New York Jets: Making the case for Todd Gurley

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Mar 16, 2015

Plenty of scenarios could happen to the New York Jets when it comes to the 2015 NFL Draft. I honestly believe the Jets will draft wide receiver Amari Cooper.

But there is also a possible scenario that they might even trade down come draft day.

If quarterback Marcus Mariota drops that low to the sixth overall pick, who knows how many teams will frantically be calling the Jets to make a trade in an effort to secure a future franchise quarterback. Would the Jets pull the trigger on such a deal?

Should the Jets go this route and actually trade down in the first round, they will surely be enticed depending on what players and picks could be coming their way. Since the Jets at the moment of this writing haven’t added a veteran running back to the mix, perhaps they can add another viable option via the draft.

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Running back Todd Gurley in my opinion is the top running back in this year’s draft. He has incredible speed with a balanced mix of power to break through tackles and race all the way to the end zone. Considering he would be a nice change of pace option at running back, he would be a solid draft choice for the Jets.

With Chris Ivory expected to be the starting option at the position and Bilal Powell sticking around for next season, the Jets don’t really have to add another veteran option. Since Powell has been mostly a third-string option in his tenure with the Jets, perhaps he could really step up this upcoming season as Ivory’s backup.

Last offseason, the Jets took a chance on Chris Johnson thinking he could rekindle his magic. Unfortunately, he never lived up to the hype and ended up for the first time in his career with a sub-par season that saw him contribute just 663 yards and only a single rushing touchdown.

Needless to say, sometimes signing a veteran running back isn’t always the best option since they usually come with a bunch of wear and tear. Of course not every case is like that but for the most part, it would be in the best interest of the Jets to maybe add another running back into the mix by taking a chance on Gurley.

Despite dealing with ankle injuries in his college career at Georgia, Gurley still has the skill set to really come in, get coached towards improving his technique and really contribute nicely in the future. I absolutely love his ability to get plenty of yards after contact as once he gets hit, he just keeps going.

Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) runs against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Since the Jets might head in a spread offense come next season due to new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, it wouldn’t surprise me if they ditched their previous ground and pound attack for a more upbeat passing tempo on offense. This would allow a new system to be incorporated so everyone can adapt to it at the same time.

While Gurley doesn’t really make a ton of contributions via receptions, he would provide nice depth at the position and do well in those critical third-and-short situations to keep those chains moving. I think he could be a rather successful running back in the NFL if properly developed.

Overall, in the scenario that the Jets do trade down and acquire more draft picks to use, I think they should take a shot with Gurley if he’s still available in the second round. He could be molded for the future and one can only imagine how he will pan out over the course of his career in the NFL.

Next: New York Jets: Making the case for Amari Cooper

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