Count ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. among those who was unimpressed by what the New York Jets did during the just-concluded 2012 NFL Draft. In handing out his NFL Draft grades, Kiper gave the Jets a C.
Kiper wrote:
“The Jets surprised me when they went with Quinton Coples over Melvin Ingram in Round 1. To be blunt, I just think Ingram is the superior player — and I have outside linebacker as New York’s top need. Coples is a more natural fit as a 4-3 defensive end, and the obvious conclusion is Rex Ryan intends to move him inside. Still, I don’t see him as a significant help in a need area — the pass rush. Stephen Hill is a major physical talent, but he’s a project in terms of route running. He can certainly keep safeties honest, however. You have to account for his deep speed, but I’m not sure he’ll be able to help a lot in 2012. I like the value of Demario Davis. He was my fifth-ranked OLB in this draft. Size is a question, but Rex may set him loose situationally.”
It seems like the high risk factor of the Coples and Hill selections is what has many analysts, including Kiper, leery of the Jets’ draft.
— Head over the Gang Green Nation for more discussion and analysis