2016 NFL Mock Draft for the New York Jets: Part 1

It's mock draft season everyone! For the last few years, Drew (@DrewFromJersey) and I have been smashing our scouting brains together, and forming 4 mocks before the real thing. Now that the all-star games are finished, it is time to take our first crack at this.

Round 1

Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

HT: 6'7" WT: 315

Projected 40: 5.24

I know a lot of people are mocking guys like Jaylon Smith, Noah Spence or even Carson Wentz to us, but we think that it is highly unlikely that any of them even sniff 20. I am a true believer that other than QB, it's the guys in the trenches that have the biggest impact on the game. Don't be fooled by seemingly low number sacks last year. Our O-line was horrible at both pass protection and run blocking. We are haunted by all those short yardage situations being stuffed before they even got going. The biggest culprits are Breno Giacomini, Brian Winters and D'brickashaw Ferguson. I would love to have all three of these guys replaced in the next two years. If we were to do things responsibly, we would rework Brick's contract for next year, and draft his future replacement. In the present, that draft pick can replace the ineffective Breno. I believe Decker can be that guy. In terms of longterm growth, and potential, Decker has more to work with than Conklin. He can live on the right side, and can start right out of the gate.

Round 2

Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA

HT: 6'1" WT: 225

Projected 40: 4.55

We can probably go a few different directions with this second pick. We can continue to rebuild our O-line with a guard, or address other positions of need like ILBer, edge, TE and QB. With this pick I would like to beat the drum for one of my favorite RB prospects, Paul Perkins. Perkins shows great patience, vision, and jump cut ability to make something out of nothing. When you put all of those qualities together, Paul becomes very elusive. He would be perfect for our offense in a shared role with Bilal Powell. Speaking of Powell, he and Chris Ivory are free agents. I would only bring Powell back. Even though Ivory's final stats look like those of a very productive back, his tape tells a different story. I saw an often injured back, that was hindered by bad blocking and being in mostly shotgun. He needs to be running North and South to build momentum. Our offense would greatly benefit from Perkins' elusiveness, and ability to run effectively out of the shotgun.

Round 3

Deion Jones, LB, LSU

HT: 6'1 WT: 225

Projected 40: 4.60

Our LBers are either old, slow, ineffective or a mixture of the three. We need to get better here. David Harris isn't getting any younger. Demario Davis and Erin Henderson are free agents. The best way to replenish this position is though the draft. Deion Jones would bring an influx of youth, speed and talent to a LBing core that is devoid of all of those. His athleticism would allow him to line up all over the field. It's been a long time since we have had someone with true speed roaming the middle of the field. If Jones is still available here, I would jump on him in a second.

Round 4

Victor Ochi, Edge, Stony Brook

HT: 6'2" WT: 256

Projected 40: 4.64

The last bonafide edge rusher we had on the Jets was John Abraham. That was almost 11 years ago. We are long overdo for a dominant edge rusher offenses had to game plan for. Our guys up front are amazing, but we need a guy screaming around the edge, and pushing the Brady's of the world into the welcoming arms of Mo and Big Cat. Lorenzo Mauldin has a lot of potential as a strong, bull rushing Edge guy, but he can use a speed demon on the other side. Enter Victor Ochi stage left. Victor may be a small school guy, but he is a lightning bolt around the edge. His first step is one of the best in the draft. He really showed he was much more than a small school success in the Shrine Game. He has the tenacity and motor we all crave to go with that speed.

Round 5

Connor McGovern, G, Missouri

HT: 6'4" WT: 305

Projected 40: Slow

As I stated before, the guys along the line are very important to an offense's success. Without them, both the QB and the running game will be very limited. In round 1 we found Breno's immediate replacement, and possibly Brick's future replacement. With this late-mid round pick we help out the line once more. Willie Colon and Brian Winters are not very good. If we can't find another free agent Carpenter, maybe we can get lucky with a sleeper rookie. McGovern will probably be near the top of the list when it comes to strength. It's not just weight room strength either. He translates that power to the field. He projects as a G in the NFL, but can play some tackle in a pinch.

Round 7

Ben LeCompte, P, North Dakota State

HT: 5'10" WT: 200

Projected 40: Who Cares

I don't think I need to tell you guys how bad our special teams have been the last few years, especially at the punter position. Thankfully, the horrible Ryan Quigley is a free agent this off-season. I can't think of another 7th round pick that can help us right away than a punter with a leg that can kick us out of a lot of problems. Ben planted 29 of 62 punts inside the 20, and boomed 23 of 62 punts for 50-plus yards including a long of 73.