FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Divining the Jets ' draft objectives under General Manager John Idzik has become an annual guessing game, as much because of his guarded approach as the state of their roster. It is more likely that a magician would reveal the secret to his tricks than Idzik would divulge a hint about his intentions for a team that, despite a strong finish to last season, very much remains in transition.
The Jets have needs, many of them, and with the 18th overall pick Thursday night Idzik could have addressed any of at least five positions - and he did. But instead of taking a playmaking receiver or a shutdown cornerback, the Jets grabbed a safety, Calvin Pryor of Louisville, to bolster a secondary that endured a miserable 2013 season.
'He fits us,' Idzik said. 'He fits our profile. He's a physical presence on the field.'
By choosing Pryor, listed at 5-foot-11, 207 pounds, the Jets continued a trend that preceded Idzik but not their defensive-minded coach, Rex Ryan. For the fifth consecutive year, the Jets used their first-round selection on a defensive player.
Pryor, the first safety chosen, earned a reputation for being a ferocious hitter, but during his three-year career he also had seven interceptions and broke up 14 passes.
'This young man is an enforcer,' Ryan said Thursday night.
Despite Idzik's insistence to the contrary, this is a critical draft for him and the Jets. With the exception of Eric Decker, Idzik has refrained from doling out lucrative free-agent contracts, preferring to overhaul the roster through the draft. He stockpiled picks, 12 in all, the team's most since 1998.
Asked last week whether he expected their first few picks to become immediate starters, Idzik demurred. 'Would we like rookies to come in and have an immediate impact? Of course we would,' he said. 'But we also have a pretty good roster that they're competing against, too.'
In the case of Pryor, the Jets have only one established safety, Dawan Landry, and two others - Antonio Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett - who split playing time. When their turn came up, the Jets had plenty of appealing options, especially at their most glaring offensive need, receiver: Brandin Cooks of Oregon State and Marqise Lee of Southern California.
Also unselected were a top cornerback, Darqueze Dennard of Michigan State and another safety, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix of Alabama. But with the draft lush with receivers, the Jets most likely felt that they could find an impact player in the second or third round, and even into the draft's final day on Saturday.
'We stuck to our philosophy,' Idzik said. 'We stuck to our board.'
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, May 8, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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