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With the better part of a month still remaining before the 2012 NFL draft begins and my sanity is granted a reprieve from mock drafts for another year, many GGN users are wondering if the team will make any more significant moves in the fleeting days of free agency before moving fully into draft mode. So here is a breakdown of what The Jets have and can still get. From NFL.com, here are the Jets fiscals (current as of yesterday):
New York Jets
Current contracts: 50
Previous year carryover: $8,275,000.00
Adjustments: $1,196,600.00
Adjusted cap: $130,071,600.00
Team cap: $122,379,317.00
Cap room: $7,692,283.00
Team cash: $118,025,500.00
This, like the teams cap space to start free agency, is about dead middle rank in the league. Some teams have virtually no capital, while annual like-clockwork disaster franchises like the Jaguars and Buccaneers have closer to or above 20 million dollars left to spend, if they so choose.
Players Gained: Tim Tebow (QB) for 4th and 6th round picks. LaRon Landry (SS). Chaz Schilens (WR). Scotty McKnight (WR).
Players Lost: Drew Stanton (QB) and a 7th rd pick for a 2012 6th rd pick. Mark Brunell (QB). Plaxico Burress (WR). Brodney Pool (DB). Robert Turner (OL - coming off IR). Matthew Mulligan (TE). Jamaal Westerman (LB). Marquice Cole (DB). LaDainian Tomlinson (RB). Kevin O'Connell (QB). Donald Strickland ??? Jim Leonhard (coming off IR) ???
Re-signed: Bryan Thomas (coming off IR), Sione Pouha, Mark Sanchez, Nick Folk, Patrick Turner. Aaron Maybin tendered.
Remaining Needs: OT, OLB/pass rush, FS, WR, RB, P.
Still Available @ Running Back: Cedric Benson, Ryan Grant, Tim Hightower, Justin Forsett, Mewelde Moore, Ronnie Brown, Thomas Jones, Derrick Ward, Joseph Addai, Sammy Morris, Cadillac Williams.
@ Wide Receiver: Braylon Edwards, Jerome Simpson, Jerricho Cotchery, Lee Evans, Patrick Crayton, Roy Williams, Greg Camarillo, Michael Clayton, Bryant Johnson, Chansi Stuckey, Courtney Roby, Arnaz Battle, Terrell Owens.
@ Offensive Tackle: Marcus McNeill, Demetrius Bell, Kareem McKenzie, Max Starks, Tony Pashos, Barry Richardson, Trai Essex, Pat McQuistan, Stephon Heyer, James Lee, Brandon Keith.
@ Outside Linebacker: Rocky McIntosh, Leroy Hill, Gary Guyton, Joey Porter, Ernie Sims, Bobby Carpenter, Mario Haggan, Thomas Williams, Mike Peterson, Brady Poppinga, Clark Haggans, David Vobora, Omar Gaither, Jo-Lonn Dunbar.
@ Safety: O.J. Atogwe, Melvin Bullit, Deon Grant, Sean Jones, Chris Harris, Yeremiah Bell, Abram Elam, Chris Hope, Reggie Smith, Brian Dawkins, Courtney Greene, Dominique Barber, Gibril Wilson, Husain Abdullah, Jon McGraw, James Sanders, James Ihedigbo, Matt Giordano, Corey Lynch, Sabby Piscitelli, Bobby Sanders, Hamza Abdullah.
@ Punter: Mat McBriar, Jason Baker, Dave Zastudil.
2012 Draft Picks: #16, #47, #77, 5th round exact order TBD, 6th round (Stanton) TBD, 7th round (Tebow) TBD. Jets have traded away one 4th, 6th, and 7th round pick each.
So, what would you do if given total control over the Jets FO and purse strings today? What direction would you take this team in? Is there anything you could reasonably do heading into the draft to address the teams needs?