ESPN Builds an AFC East Power

ESPN set out to build a championship caliber team of AFC East players. Three Jets were among the ten included.

2. Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets. In his second pro season he emerged as one of the NFL's top cover corners. He intercepted five passes and went to the Pro Bowl. He'll turn 24 right before training camp.

6. Nick Mangold, C, Jets. At 25 years old, he is establishing himself as one of the best. He would be a keystone on any offensive line. He already has been to a Pro Bowl.

9. Calvin Pace, OLB, Jets. We need a speed-rusher for our 3-4 defense, and Pace offers the best combination of skill and youth. He led the AFC East in tackles for losses last year.

These lists are great because of the endless discussion they provide. It was surprising to see Pace make the cut over Joey Porter. The author said age was his primary motivator in that call. I think Pace is a more complete player than Porter, but he is not as disruptive of a force as a pass rusher, which is the most important job of the 3-4 OLB.

I also have to question one explanation he gave.

This is not a list of the 10 best players in the division. We were assembling a team and needed to distribute talent among all positions. Once I selected Moss, there wasn't enough room to consider Lee Evans or Wes Welker, too. Once I took a nose tackle, Kris Jenkins would have been redundant.

If you're building a team, why can't you have two playmaking receivers? Wouldn't that make the team more dangerous? Why can't you have both Jenkins and Wilfork? Couldn't the team run a 4-3 with Wilfork on the nose and Jenkins at the three? How imposing would that be for interior linemen?

What do you think of the list?