Discussion on Donovan Warren

by John B on May 1, 2010 9:17 AM EDT

Manish Mehta has some quotes on Donovan Warren from the man himself and Rex Ryan.

"Being undrafted, I feel like I have a chip on my shoulder," Warren said during the Jets’ rookie minicamp in Florham Park. "Every day I’m going out there, I got something to prove. That’s something I’m looking forward to each and every day. That’s just motivation for me to just keep on pushing and keep on going forward."

"He’s a smart kid," Jets coach Rex Ryan said. "We’re playing him in both spots — corner and safety — but I think his best shot will be as a safety. He was probably the highest-rated player (on our board) that was still left."

This is the kind of move that should make those of you upset about trading away late round picks happy. Landing a guy like Warren with a great shot at making the team is like having an extra pick.

My feeling is when Rex says his best shot is at safety, he means best shot at getting on the field right now because of the great depth at corner. I think Warren would be a perfect fit for this style of defense at corner once he refines his game. He's a physical guy who loves to rough up receivers at the line in man coverage.

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I’m still trying to figure out how this guy went undrafted. Every time I saw him he was putting in big hits and getting his hands in to break up passes. He didn’t have the best combine/pro day but I heard he was carrying a little ankle injury at the time, not sure if that is true or not. Very excited about this guy, he seems to be ready to work hard, go out there and play with an attitude. Love his physical nature, like him lined up in nickel facing the action. Lot of potential, think he is going to be a great addition to this team. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him line up all across the secondary. Give us a little bit of flexibility.

I have no doubt that Rex will find 3 or 4 gems out of this draft class, Basped/Cumberland/Reamer and Jackson all will have a chance to make the team.

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by David_Wyatt on May 1, 2010 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

So…learned a lesson to be on the Jets.

Godfather = on the team as a coach
have a minor ankle injury b4 draft.
leave college during junior year

LETS GO!
So happy he’s a JET!

by Max Strauss on May 1, 2010 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

This guy shouldnt have gone undrafted, and if the other 31 teams passed on him, there may be something we all dont know. For a safety he sure isnt good in man coverage or helping out over the top. Also there were a lot of kids taken in the 3rd 5th 6th and 7th rounds who could have helped us. Time will tell if making an average of 4 selections per year will be a good or bad move, but I’m not a fan. Its something that has never been done before with good success. Last years UDFA crop didn’t yield us much more than a special teamer.

by jets47 on May 1, 2010 10:51 AM EDT reply actions

It was most likely the 4.6 forty that he never redeemed himself from. I read somewhere (and DW mentioned above) that he had an ankle injury at the Combine. But Im not sure if he had that injury at his Pro Day, at which he actually ran slower. But he doesn’t look slow on tape. I don’t know what to think about him. Seems like a steal for a UDFA though. Read a lot of scouting reports that described him as “shutdown.”

by Crackback on May 1, 2010 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

i would much rather see us mold him into a free safety than a corner. the obvious reason is because our stability and corner and our weakness at safety. i love pool and leonhard to start this year but warren can be the long term solution. i think rex can transform him into a ball hawk at the safety position. you also have to love a physical safety who can cover man to man for teams like the colts and chargers with athletic tight ends. his versatility will play well in this defense but i would love to see him become the long term answer at free safety.

by joey d on May 1, 2010 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

I would agree, As a rookie, we’re probably looking at a guy who will play on special teams, and could provide depth at free safety, and nickel as well as maybe see the field in dime packages. Longer term, maybe he could be a starter at free safety and/or at nickel back.

He might even be good enough to start at corner, but realistically, with the Jets top 3 corners, that’s not in the cards barring injury or Cromartie really being a screw-up.

I think we caught a break that he had a sprained ankle when teams worked him out.

Oh, and BTW, it would be very unusual for any UDFA to be more than a special teamer during their rookie season. Nonetheless, they certainly could develop into position players in years 2 or 3.

by DougGreen on May 1, 2010 4:51 PM EDT reply actions