The three players I like with the 30th pick are NT Phil Taylor, OLB Jabaal Sheard and OLB Brooks Reed. I had Reed as a 3rd rounder early in the process but he has really moved up my board recently.

He may not be an every down player right now but I think he has what it takes to develop into one. As a rookie, I see him as a situational pass rusher.

Taylor could be gone by the 30th pick. I know the Chiefs are considering him at 21 and they have a major need at the nose tackle position. If he gets past them, I don’t see another team taking him.

Between 21 and 30 the only 3-4 teams selecting are New England and Baltimore. The Patriots have Vince Wilfork and the Ravens drafted Terrence Cody in the second round last year.

Sheard had off-season elbow surgery but it is not considered serious and should not affect his availability this season. He is my top choice for the Jets’ pick but I have a sneaking feeling the Patriots will take him at 28.

They need pass rush help and he fits their scheme well. In addition to New England, Baltimore is a possible destination at 26. Both teams worked him out recently and have a lot of interest in him.

For some reason Sheard is not showing up on many mock drafts and I don’t understand why. He may not be an elite talent but he is certainly deserving of a first round grade.

I think NFL evaluators will have him rated as a bona fide first rounder and I see him coming off the board higher than most people think. Because of this, the Jets might be forced to go in another direction, making Brooks Reed their guy in the first round.

I have mixed things up a little bit in this final mock with 3 of the 6 picks changing since version 2.0.


1st round (30th overall) - Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona

Reed is a real Rex Ryan kind of guy. He is fiery, tough and brings the kind of intensity he looks for in his players. He is strong, uses his hands well and has the natural pass rush ability the Jets need. He does not have elite athletic ability and that has been the knock on him but I believe he makes up for it with superior instincts. He has a high motor and makes a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. He would be a great addition to the Jets’ linebacking corps.


3rd round (30th pick of the round, 94th overall) - Greg Little, WR, North Carolina

Little was the last prospect added to my best-50 fits for the Jets but he would be an excellent addition. As a receiver, he is a stud. He has great hands, knows how to get open and at 6-2, 230, is a physical playmaker. His stock has taken a hit because of off the field issues (suspended for taking benefits from an agent) and he did not interview well at the Combine but there were no other strikes against him and the kid can flat out play. If he is still there at #94, it would be a major coup for the Jets. Wide receiver may not be a top need but if he slips because of character concerns, he’d be hard to pass up.


4th round (29th pick of the round, 126th overall) - Robert Sands, S, West Virginia

I am sticking with Sands again in round 4. There is a good chance the Jets will go for a safety in this round because there is solid depth at the position at that point. Sands is big, tough and physical. He has good awareness in coverage and matches up well with tight ends. He also plays with a lot of fire and passion and would bring a great presence the Jets’ deep patrol.


5th round (30th pick of the round, 161st overall) - Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama

The only guy to stay put on all three of my mock drafts, McElroy would be a solid back up for the Jets. While he does not possess the size or arm strength to be a starter, I think he is a better player than a number of other, higher-rated prospects. He is smart, accurate and has the leadership qualities you look for at the position. The guy is a winner and I believe he will provide solid depth at the QB position which could be thin if the Jets let Kellen Clemens walk in free agency and cut Erik Ainge loose.


6th round (29th pick of the round, 194th overall) - Buster Skrine, CB, Chattanooga

I had Skrine as the Jets’ 7th round pick in my last projection and he comes off the board a round earlier here. I think he is an underrated prospect because he played at a small school but the guy has skills. He is very fast, has good closing burst to balls in front of him and would be a great fit as a nickel corner. I also like his toughness. He fills hard against the run and tackles like a much bigger player. He will need work on his technique and must get stronger but he could stick if the Jets have an open spot at corner.


7th round (5th pick of the round, 208th overall) - Jonathan Cornell, ILB, Ole Miss

It’s time to give Mike Westhoff some help on special teams and Cornell has the skills to stand out. He is a solid tackler, is smart and has good range. Although he is not starting material on defense, he is good in coverage and could carve out a niche for himself in sub-packages. He is a hard worker and his top-notch instincts make him look like he is playing faster than he really is.


Written by Alan Levin