New York Jets: Making the case for Dante Fowler Jr.

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Apr 18, 2015

With the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Jets have a ton of options to decide upon when it comes to what course of action to take. It’s a very good position to be in as they should be able to pick a top-notch athlete that will be a cornerstone for years to come. I don’t believe the hype that they will make a blockbuster trade with another team in order to move up in the draft as I think they’ll stay put at No. 6 and pick the best player available. If he’s available for the taking, the Jets should absolutely take outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. in a New York minute.

At 6’3″ and 261 pounds, Fowler would give the Jets a much-needed upgrade for their pass rush. At Florida last season, he led the Gators in tackles for loss at 15 and sacked the quarterback 8.5 times. He’s versatile in that he excels in any assignment given to him and loves to be competitive.

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Outside linebacker Calvin Pace has been declining the past few years as the Jets need to get younger and faster at the position. Last season, Pace started in all regular season games but only put up 39 tackles and 5.0 sacks. While his experience is important to have on the field, he’s looking like he’s losing a step when it comes to playing the position efficiently.

The Jets could draft Fowler and groom him towards being a suitable replacement once Pace’s tenure is over. Since he’s entering the final year of his contract with the Jets and is 34 years old in age, his time with the team might be coming to an end.

The speed that Fowler brings would be a much-needed boost at outside linebacker. As a pure raw talent, under the right coaching and training, Fowler could be developed into the next big thing on defense. He’s had experience at every linebacker position as well at defensive end. He can pretty much do it all and cover the field effectively in zone coverage.

New defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers would love a prospect like Fowler to mold and utilize his abilities to really push the envelope for the Jets come next season. There is no doubt in my mind that Fowler would definitely see a ton of playing time and who knows, might even get some starting time down the road due to his tremendous upside.

Nov 15, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Dante Fowler Jr. (6) tackles South Carolina Gamecocks running back Brandon Wilds (22) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

After watching highlights of him, this man can do it all and would be a sight to see on the Jets’ defense. He can power his way through or use finesse moves to disrupt plays and of course make any quarterback he is facing have a tough day on the job.

The Jets have probably had one of the best offseasons in quite some time and to have a successful draft would truly be the icing on the cake. If Fowler lands to them when they’re on the clock come draft day, it’s a no-brainer to bring him in and start working towards contention.

Overall, Fowler could be the game-changing defender the Jets need to truly solidify their movement towards being a top contender in the AFC East.

If they want to make a run, it’ll be a battle with the New England Patriots who continue to be the creme of the crop within the division. Bringing Fowler aboard would surely give quarterback Tom Brady something more to worry about once the regular season arrives.

Next: New York Jets: Making the case for Bryce Petty

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