New York Jets 2014 NFL Draft Wrap-up

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Jets fans cheer as Calvin Pryor (Louisville) is being selected as the number eighteen overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

After months upon months upon months of planning, evaluating, analyzing, doubting, confirming, re-evaluating, and speculating, the draft is finally over and done with. With all of the picks selected and most likely to be signed in the coming weeks, we (as analysts), must go out and analyze every single pick and go through where teams may or may not have gone wrong in their individual selections and list some possible solutions or corrections.

In this article I’ll be reviewing the team with the 18th overall selection in the draft: the New York Jets. Last season the Jets went a neutral 8-8, neither winning nor losing more games. They were right in the middle. However, as I start to look at the Jets’ season in 2013, I start to see some gaping holes, particularly on the offensive and defensive passing games. Last year, New York rushed for 134.9 yards and allowed only 88.3 rushing yards per game (ranked 6th and 3rd in the NFL, respectively), however they were only able to pass for 183.3 yards per game, while allowing 246.7 yards per game to other teams (ranked 31st and 22nd in the league, respectively). With numbers like that, one may question the role of the Jets’ personnel last season. While many may be quick to blame Geno Smith for the Jets’ problems, I think that they should hold off the blame. Although he did complete only 55.8% of his passes and was intercepted 21 times, Smith had hardly any receivers to throw to last season. Between Santonio Holmes, Jeremy Kerley and Jeff Cumberland, the Jets had hardly any offensive talent last season. With that said, the Jets took this draft as an opportunity to replenish their secondary, while adding some offensive firepower for the former second round pick Geno Smith to work with in 2014. In this article I will be analyzing all of the Jets’ draft choices, what was stated prior to the draft and where the Jets should be commended or criticized.