Five Combine 'Winners' That Could Become New York Jets

Photo credit: Journal Star

The Jets are sitting in good position heading into the 2015 NFL Draft. They have the sixth overall pick in the first round, which could net them a quarterback like Marcus Mariota. That pick also gives them a shot at one of the draft's top wide receivers or an elite pass rusher as well.

Depending how new general manager Mike Maccagnan feels about the top of this year's class, the Jets also are in prime position to trade down, particularly if Mariota falls and they decide not to draft him. New York needs depth badly, and getting a windfall of picks for their top-six pick could pay dividends down the line.

With the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine wrapping up, many players used the workouts to boost their draft stock. Which of these players could wind up wearing Jets colors heading into the 2015 season?

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska

At first glance to some, Abdullah may not have had an impressive combine workout. Those people would be looking directly at his 4.6 40-yard dash, which is probably THE most overrated workout for a running back. It's not very often runners get to run 40 yards in a straight line in college, let alone the NFL.

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Should the New York Jets Draft Eli Harold in the Second Round?

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For years, the Jets have masked their lack of elite edge-rushing talent with Rex Ryan's exotic blitz packages. When the team had cornerbacks like Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie locking down receivers on the outside, that was an easy task. Even with New York's issues at cornerback last season, the Jets still finished sixth in the league with 45 sacks. Defensive end Sheldon Richardson was the lone Jets defender to eclipse the seven-sack plateau. However, five Jets had at least five sacks on the season.

Those numbers imply that the Jets successfully pressured opposing quarterbacks with schemed blitzes rather than supremely talented edge rushers, and the 11.5 combined sacks from starting outside linebackers Quinton Coples (6.5) and Calvin Pace (5.0) confirms that fact.
The Jets' need for a legitimate edge rusher is real, and this year's draft is especially deep at the position. As a result, the Jets have a good chance at grabbing an impact player at the position with the 38th overall pick. One intriguing name in this year's edge class is Virginia's Eli Harold. A 6-4, 250-pound junior who declared for the draft after just three seasons with the Cavaliers, Harold has the potential to become a complete pass rusher at the NFL level.

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Florida State's P.J. Williams Can Help the Jets' Secondary

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Rex Ryan may no longer be the head coach of the New York Jets, but Gang Green's new coach shares some of his predecessor's defensive principles. Todd Bowles surely wants to upgrade his team's cornerback situation, and the team's first-round pick falls too early in the draft to think about taking a corner in this year's class.

Even as a reunion with Antonio Cromartie becomes almost a foregone conclusion, the Jets could still use another physical cornerback who excels in press coverage. Enter Florida State's P.J. Williams.

Since declaring for the NFL Draft at the end of his junior season, Williams has been slotted anywhere from the late first round into the second round in mock drafts. The Jets may be in position to draft the 6-0, 196-pounder, who would give the Jets two corners above six feet tall if Cromartie indeed returns.

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Could the Jets Reunite Revis and Cromartie at Cornerback?

Photo courtesy: NY Daily News

Money talks. At least Jets fans know it does to Patriots cornerback and recently crowned Super Bowl champion Darrelle Revis, who was originally drafted by the Jets in 2007 and subsequently traded in 2013 when the two sides couldn't agree on a long-term contract extension after Revis' torn ACL.

The Jets have plenty of green available this offseason, as they are projected to have almost $50 million in cap space thanks to John Idzik's frugality, a few expiring contracts and an expected increase in the salary cap. Revis, while not technically a free agent, has a $20 million option to return to New England that may end up being declined depending on the Patriots' cap situation.

Another former Jet, unrestricted free agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie, has already gone on record about his willingness to return to New York and reunite with Todd Bowles, who coordinated the Cardinals defense last season before becoming Jets head coach in January.

With copious cap space and a desperate need for multiple starting-caliber cornerbacks, is a reunion between the Jets and their two former lockdown stars realistic?

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