2014 NFL Mock Draft: New York Jets take Eric Ebron
North Carolina Tar Heels tight end Eric Ebron (85) during their game against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Liz Condo-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets desperately need to add offensive weapons, even if they decide to give up on Geno Smith already and select a quarterback in this year’s draft class. This team cannot move forward with Santonio Holmes and Jeremy Kerley as their top two receivers, especially since they probably won’t move forward with Holmes unless if he is 100% serious about taking a significant paycut. A playmaking wide receiver or tight end is No. 1 on the Jets list of needs, and that’s exactly the kind of player Peter Smith at With The First Pick has the New York Jets taking in his latest 2014 NFL Mock Draft.
Smith believes that the Jets should use the 13th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft on North Carolina Tar Heels star tight end Eric Ebron, who is a hyper-athletic TE and one of the most talented pass-catchers in this class. Don’t expect him to do much blocking, though, because he’s easily the worst blocker of the elite TE prospects in this year’s draft class.
Ebron’s speed and athleticism make him one of the top weapons and most talented prospects in this year’s draft, but I think the Jets should go in a different direction with this pick. While Ebron can align everywhere and is more than just a TE, I don’t think he’s the best value with the 13th pick. I mean, he isn’t better than Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro, and I spoke to a scout who believes that there is a significant gap in talent between Ebron and Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
There is little doubt in my mind that the UNC tight end would make a big impact on the Jets offense, but I think they are OK at tight end with Jeff Cumberland and should draft either a wide receiver or a safety, since they have big needs in the secondary. HaHa Clinton-Dix is easily the top safety in the class, and he is good value with the 13th pick and would be a massive upgrade on defense for the Jets.
But if they do want to stick with taking an offensive weapon, then I think that they need to go with either Mike Evans or Sammy Watkins. Both of these prospects are somehow still on the board, and either one of them can be legitimately called the best WR in this class. They are both elite prospects who are worth top-ten picks, and they are no-brainers for the Jets with the 13th pick if either one of them are still on the board. So yeah, scrap Ebron and give me either Watkins or Evans, with my preference being Evans.