Rich Cimini, ESPN New York Jets reporter
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From 2010 to 2014, the New York Jets took an O-no approach in the first round of the NFL draft -- no offense.
That could change Thursday night. There's a good chance the Jets will select an offensive player in the first round for the first time since quarterback Mark Sanchez in 2009. The question is, will it be a wide receiver? A tackle? A running back?
Obviously, it depends on how the first five picks fall. Quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, defensive tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. and wide receiver Amari Cooper are expected to be off the board. I think the Jets, picking sixth, would find it hard to pass on Williams, Fowler or Cooper. They're high on all three.
Assuming they're gone, the Jets' projected targets, according to sources, would be:
2015 NFL DRAFT
NFL DraftRound 1: April 30, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Rds. 2-3: May 1, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Rds. 4-7: May 2, noon ET (ESPN)
Where: Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, Chicago
NFL draft home page
• 2015 NFL draft order
• Mel Kiper Jr.: Mock 4.0
• Todd McShay: Mock 5.0
• Todd McShay's Top 32 players
• Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
• Top 10 prospects by position
• NFL draft player rankings
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia -- The Jets traded for Brandon Marshall, and they still have Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley, but the offense lacks a game-breaker. White would be that guy. Said one AFC scout: "They need guys who can score points, and White is a finisher." Many believe the 6-foot-3 White, who ran a 4.35 40 at the scouting combine, has a higher ceiling than Cooper. The knock on him is that he was a one-year wonder at West Virginia (109 catches for 1,447 yards, 10 touchdowns) and that he didn't face a lot of press coverage. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan also could look to trade down.
Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky -- I started hearing his name a couple weeks ago in connection with the Jets. I spoke to evaluators from three teams and, while they all said the fast-rising, ultra-athletic pass-rusher is worthy of a first-round pick, they agreed he'd be a reach at No. 6. Perhaps, but the Jets need an edge rusher badly. Dupree (6-foot-4, 269 pounds) has ideal size and a high ceiling, but some feel he's a better athlete than football player. He's never had more than 7.5 sacks in a season, but he blew up the scouting combine. Character and injury issues are hurting a once-formidable class of edge rushers. Randy Gregory (positive drug tests) and Shane Ray (cited for marijuana possession, turf-toe injury) could fall out of the first round.
Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa -- The Jets could use a young stud on their aging offensive line, and Scherff is widely regarded as the best lineman in the draft. The question is, what is he? We know he doesn't have the athleticism or length to play left tackle, his college position. Many evaluators don't see him as a right tackle, either. From what I'm hearing, the Jets fall into that group. He might develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber guard, but should the Jets -- a team shy on playmakers -- pick an interior lineman at No. 6? "He'd definitely upgrade their line," one AFC personnel executive told me. He would, but you can always find a guard in the later rounds.
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia --This is a long shot, I admit it, but Gurley's name has been popping up here. The Jets don't have a breakaway back, and coach Todd Bowles sounded a bit concerned Wednesday about his depth. Gurley's talent is unquestioned, but he's only five months removed from major knee surgery. From all indications, he's ahead of schedule, but there's still some risk. Will he be ready by the start of the season? Can he regain his form before 2016? The value of running backs has decreased in recent years, but scouts say he's good enough to be the exception. Said one NFC scout: "If he were healthy, he'd be a legitimate top-five pick." Gurley played only 30 games in college, finishing with 3,285 yards and a 6.4 yards-per-carry average.
TRADE-DOWN SCENARIO: It's the worst-kept secret in the league: Maccagnan wants to trade down, acquiring an extra pick or two. That's not a bad idea because, on the aforementioned list, the only player worth the sixth pick is White. Dupree, Scherff and Gurley could be available in the eight to 12 range, along with Stanford tackle Andrus Peat and Clemson pass-rusher Vic Beasley. The Jets also like Miami tackle Ereck Flowers, but he won't get past the New York Giants at No. 9. I'd be surprised if the Jets drop below 12.
If the Jets draft Peat or Flowers, they'd probably try to convert him into a right tackle. Peat is interesting because he reminds some of a young D'Brickashaw Ferguson because of his body type and athleticism. He also lacks a mean gene. Said one NFC scout: "We think he's a left tackle because of his temperament. He's not a mean, tough, grind-'em-out guy." His 27 collegiate starts came at left tackle. His upside is impressive, but some scouts don't see him as a plug-and-play star. It could take a year or so.
