The Jets will have one of the first picks in the 2015 NFL Draft, and there are a lot of different areas they could choose to address. We'll be examining the pros and cons of each potential selection, starting with USC DE Leonard Williams.
PROS
Versatility
Williams has been one of the most dominant players in college football despite in three different defensive schemes in his three years at USC. When Williams came in as a freshman, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin had the Trojans running a 4-3 defense, but they transitioned to a 52 after Lane Kiffin was fired and then installed the 3-4 when Steve Sarkisian took over. Williams can play DE or DT, and having another versatile weapon on the line will not only be good for his individual production - it'll open things up for guys like Muhammad Wilkerson as well.
Personality
Coaches have absolutely raved about Williams' work ethic, mentality and drive. This is a player committed to being the best at what he does, and he puts in the work required to get there.
Ceiling
Williams is one of the best defensive players in the college game, but scouts generally agree he has plenty of room to improve. At USC, Williams has relied mostly on strength and physicality to get into the backfield, but by improving his technique and developing a few more moves, Williams could be an absolute force.
CONS
The Jets are already strong up front
The Jets already have a solid front three, with Wilkerson, Damon Harrison and Sheldon Richardson holding down the fort up front. While Williams is very good, the immediate impact on the team would be marginal. Top picks are supposed to upgrade teams right away, and the only way we could see Williams doing that is if the Jets switch to a 4-3 and add him to the mix instead of taking one of the existing trio out.
There are more pressing needs
The Jets defense was 5th in the NFL against the run going into week 15, and the glaring issues right now are mainly on offense. With Marcus Mariota likely to be available, the Jets should be looking at their major weaknesses instead of bolstering one of their existing strengths.
Who would you like to see the Jets draft? Let us know in the comments!
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