Dorial Green-Beckham, WR Oklahoma
Dorial Green-Beckham is possibly the most athletic, talented wide receiver in recent memory. At 6’6” 225 lbs, he has the height, leaping ability, unmatched body control, and sure hands necessary to make even the most contested catches. As a player, he is everything a coach could ever dream of. Even though he is 6’6”, he has run the 40 yard dash in just 4.37 seconds! For someone his size, that is beyond impressive. Calvin Johnson Jr., also known as “Megatron”, ran it in 4.35 seconds and is one inch shorter than Beckham, at 6’5”. This is a player taller than any cornerback in NFL history, as the tallest, Lenny Walls, was measured at 6’4”. He is also faster than most cornerbacks in the league. This makes him almost unstoppable. His only on-field flaw is his sluggish route running. Too easily is he beat in the press and he often doesn’t create enough separation between himself and the opposing cornerback. He gets away with this due to his exceptional catch radius, that allows him to turn would-be interceptions into highlight-reel catches. The most concerning problem with Beckham is his history breaking the law. In two years with Missouri, he was arrested for marijuana possession twice. He was also allegedly involved in a burglary in which he pushed a female down a flight of steps. He was considered a problem child in Missouri, as he just couldn’t stay out of trouble. Plus, he didn’t play in 2014, because he “transferred” to Oklahoma. In other words, Beckham was dismissed by Missouri and he recommitted to Oklahoma. The Jets could definitely grab him in the second round. If they take a quarterback in the first, then Beckham in the second, they will have drastically improved their offense with just two picks. The fear with Beckham is his legal troubles. Will he end up like Josh Gordon? According to tradition, he likely will. But a player with such skill can’t be slept on too much. If the Jets drafted Beckham, and he got the help he so desperately needs right away, his career may not end up like Josh Gordon’s, but like Jerry Rice’s, Terrell Owens’, or even Megatron’s. It’s a high risk, high reward pick, but Dorial Green-Beckham is the only player in the entire 2015 draft class worthy of taking such a risk.
Tyler Lockett, WR Kansas State
There isn’t much not to like about Tyler Lockett. He is just an all-around good guy. Scouts praise his character on and off the field. Lockett was able to shine as wide receiver and return man in college. At 5’11”, 175 lbs, he isn’t the physical specimen Dorian Green-Beckham is, but has a lot of upside on his own end. Lockett has excellent speed and agility, and has run an unofficial 4.35 second 40-yard dash. His route running is flawless, as he hitches and breaks smoothly to gain separation from the opposing cornerbacks. Despite his petite size, Lockett is a decent blocker. His problem is that he is too weak and easily pushed around. Lockett is often beat by the press and struggles mightily against the more physical cornerbacks. Lockett is projected to be drafted around the fourth round. The Jets don’t have themselves a true return man, and can use a receiver to back up Jeremy Kerely in the slot. This is where Tyler Lockett comes in, as he fills these voids. If the Jets choose not to re-sign Percy Harvin, they will still have a fourth round pick, but will lose a sixth rounder. If they do re-sign Harvin, they will not have a fourth round pick, but they will keep their sixth rounder. While Harvin has said he wants to play for the New York Jets in 2015, experts say it is likely they let him go this offseason to avoid a large cap hit, and also give them more money to spend on the top free agents.
David Cobb, RB Minnesota
David Cobb is comparable to Marshawn Lynch and Chris Ivory in his aggressive, punishing style of running. He is a formidable yards after contact specialist who is best used to gain first downs and short yardage touchdowns. While he doesn’t have elite speed, agility, or vision, he is excellent at evading defenders in open space and grinds for extra yards on every play. If he is stopped three yards behind the line of scrimmage, he can turn it into a gain of three. Cobb doesn’t come up with explosive Chris Johnson-esk plays, but consistently gains yards. In his senior season for Minnesota, he rushed for over 1,600 yards and scored thirteen touchdowns, while averaging 5.2 yards per carry. In his last two seasons, in which he gained over 2,800 yards while scoring 20 touchdowns, 54% of his rushing yards were gained after first contact. That is amazing! If you do the math (54% of 5.2), he averaged about 2.8 yards after first contact. The Jets could surely spare to use a late-round pick on a running back with as much upside as Cobb has. He can vulture touchdowns any time, anywhere, so the Jets don’t need to risk injury by putting Sheldon Richardson in at fullback. Cobb’s main problem besides lack of speed and agility is he fumbles too much. If he is to become a starting NFL running back, he must get that under control and protect the ball at all costs. Even as a change of pace back, or a touchdown-vulture, if he wants any playing time, he must not fumble. This is a low-risk pick because Cobb will likely be drafted in the later rounds of the draft. Cobb would make the team as a second or third running back as a rookie and could run most of his carries in goal-line situations.
Josh Shaw, CB USC
Josh Shaw has very good size for a cornerback, at 6’1”, but he is limited by his inconsistency and tight hips. When he gets beat at the line of scrimmage, Shaw will leave the receiver wide open. He also occasionally gets simply beat in coverage because he is not consistently good at it. Josh Shaw is versatile, as he can play both the cornerback and safety positions. He plays the ball aggressively and is successful for the most part due to his excellent anticipation and instincts. Most of what Shaw lacks can be taught by NFL coaches. Scouts say he will significantly benefit with more technique and film work in an NFL facility. Shaw is not a physical cornerback, but he can make tackles in the open field. A large problem with Shaw is jumped from two stories and injured his ankle while trying to run from the police. There are two concerns with this. The first is that he got in trouble with the police, and the second is that he chose to run and then jump out the window. Not the brightest idea if you are trying to be drafted into the NFL. The Jets are weak at the cornerback position and Josh Shaw is a low-risk project that can provide a high reward for the Jets in due time.
Bryce Petty, QB Baylor
Bryce Petty was the man who had to fill the shoes of the Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III at Baylor. While he didn’t have the greatest numbers in his two years as a starter, he did combine for 8,055 passing yards and 61 passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 310 yards and 20 touchdowns, including 13 in his junior season. Petty possesses great size for an NFL quarterback at 6’3” 230 lbs. Despite his success rushing the ball, he isn’t a very fast runner, but merely a product of Baylor’s quarterback-favored system. Petty throws the deep ball well, like RGIII, and can scramble in the pocket to buy himself more time. He is a great leader and possesses excellent football IQ. He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm like Collin Kaepernick, but he doesn’t have a weak arm like Chad Pennington. He also knows when and when not to throw a bullet pass, which is something many quarterbacks mess up on, resulting in costly interceptions. The Jets are obviously in the market for a quarterback and if they don’t take Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, an excellent second-to-mid-round sleeper they should consider is Bryce Petty. He would need to adjust a lot from Baylor’s one-read scheme, and learn to go through his progressions hastily and smoothly. Petty possesses the traits of an NFL starting quarterback and would provide good competition with Geno Smith for the starting job, but Smith has had more time to learn a pro scheme, while Petty hasn’t even started so the ex-Baylor Bear would not be able to beat out the ex-West Virginia Mountaineer in his first year.
Dorial Green-Beckham is possibly the most athletic, talented wide receiver in recent memory. At 6’6” 225 lbs, he has the height, leaping ability, unmatched body control, and sure hands necessary to make even the most contested catches. As a player, he is everything a coach could ever dream of. Even though he is 6’6”, he has run the 40 yard dash in just 4.37 seconds! For someone his size, that is beyond impressive. Calvin Johnson Jr., also known as “Megatron”, ran it in 4.35 seconds and is one inch shorter than Beckham, at 6’5”. This is a player taller than any cornerback in NFL history, as the tallest, Lenny Walls, was measured at 6’4”. He is also faster than most cornerbacks in the league. This makes him almost unstoppable. His only on-field flaw is his sluggish route running. Too easily is he beat in the press and he often doesn’t create enough separation between himself and the opposing cornerback. He gets away with this due to his exceptional catch radius, that allows him to turn would-be interceptions into highlight-reel catches. The most concerning problem with Beckham is his history breaking the law. In two years with Missouri, he was arrested for marijuana possession twice. He was also allegedly involved in a burglary in which he pushed a female down a flight of steps. He was considered a problem child in Missouri, as he just couldn’t stay out of trouble. Plus, he didn’t play in 2014, because he “transferred” to Oklahoma. In other words, Beckham was dismissed by Missouri and he recommitted to Oklahoma. The Jets could definitely grab him in the second round. If they take a quarterback in the first, then Beckham in the second, they will have drastically improved their offense with just two picks. The fear with Beckham is his legal troubles. Will he end up like Josh Gordon? According to tradition, he likely will. But a player with such skill can’t be slept on too much. If the Jets drafted Beckham, and he got the help he so desperately needs right away, his career may not end up like Josh Gordon’s, but like Jerry Rice’s, Terrell Owens’, or even Megatron’s. It’s a high risk, high reward pick, but Dorial Green-Beckham is the only player in the entire 2015 draft class worthy of taking such a risk.
Tyler Lockett, WR Kansas State
There isn’t much not to like about Tyler Lockett. He is just an all-around good guy. Scouts praise his character on and off the field. Lockett was able to shine as wide receiver and return man in college. At 5’11”, 175 lbs, he isn’t the physical specimen Dorian Green-Beckham is, but has a lot of upside on his own end. Lockett has excellent speed and agility, and has run an unofficial 4.35 second 40-yard dash. His route running is flawless, as he hitches and breaks smoothly to gain separation from the opposing cornerbacks. Despite his petite size, Lockett is a decent blocker. His problem is that he is too weak and easily pushed around. Lockett is often beat by the press and struggles mightily against the more physical cornerbacks. Lockett is projected to be drafted around the fourth round. The Jets don’t have themselves a true return man, and can use a receiver to back up Jeremy Kerely in the slot. This is where Tyler Lockett comes in, as he fills these voids. If the Jets choose not to re-sign Percy Harvin, they will still have a fourth round pick, but will lose a sixth rounder. If they do re-sign Harvin, they will not have a fourth round pick, but they will keep their sixth rounder. While Harvin has said he wants to play for the New York Jets in 2015, experts say it is likely they let him go this offseason to avoid a large cap hit, and also give them more money to spend on the top free agents.
David Cobb, RB Minnesota
David Cobb is comparable to Marshawn Lynch and Chris Ivory in his aggressive, punishing style of running. He is a formidable yards after contact specialist who is best used to gain first downs and short yardage touchdowns. While he doesn’t have elite speed, agility, or vision, he is excellent at evading defenders in open space and grinds for extra yards on every play. If he is stopped three yards behind the line of scrimmage, he can turn it into a gain of three. Cobb doesn’t come up with explosive Chris Johnson-esk plays, but consistently gains yards. In his senior season for Minnesota, he rushed for over 1,600 yards and scored thirteen touchdowns, while averaging 5.2 yards per carry. In his last two seasons, in which he gained over 2,800 yards while scoring 20 touchdowns, 54% of his rushing yards were gained after first contact. That is amazing! If you do the math (54% of 5.2), he averaged about 2.8 yards after first contact. The Jets could surely spare to use a late-round pick on a running back with as much upside as Cobb has. He can vulture touchdowns any time, anywhere, so the Jets don’t need to risk injury by putting Sheldon Richardson in at fullback. Cobb’s main problem besides lack of speed and agility is he fumbles too much. If he is to become a starting NFL running back, he must get that under control and protect the ball at all costs. Even as a change of pace back, or a touchdown-vulture, if he wants any playing time, he must not fumble. This is a low-risk pick because Cobb will likely be drafted in the later rounds of the draft. Cobb would make the team as a second or third running back as a rookie and could run most of his carries in goal-line situations.
Josh Shaw, CB USC
Josh Shaw has very good size for a cornerback, at 6’1”, but he is limited by his inconsistency and tight hips. When he gets beat at the line of scrimmage, Shaw will leave the receiver wide open. He also occasionally gets simply beat in coverage because he is not consistently good at it. Josh Shaw is versatile, as he can play both the cornerback and safety positions. He plays the ball aggressively and is successful for the most part due to his excellent anticipation and instincts. Most of what Shaw lacks can be taught by NFL coaches. Scouts say he will significantly benefit with more technique and film work in an NFL facility. Shaw is not a physical cornerback, but he can make tackles in the open field. A large problem with Shaw is jumped from two stories and injured his ankle while trying to run from the police. There are two concerns with this. The first is that he got in trouble with the police, and the second is that he chose to run and then jump out the window. Not the brightest idea if you are trying to be drafted into the NFL. The Jets are weak at the cornerback position and Josh Shaw is a low-risk project that can provide a high reward for the Jets in due time.
Bryce Petty, QB Baylor
Bryce Petty was the man who had to fill the shoes of the Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III at Baylor. While he didn’t have the greatest numbers in his two years as a starter, he did combine for 8,055 passing yards and 61 passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 310 yards and 20 touchdowns, including 13 in his junior season. Petty possesses great size for an NFL quarterback at 6’3” 230 lbs. Despite his success rushing the ball, he isn’t a very fast runner, but merely a product of Baylor’s quarterback-favored system. Petty throws the deep ball well, like RGIII, and can scramble in the pocket to buy himself more time. He is a great leader and possesses excellent football IQ. He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm like Collin Kaepernick, but he doesn’t have a weak arm like Chad Pennington. He also knows when and when not to throw a bullet pass, which is something many quarterbacks mess up on, resulting in costly interceptions. The Jets are obviously in the market for a quarterback and if they don’t take Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, an excellent second-to-mid-round sleeper they should consider is Bryce Petty. He would need to adjust a lot from Baylor’s one-read scheme, and learn to go through his progressions hastily and smoothly. Petty possesses the traits of an NFL starting quarterback and would provide good competition with Geno Smith for the starting job, but Smith has had more time to learn a pro scheme, while Petty hasn’t even started so the ex-Baylor Bear would not be able to beat out the ex-West Virginia Mountaineer in his first year.
