Mauldin (6'4", 259) is an outside rusher, a position many fans and analysts wanted to see the Jets fill in this draft. He became a full-time DE starter for the Cardinals in 2013 and had 9.5 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss that year, then moved to a standup OLB role in a new 3-4 scheme last season and again was among the team's defensive leaders with 6.5 sacks and 13.0 TFLs.
For his three-year college career, Mauldin had 20.5 sacks and 31.5 tackles for loss. At the NFL Combine in February he posted a 4.85-second 40 and 23 reps in the 225-pound benchpress.