NFL Draft happens in April, Rudolph seems like a solid choice.

The Jets do need more weapons for young quarterback Mark Sanchez, especially if they lose Edward, Holmes or both. And New England did show how well a two-tight end short passing attack can function.

Your thoughts, Jets fans?

Here are the results of several of the most-recently updated pre-Combine mock drafts for the New York Jets. The combine didn't change much, as defensive line remains a popular pick for who the Jets will target with the 30^th overall selection in the first round. The release of Kris Jenkins, Vernon Gholston, and Jason Taylor certainly isn't going to change that perception either.

SB Nation's most recent mock draft has the Jets selecting Ohio State's Cameron Heyward, who has the potential to be a good two way end in a 3-4 system. You do have to wonder about selecting another defensive lineman from Ohio State, only months after cutting Vernon Gholston and his zero sacks in three years. 

This Week's Mock Drafts

Mocking The Draft – Allen Bailey, DT, Miami
National Football Post (Bunting) – Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
Draft Tek – Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
Optimum Scouting – Corey Liuget, DL, Illinois 
CBS Sports (Rang) – Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
CBS Sports (Reuter) – Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
Walter's Mock Draft – Akeem Ayers, DE/OLB, UCLA

The New York Jets are doing a major overhaul of their defensive line this offseason. They have already released Kris Jenkins and Jason Taylor, and Shaun Ellis is a free agent. At this point, we don't really know what the Jets' defensive front is going to look like next year. As a result, selecting a defensive lineman with their first round pick might be a smart move for them. SB Nation thinks so too.

In their latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft, they have the Jets taking Ohio St. Cameron Heyward, who could be a good fit as a DE in their 3-4.

The Jets are doing a little re-tooling along the defensive line, having cut Kris Jenkins and with Shaun Ellis facing free agency. Ellis very well could be back, but youth is necessary, and Heyward is the type of disruptive player that Rex Ryan can work with.

Heyward is versatile, and may be overlooked a little bit because he didn't really improve drastically over the course of the last season. But he was already really good to begin with. He just doesn't represent the kind of player that could be seen as potentially getting much better than they currently are. But Heyward is so good already, that that isn't much of a concern. Especially if he fills a need like he would for the Jets. Heyward is ready to play right away, and could go be the first piece of a re-built defensive line for the Jets.

Here are the results of several of the most-recently updated pre-Combine mock drafts for the New York Jets, which will inevitably change after the festivities in Indianapolis. Defensive line remains a popular pick for who the Jets will target with the 30^th overall selection in the first round.

SB Nation didn’t break the trend by selecting Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn, who would be a nice replacement for Shaun Ellis. Personally, I’d rather see the Jets hang on to Ellis to give him a year to mentor a player like Clayborn so he isn’t thrown right into a full time starting role.

Mel Kiper Jr. has the Jets taking UCLA safety Rahim Moore. Rex Ryan still hasn’t found a playmaker to pair with Jim Leonhard at the safety position and Moore could be an intriguing option. However, can the Jets afford to neglect their defensive front seven?

Here is a run-down of the other mock drafts --

This Week's Mock Drafts

Mocking The Draft – Allen Bailey, DT, Miami
Mel Kiper Jr.—Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
National Football Post (Bunting) – Dan Watkins, G, Baylor
Draft Tek – Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
Optimum Scouting – Corey Liuget, DL, Illinois
CBS Sports (Rang) – Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
CBS Sports (Reuter) – Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
NFL Draft 101 – Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

In its final single-round 2011 NFL Mock Draft before the NFL Scouting Combine opens this week in Indianapolis, SB Nation has tossed a new name into the equation for the New York Jets. SB Nation chose Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn for the Jets with the 30th pick of the draft.

Shaun Ellis is a free agent, and as he proved that there’s plenty left in the tank during the post-season, there’s a very real chance he’s gone. Even if he stays, he’ll be 34 this summer. Clayborn has a similar skill set to Ellis, and would be an ideal replacement.

Clayborn is a 6-foot-3, 285-pound defensive end. Here is some of what SB Nation’s Mocking The Draft said about him in a recent profile.

Clayborn is highly regarded by scouts and NFL Draftniks alike. Other scouting services have him currently ranked as their No. 1 overall player. We like Clayborn, but to date we have doubts about his ability to stop the run. As a 3-4 defensive end Clayborn will be asked to anchor against the run first and foremost. While his pass rushing skills are impressive, they will not be a factor when playing in a 3-4. As a 4-3 left end or defensive tackle, Clayborn has more value as a pass rusher. In the end, Clayborn will be best served as a 3-4 defensive end, but his talents coming out of Iowa are that of a defensive tackle. There will be a learning curve, ala Glenn Dorsey, for Clayborn.

In a look at this week's updated 2011 NFL Mock Drafts, defensive line is still popular for the New York Jets, especially Baylor nose tackle Phil Taylor. SB Nation now has the Jets taking tight end Kyle Rudolph from Notre Dame to help their passing game.

Here is what SB Nation said in selecting Rudolph for theJets:

"New England's offensive success will make the two-TE offense trendy. Rudolph and Dustin Keller would do wonders for Mark Sanchez's development."

Personally, I don't buy it. Even if the Jets lose Braylon Edwards or Santonio Holmes to free agency, I'd be shocked if they didn't take a defensive lineman or outside linebacker with their first round pick. Most mock drafts currently seem to agree with me...

Mock Draft Updates

Draft Tek – Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
Walter Football – Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple
CBS Sports (Rang) – Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
CBS Sports (Reuter) – Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
National Football Post – Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor

ESPN (McShay) – Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
Footballs Future – Corey Liuget, DL, Illinois

The New York Jets have only one pick in the first two rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft, having lost their second-round pick to the San Diego Chargers in the trade for cornerback Antonio Cromartie. That means, of course, that the Jets had better hit with their first-round selection, 30th overall this April.

Not that mock drafts mean anything, but I was a little surprised by the selection made for the Jets in the most recent SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, released Monday morning.

SB Nation’s reasoning — copying the New England Patriots — might not thrill Jets fans.

New England’s offensive success will make the two-TE offense trendy. Rudolph and Dustin Keller would do wonders for Mark Sanchez’s development.

Most prognosticators see the Jets going for the best 3-4 defensive end or outside linebacker available, or possibly a wide receiver with this pick. So, the selection of a tight end might be a tad surprising. If the Jets want a weapon for Sanchez, though, does it really matter if the best player is a tight end or wide receiver? I don’t think so.