NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

May 11, 2014

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Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Jets draft 3 WRs, QB Boyd among picks on final day (Dennis Waszak) ..................................................................... 2

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 4

John Idzik: Draft picks all 'fit the Jet profile' (Kimberley Martin) .............................................................................. 4

Calvin Pryor's former coaches laud him as truly a strong safety (Kimberley Martin) ............................................... 5

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Jets have high hopes for 12 players taken in draft (J.P. Pelzman) ............................................................................ 6

NFL Draft day 3: Jets select two WRs in fourth round [video] (J.P. Pelzman) ........................................................... 7

STAR-LEDGER ......................................................................................................................................................... 8

NFL Draft 2014: Grading all of the Jets' picks, and links to all our coverage of them (Darryl Slater) ........................ 8

NFL Draft 2014: For Jets' new quarterback, former top prospect Tajh Boyd, frustrating wait ends with sweet call (Darryl Slater) .......................................................................................................................................................... 12

Back_to_Top ............................................................................................................................................................ 14

NFL Draft 2014: Jets indeed make all 12 picks, select outside linebacker Trevor Reilly with last one (Darryl Slater) ................................................................................................................................................................................. 14

NFL Draft 2014: Jets get Clemson's Tajh Boyd, strong-armed quarterback, in sixth round (Darryl Slater)............. 15

NFL Draft 2014: Jets select receiver Quincy Enunwa, defensive end IK Enemkpali with back-to-back sixth-round picks (Darryl Slater) ................................................................................................................................................. 16

NFL Draft 2014: Jets pick Division II cornerback Brandon Dixon in sixth round (Darryl Slater) .............................. 17

NFL Draft 2014: Jets pick inside linebacker Jeremiah George of Iowa State in fifth round (Darryl Slater) ............. 17

NFL Draft 2014: Jets pick Dakota Dozier, offensive tackle likely converting to guard, with third fourth-round selection (Darryl Slater) ........................................................................................................................................... 18

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 19

Jets tab Clemson quarterback Boyd (Brian Costello) .............................................................................................. 19

Jets catching on: Trio of WRs join Gang on final day of draft (Brian Costello) ........................................................ 20

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 21

NFL draft: NY Jets lands Clemson QB Tajh Boyd and pair of speedy wideouts (Seth Walder) ................................ 21

Smalltown hero! NY Jets' top pick Calvin Pryor has always been the big fish of Port St. Joe (Manish Mehta) ....... 25

NEW YORK TIMES ................................................................................................................................................ 28

A Bushel of Selections Allows the Jets to Build Depth in the Later Rounds (Ben Shpigel) ...................................... 28

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 30

Rex Ryan: Son helped in picking QB (Rich Cimini) ................................................................................................... 30

New York Jets draft wrap-up (Rich Cimini) .............................................................................................................. 31

Daily Clips Cont.

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NJ.COM ................................................................................................................................................................ 32

Tajh Boyd: Scouting report on the Jets' fourth sixth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) ................................................ 32

IK Enemkpali: Scouting report on the Jets' third sixth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) .............................................. 32

Quincy Enunwa: Scouting report on the Jets' second sixth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) ...................................... 33

NFL draft 2014: GM John Idzik declines to say why Jets passed on Michael Sam (Dom Cosentino) ...................... 34

Brandon Dixon: Scouting report on the Jets' first sixth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) ............................................ 35

Jeremiah George: Scouting report on the Jets' fifth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) ................................................. 35

Dakota Dozier: Scouting report on the Jets' third fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) ......................................... 36

Shaquelle Evans: Scouting report on the Jets' second fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) ................................... 37

Jalen Saunders: Scouting report on the Jets' first fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) .......................................... 38

Shaquelle Evans: Scouting report on the Jets' second fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) ................................... 39

Jalen Saunders: Scouting report on the Jets' first fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) .......................................... 39

NFL draft 2014: Jets take receivers with first two of three fourth-round picks (Dom Cosentino) .......................... 40

NFL draft 2014: Why the Jets would be smart to use all nine picks on Day 3 (Dom Cosentino) ............................. 41

SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 42

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jets draft 3 WRs, QB Boyd among picks on final day (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press May 10, 2014

http://pro32.ap.org/article/jets-draft-3-wrs-qb-boyd-among-picks-final-day

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets began the NFL draft with a whopping 12 picks — and they made every single one of them.

General manager John Idzik did consider making some moves throughout the three days. Move up? Move down? In the end, the Jets thought it was more valuable to stay put. From the first round through the seventh.

"Did we have opportunities? Yeah, we had opportunities," Idzik said after the Jets completed their picks. "But we felt like the players we selected, it was not worth moving out of that pick. We'd rather have them as a Jet."

The Jets loaded up on wide receivers and added another quarterback to the mix on a busy final day in which they had nine picks.

They addressed a few key needs during the first three rounds by taking safety Calvin Pryor, tight end Jace Amaro and cornerback Dexter McDougle, but needed depth at wide receiver. On Saturday, they took Oklahoma's Jalen Saunders at No. 104 in the fourth round and UCLA's Shaquelle Evans 11 spots later. They also drafted Nebraska's Quincy Enunwa in the sixth round.

Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd was taken with the last of the Jets' three compensatory picks in the sixth round. While Geno Smith and Michael Vick will compete for the starting job this summer, Boyd will likely go up against Matt Simms for the No. 3 spot.

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Jets coach Rex Ryan is quite familiar with Boyd, who was a college teammate of his son Seth, a wide receiver for the Tigers. Boyd's leadership attributes were attractive to the Jets, something confirmed to Ryan in a conversation with his son.

"He said, if Tajh would have called a meeting at 2 a.m., the entire football team would have been there," Ryan said.

Boyd set 57 school and Atlantic Coast Conference records, finishing with 11,904 yards passing and 107 touchdowns. He also ran for 26 scores.

"When we went there for a workout this year, it was as fine a quarterback workout as there might have been all spring," said senior director of college scouting Terry Bradway.

Among the Jets' other selections Saturday were Furman offensive lineman Dakota Dozier (fourth round), Iowa State linebacker Jeremiah George (fifth), Northwest Missouri State cornerback Brandon Dixon (sixth), Louisiana Tech defensive end IK Enemkpali (sixth) and Utah linebacker Trevor Reilly.

Saunders is a short — 5-foot-9 — but speedy receiver and punt returner who caught 123 passes in two years at Oklahoma after transferring from Fresno State. He said he went to the NFL combine at 165 pounds, but gained 10 pounds after there were some concerns about his weight.

"I would describe my playing style like a gorilla," Saunders said during a conference call. "I'm a savage on that field. I would say between a gorilla and a terrier, a pet dog or a terrier. They're real small and people don't expect too much from them. They always like to fight and always like to play around.

"That's just the type of player I am. I'm real feisty."

Saunders, from Elk Grove, California, had 61 catches for 729 yards and eight TDs last season, and added two scores on punt returns. He could complement Jacoby Ford as one of the Jets' key return men.

"I definitely feel like I can come in and compete for either a receiver position or a punt return job," Saunders said.

The 6-1, 213-pound Evans, from Inglewood, California, had nine touchdown catches for UCLA last season. He had at least one reception in each of his last 28 games with the Bruins, and led the team in catches his last two years.

He spent his first college season at Notre Dame, but said "it just wasn't a good fit," and transferred to his hometown college team.

Dozier, at 6-4 and 310 pounds, played mostly left tackle at Furman but started his last two games in college at guard. The native of West Columbia, South Carolina, who's nicknamed "Bull Dozier," is expected to play at the guard spot for the Jets.

George, from Clearwater, Florida, is a bit undersized at 5-11 and 230 pounds, but led the Big 12 with 133 tackles as a senior and has good quickness. He could be a backup at inside linebacker and contribute on special teams for the Jets.

"I play the game of football with my heart, not my height," George said.

Dixon and his twin brother Brian were starting cornerbacks for Division II champion Northwest Missouri State last year. Dixon, from Pompano Beach, Florida, had six interceptions and 17 pass breakups in two years after transferring from Joliet Junior College.

The Jets also made some intriguing picks on defense in Enemkpali and Reilly.

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Enemkpali, from Pflugerville, Texas, is a power rusher who had 145 tackles and 17½ career sacks in four years, ranking him third in school history. Reilly, from Valley Center, California, had 8½ sacks last season, has had some knee issues and is 26, married with two daughters and served a Mormon mission in Sweden.

"I can say this: every single pick, it seemed like we were on the edge of our seat," Idzik said. "In other words, we picked very popular players."

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NEWSDAY

John Idzik: Draft picks all 'fit the Jet profile' (Kimberley Martin) Newsday May 11, 2014

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/john-idzik-draft-picks-all-fit-the-jet-profile-1.7984627

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The NFL draft really is John Idzik's "lifeline."

The Jets, who entered Thursday's first round tied with the Rams with 12 picks, walked away with a dozen at the conclusion of Saturday's final four rounds.

To the surprise of many, there was no wheelin' and dealin' on Day 3 by the Jets' general manager. But during his introductory news conference in January 2013, Idzik stressed the draft "will be a lifeline for us, year in and year out."

The Jets entered Saturday with nine picks left. The last time they had this many picks was in 1998 (Bill Parcells' second draft).

"There's pretty much a common thread with these fellas," Idzik said. "They fit our profile. They're aggressive, they have a passion for our game, they're great teammates. They fit the Jet profile."

The Jets addressed several needs during the three-day draft, including wide receiver and cornerback, selecting Louisville safety Calvin Pryor 18th overall, tight end Jace Amaro in the second round and cornerback Dexter McDougle in the third.

They used their first two picks Saturday to improve their offense and special teams. With the pick they acquired in the Darrelle Revis deal, the Jets selected Oklahoma receiver-returner Jalen Saunders 104th overall. Eleven spots later, they grabbed UCLA wideout Shaquelle Evans.

Barely 5-9, the 165-pound Saunders is best known for his quickness and route-running.

"I'm a savage on that field," Saunders said. "I would say between a gorilla and a terrier. They're real small and people don't expect too much from them."

The 6-1 Evans, a transfer from Notre Dame, caught 19 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games in 2011. He also had 17 punt returns for 115 yards.

The knock on Evans is that he doesn't stretch the field well and doesn't have great speed. But the addition to an already improved receiving corps raises questions about Stephen Hill's role on offense.

The Jets wrapped up Round 4 by selecting Furman offensive lineman Dakota "Bull" Dozier 137th overall. After adding Iowa State inside linebacker Jeremiah George in the fifth round, the Jets took another cornerback (Brandon Dixon, Northwest Missouri State), wide receiver (Quincy Enunwa, Nebraska) and linebacker (IK Enemkpali, Louisiana Tech) in the sixth round.

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Things got interesting in Round 7 when the Jets selected Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, a former Tigers teammate of Rex Ryan's son Seth.

"I think we all know my pick," Ryan said with a laugh. "It's pretty obvious."

Despite joining a crowded QB room, Boyd said he's excited to be with Geno Smith, Matt Simms and his "mentor," Michael Vick. "As a kid, he was my idol," Boyd said of Vick, who also grew up in Virginia.

Ryan said his son often spoke of Boyd's character. "He said [Boyd] was the leader of that program," Ryan said. "He said if Tajh would have called a meeting at 2 a.m., the entire football team would have been there."

The Jets drafted 26-year-old outside linebacker Trevor Reilly (Utah) with their final pick.

Despite having "multiple conversations" about packaging picks and possibly moving up and down the draft board, the Jets were pleased with the outcome.

"Did we have opportunities? Yeah, we had opportunities," Idzik said. "But we felt like the players we selected, it was not worth moving out of that pick. We'd rather have them as a Jet."

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Calvin Pryor's former coaches laud him as truly a strong safety (Kimberley Martin) Newsday May 11, 2014

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/calvin-pryor-s-former-coaches-laud-him-as-truly-a-strong-safety-1.7984364

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The video told Rex Ryan all he needed to know about Calvin Pryor's hammer-size hits. But the Jets' coach needed intel on Pryor the person. So naturally, he turned to someone who knows the Louisville safety best.

"Whenever a team is going to take someone in the first round, they're going to reach out to you because they want to know exactly who they're getting," Texas head coach Charlie Strong said during a Friday night phone interview with Newsday.

Strong coached Pryor for three seasons before accepting the Longhorns' job in January.

"When they invest that type of money, especially into a first-rounder, they want to know for sure," said Strong, who has developed a good relationship with Ryan.

After conversations with Pryor, his former coaches and others, the Jets felt comfortable that the hard-hitting prospect would fit their scheme and their locker room.

It's far too soon to know how big a role Pryor will play in Ryan's defense, Strong said. "But I just know this: He's an outstanding player and he's going to work hard enough to make sure that he can make an impact . . . He's going to be exciting to watch."

Pryor had 175 tackles, five interceptions, 11 passes defensed and seven forced fumbles in the past two seasons. And as long as he's been playing football, he's been known as a bruiser.

On Thursday night, he and 30 or so family members attended the draft and reflected on his journey to a first-round selection.

"Just thinking back a couple years, I was in high school, just running around, didn't know what I was going to do, and now just to have this chance to play in the National Football League is a dream come true," the former centerfielder and former standout point guard said.

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Chuck Gannon, Port St. Joe (Florida) High School's football, baseball and basketball coach from 1994 until this past season, recalled Pryor as a ninth-grader who was talented enough to keep pace with the varsity boys.

Pryor always was polite ("yes sir, no sir"), he said, a young man who didn't get in trouble off the field. "He was the type of kid you liked to coach," Gannon said. "From my standpoint, and I think our coaching staff at that time, we just thought that football was his ticket."

Jets senior director of college scouting Terry Bradway said: "As a scout, you have fun watching him . . . This guy just jumps off the tape."

Strong -- who called Pryor's 18th overall selection the "perfect pick" for the Jets' system -- praised his former player's versatility in the box and in the middle of the field "because he can go from sideline to sideline."

But though Pryor is best known for laying the wood on his opponents, he remains humble in the face of attention. And Port St. Joe, a city of less than 4,000, is a big reason why.

"Very small town," Pryor chuckled during his introductory news conference Saturday. "We have two stoplights, I believe."

But don't expect him to get swallowed up by the bright lights of the big city, Strong said. He described Pryor as "a natural leader" who makes everyone around him better.

"It's always business with him," Strong said. "He's not a guy that jokes around a lot. So whenever he takes the field, he's going to go out there with a business approach and it's all about him getting better. Whether it be walk-through or whenever we were game-planning, he's always been one of those guys who's just so focused and so locked in because he just wanted you to coach him and he wanted every small detail to make him a better player."

Gannon echoed those sentiments.

"Calvin, he's going to be a worker," he said. "I think that's what's said about him by everybody that knows him. Coaches know [these draftees] have athletic ability, but Calvin's going to put in the time and the effort to get on the field of play."

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THE RECORD

Jets have high hopes for 12 players taken in draft (J.P. Pelzman) The Record May 11, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/jets-have-high-hopes-for-12-players-taken-in-draft-1.1013624

FLORHAM PARK — The Jets had 12 picks in the 1998 NFL draft. Of those players, only fourth-round offensive tackle Jason Fabini started for more than one season with the Jets. He stayed with the team through 2005, starting for most of that time.

They certainly hope to have more success in the 2014 draft, in which they selected 12 players, the most they’ve drafted since 1998.

“We felt like every step of the way that we were focused on each pick,” general manager John Idzik said Saturday, “and we got the right guys.”

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Of course, only time will tell if they did. Certainly the Jets seemed to be able to stick to their draft board while also addressing some key areas of need. First-round safety Calvin Pryor of Louisville and third-round cornerback Dexter McDougle of Maryland should help shore up a secondary that often was torched last season. McDougle may have to shake off some rust after missing most of last season because of a shoulder injury.

Many observers expected the Jets to trade at least one of their picks, even though four of the 12 were compensatory selections that couldn’t be dealt. But they didn’t, using every pick they were allotted.

In Saturday’s fourth round, the Jets selected two wide receivers, potentially adding playmakers to a position that needs more of those.

Small but productive Jalen Saunders of Oklahoma projects as a slot receiver and could help in the return game. He brought back two punts for touchdowns last season. Shaquelle Evans, a 6-foot-1, 213-pounder from UCLA, also has a chance to help the offense.

However, the biggest wild card on offense could be second-round pick Jace Amaro, a tight end from Texas Tech who seems to be in the mold of New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham and New England’s Rob Gronkowski. But was his terrific production due to a funky offensive spread system in which he rarely lined up as a traditional tight end? The Jets will find out.

Their final sixth-round pick also will have to make the transition from a gimmicky college offense to a pro-style set. Quarterback Tajh Boyd had 103 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions as a starter for Clemson for the last three seasons. But much like current Jets starter Geno Smith during his college career at West Virginia, Boyd operated almost exclusively from the shotgun and rarely was under center.

With Smith and Vick expected to compete for the starting job, Boyd likely will battle Franklin Lakes’ Matt Simms for the No. 3 job.

Boyd said he was dozing off in his car when he got the call from coach Rex Ryan.

“It was the most exciting [phone] call I’ve ever received in my life,” Boyd said.

The Jets had special intelligence on Boyd because Ryan’s son Seth walked on at Clemson last season as a freshman wide receiver.

“We probably had more of an insight to his character,” Ryan said. “We’re excited to bring Tajh here and let him compete.”

Idzik declined to say if the Jets considered drafting Michael Sam, but an indicator of their level of interest, or lack thereof, might have been their selection of Louisiana Tech defensive end IK Enemkpali in the sixth round. He has similar measurables to Sam and played the same position in college.

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NFL Draft day 3: Jets select two WRs in fourth round [video] (J.P. Pelzman) The Record May 10, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/nfl-draft-day-3-jets-select-two-wrs-in-fourth-round-video-1.1013624

As expected, the Jets finally addressed their need at wide receiver in the fourth round. They first selected Jalen Saunders of Oklahoma with the 104th pick, then too UCLA’s Shaquelle Evans at No. 115.

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Saunders is listed at 5-9, but is just a shade under that in reality. But he seems to be motivated by his lack of size, as he called himself a “terrier” and “feisty” during a conference call.

“I love to compete,” he said. “That’s just the way I am.”

Saunders returned two punts for touchdowns last season, and could step into that role immediately for the Jets. He had 61 receptions and eight TD catches as a senior for the Sooners. He played the first two years of his collegiate career at Fresno State. He believes that transferring to powerful Oklahoma of the Big 12 raised his profile and his draft stock.

“No knocks against Fresno State,” he said, but added, “did [transferring] help my draft stock? I think so.”

Saunders weighed in at 165 pounds at the NFL combine in February, but indicated that he had lost weight just before that because of a stomach virus. He is up to 175 pounds now, he said.

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STAR-LEDGER

NFL Draft 2014: Grading all of the Jets' picks, and links to all our coverage of them (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger May 11, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_grading_all_of_the_jets_picks_and_links_to_all_our_coverage_of_them.html

FLORHAM PARK – The 2014 NFL Draft is in the books, and while we won’t know for quite some time whether the Jets’ 12-man class will pan out, it is never too early to begin speculating and analyzing when it comes to all things NFL Draft.

None of this is worth much in early May, of course. But the Jets did have needs entering this draft, and we can at least examine how well they seem to have addressed them.

Early last December, Jets coach Rex Ryan gave the team’s 2013 draft class an A-plus. It was the first draft class for general manager John Idzik, who was hired last January.

Of course, this year was the first time Idzik had a chance to go through the complete draft process. After the Jets’ picks were complete Saturday, Ryan sat next to Idzik at a press conference and considered the same question: How would he grade this class?

Ryan and Idzik both chuckled at the question.

“When I gave the A-plus out, it’s because we had five guys start, including a quarterback (Geno Smith), including a Defensive Rookie of the Year (tackle Sheldon Richardson),” Ryan said. “I don’t know who had a better draft than that, but that group is an A-plus.

“I hope this group is an A-plus as well. I can tell you this: I would not be shocked if it’s an A-plus. To say it’s an A-plus now, I’m not going to do that, but I think give us this season, let that thing run out, and then I’ll be more than happy to. But I would not be surprised if it’ll be an A-plus again.”

Here is how our Jets beat writers – Dom Cosentino of NJ.com and Darryl Slater of The Star-Ledger – assess the draft class at this early (premature?) juncture …

FIRST ROUND

Safety Calvin Pryor

Scouting report

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More about Pryor …

--- His hard-hitting highlights.

--- Five things to know about him.

--- Pryor "won't have a problem" with NFL's emphasis on high hits.

--- Jets try to follow Seattle's blueprint by picking Pryor.

--- What does the pick of Pryor mean for Antonio Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett?

--- A look at when the Jets first saw Pryor, against Blake Bortles.

--- Pryor is a role model in his tiny hometown.

--- Pryor's college coach, Charlie Strong, hoped the Jets would pick him.

--- Pryor says Strong told him Ryan is "a defensive genius."

Cosentino: Hard-hitting safety, arguably best available at his position, helps solidify the back end of the defense.

Grade: B+

Slater: The Jets could have gone with a cornerback or a wide receiver, but instead they picked this hard-thumping safety he could put some pop back into the middle of Ryan’s defense. We’ll see about his coverage skills, though, and whether he can atone for the Jets’ lack of an elite corner

Grade: B

SECOND ROUND

Tight end Jace Amaro

Scouting report

More about Amaro ...

--- His highlights in a pass-happy offense.

--- Amaro knows he has a "big learning" curve as he adjusts to pro-style offense.

Cosentino: Pass-catcher who functions as an additional receiver. Will bring added dimension to the passing game.

Grade: A

Slater: An obvious second-round pick here, one many observers projected. The Jets needed a tight end to complement Jeff Cumberland, and Amaro gives them that, in a guy who is really a lot like a receiver. Can he block on the end of the line? How much will the Jets ask him to do it, anyway?

Grade: A

THIRD ROUND

Cornerback Dexter McDougle

Scouting report

More about McDougle ...

--- He vows "I'm back" from season-ending shoulder injury.

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Cosentino: Small and coming off an injury. I might be proven wrong, but I can't escape the feeling this pick was a reach.

Grade: C-

Slater: Something of an unknown, because of a season-ending injury last season. But he was productive in the time he played last year, and the Jets needed bodies at corner. They could have picked a better prospect, Darqueze Dennard, in the first round. There are still cornerback questions surrounding the Jets.

Grade: C

FOURTH ROUND

Wide receiver Jalen Saunders

Scouting report

Cosentino: Tiny and undersized, but quick and capable of stretching the defense. Could make the WR competition very interesting.

Grade: B

Slater: Finally a receiver for the Jets. Saunders seems too small to play outside and projects as a slot receiver or special teams player. He supposedly plays bigger than he is, though.

Grade: C+

Wide receiver Shaq Evans

Scouting report

Cosentino: A contrast from Saunders, Evans is big and sure-handed. Could be an asset as a possession receiver.

Grade: B

Slater: Evans is a far bigger body than Saunders – 6-1 and 213 pounds, compared to Saunders’ 5-9 and 165. The Jets need more weapons for quarterback Geno Smith, and Evans contributes to that aim.

Grade: B+

Offensive guard Dakota Dozier

Scouting report

Cosentino: A solid depth pick here. Dozier dominated small-college level at tackle. Has size and game to move inside and provide needed depth.

Grade: A-

Slater: Another need pick, though not a desperate need. The Jets’ starting guards – Willie Colon and Brian Winters – both return, but Colon is aging and Winters is a second-year player who has yet to prove himself as a starter. Winters last season was transitioning from college tackle to NFL guard. Dozier will be doing the same, but won’t necessarily be required to start immediately.

Grade: B

FIFTH ROUND

Inside linebacker Jeremiah George

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Scouting report

Cosentino: Another decent depth acquisition with versatility to play the MIKE or the WILL inside and be a special-teams asset.

Grade: B

Slater: He’s small, but he’s going to be a backup to two players who hardly ever come off the field – middle linebacker David Harris and weak-side linebacker Demario Davis. George, at 5-11, could be a special teams contributor this year. But other than that, he and Nick Bellore (a very good special teams guy) will be understudies.

Grade: B-

SIXTH ROUND

Cornerback Brandon Dixon

Scouting report

Cosentino: Likely a project, but an intriguing one who can compete for a roster spot at corner.

Grade: C

Slater: Sort of a project player, since he comes from a Division II school. The Jets already drafted two defensive backs, so Dixon doesn’t project as an immediate contributor.

Grade: C

Wide receiver Quincy Enunwa

Scouting report

Cosentino: Another big-bodied wideout with potential.

Grade: C-

Slater: At 6-2 and 225 pounds, he is bigger than he is fast, and that’s OK for the Jets’ offense, as they try to stockpile receivers. They got two in free agency (Eric Decker and Jacoby Ford) and three in this draft, to go with Jeremy Kerley, Stephen Hill and David Nelson. Enunwa is officially low man on a tall totem pole of eight receivers.

Grade: B-

Defensive end IK Enemkpali

Scouting report

Cosentino: Could be a situational pass-rusher and special teamer.

Grade: B-

Slater: Michael Sam was available, but the Jets decided to go with a similar outside linebacker rushing player. Enemkpali played mostly defensive end in college, so he’ll have to learn how to play standing up consistently.

Grade: B-

Quarterback Tajh Boyd

Scouting report

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More about Boyd ...

--- A sweet call, after frustrating wait, sets up reunion with childhood idol, Michael Vick.

Cosentino: A vanity pick for Rex Ryan, as is Ryan's wont, Boyd won't be making anyone clamor for him to start anytime soon.

Grade: C

Slater: An intriguing player, Boyd was, not long ago, considered a potential first-round pick. He struggled at the Senior Bowl and his stock fell. He put up prolific college numbers, though. He’ll face an uphill battle with learning a pro-style offense after playing in an up-tempo shotgun/spread system. But he can sit back and learn as Smith and Vick take the lead in the quarterback room. Boyd was Ryan's personal draft pick this year.

Grade: B+

SEVENTH ROUND

Outside linebacker Trevor Reilly

Scouting report

Cosentino: Big-bodied guy with chance to become a situational or depth-providing pass rusher, but some big concerns about his knees.

Grade: C

Slater: He is a mature young man who, at 26, has served a Mormon mission and is married with two daughters, the youngest of whom has cancer that is in remission. He is another pass-rush pick – also picked ahead of Sam. We’ll see if that turns out to be a wise choice.

Grade: B-

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NFL Draft 2014: For Jets' new quarterback, former top prospect Tajh Boyd, frustrating wait ends with sweet call (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_for_jets_new_quarterback_former_top_prospect_tajh_boyd_frustrating_wait_ends_with_swe.html

FLORHAM PARK – Tajh Boyd sat in his car, the seat reclined, a hat covering his head. Saturday afternoon was turning to Saturday evening, and still Boyd had not yet heard his name called in the NFL Draft.

The 175th pick passed. The 200th pick passed. The seventh and final round neared. Not long ago, Boyd would have never envisioned himself in this situation, waiting in his car on the draft’s last day, his frustration building.

Boyd, a quarterback, considered leaving Clemson after his junior season. He ultimately decided to return. Many analysts believed he would improve his stock and get picked in the first round, perhaps as early as the top 10 or 15.

But as draft weekend began Thursday, nobody projected him there. He had to brace himself for being a Day 3 pick, largely an afterthought on the draft’s national radar.

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When the Jets’ second-to-last pick arrived Saturday – the third-to-last of the sixth round and the 213th overall selection – Boyd finally got a call, from a New Jersey number. He recognized the voice on the other end: Jets coach Rex Ryan.

“Hey, how would you like to be a Jet?” Ryan said, as Boyd recalled.

Later, Boyd deemed it “probably the most refreshing call and most exciting call that I’ve ever received in my life.”

On an afternoon when the Jets picked nine players, to emerge from this draft with 12, Boyd was their most notable selection – a confident, well-respected quarterback with gaudy college numbers, albeit perhaps a product of Clemson’s up-tempo spread offense.

The Jets likely won’t need Boyd to play this season. Second-year pro Geno Smith and veteran Michael Vick are atop the depth chart – and in that order, for now, it seems. Boyd will battle with Matt Simms, Smith’s understudy last year, just to make the roster.

Familiarity should help Boyd as he transitions to a pro-style offense, with the Jets’ West Coast system.

Probably no NFL coach knows him better than Ryan, whose son Seth was a walk-on freshman receiver last season at Clemson. Even before pre-draft inquiries, Boyd chatted informally with Rex Ryan during his trips to Clemson. Mostly, they talked about non-football stuff, Boyd said.

Ryan gathered information on Boyd from Seth, who is friends with the quarterback and raved about Boyd’s leadership on a team that went 32-8 in his three seasons as a starter. In a state, South Carolina, that is nuts about college football and lacks a major professional sports franchise, Boyd embraced being the face of Clemson’s program.

“(Seth) said if Tajh would’ve called a meeting at 2 a.m., the entire football team would’ve been there,” Ryan said. “I think that’s impressive. I think it speaks about the type of person he is.”

The Jets’ previous general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, let Ryan make one draft pick on his own every year. With the selection of Boyd, whom Ryan loves, it seems that tradition is continuing under second-year general manager John Idzik.

“I think we all know my pick,” Ryan said with a laugh. “I can’t lie about that. It was pretty obvious.”

Boyd’s maturity and likeability are unassailable. However, questions about his football future remain. Last season, he struggled against the best defense he played, in a 51-14 loss to eventual national champion Florida State. He completed 17 of 37 passes for 156 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Then he had a poor Senior Bowl performance.

Yes, Boyd finished his senior year with 3,851 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Yes, his numbers the past three years were insane: 11,575 passing yards, 103 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

But between the Florida State game and Senior Bowl, Boyd said, “It seems like everything that you had done in your career at Clemson goes to waste. As far as the draft goes, I felt like it kind of did.”

The Jets’ brass visited Clemson for Boyd’s pro day. Before the workout, Boyd said Ryan told him, “Go out there and throw every completion you can so we can go ahead and pick you up.”

Boyd needed to excel, and he did. Terry Bradway, the Jets’ senior director of college scouting, was initially impressed during a visit to Clemson last spring with how accurately Boyd threw deep balls. Bradway considered Boyd’s pro day to be “as fine a quarterback workout as there might have been all spring.”

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Now comes the harder part: learning a new offense. It helps that Boyd won’t be pressured to play immediately, since transitioning to the West Coast system is “going to take some time,” said Jeff Bauer, the Jets’ director of college scouting.

Boyd lined up exclusively in a no-huddle shotgun formation in college. He will have to prove he can play under center, and that his past success did not just owe to his college offensive coordinator, Chad Morris.

“I think for the most part, grasping football is not a hard concept for me,” Boyd said.

He has studied it since he was a kid, growing up in the talent-rich Tidewater area of Virginia, in the southeastern part of the state. Boyd is from Hampton, which abuts Vick’s hometown, Newport News. Boyd was 7 years old during Vick’s high school senior season. He marveled at Vick’s accomplishments.

A debate has long raged in the Tidewater about the best quarterback to emerge from the area: Vick, Ronald Curry or a water bug-quick athletic freak who never even played football in college – Allen Iverson. A young Boyd acquired VHS tapes of their highlights and analyzed them, comparing their skills to his. Vick later mentored Boyd while he decided whether to return for his senior year.

“When I was a kid, he was my idol,” Boyd said.

Sharing a locker room with Vick now, Boyd wants to prove the Jets coaches right for drafting him. He also has a chance to show he is better than where he fell in this draft – 13th of the 14 quarterbacks picked.

“You’ve got X amount of quarterbacks getting selected before you, and I felt like I had proven myself at this level right here,” Boyd said. “I felt like half those guys I beat in games. You have a chip on your shoulder a little bit. I feel like up until that Florida State game, I was that top 10, that top 15 guy. That’s in the past and I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do at this next level.”

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NFL Draft 2014: Jets indeed make all 12 picks, select outside linebacker Trevor Reilly with last one (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_jets_indeed_make_all_12_picks_select_outside_linebacker_trevor_reilly_with_last_one.html

FLORHAM PARK – Well, then. The Jets did indeed make all 12 of their picks in this year’s NFL Draft. They did not trade up or down, though they attempted to move up on Friday night, as general manager John Idzik confirmed.

Their final selection came with the 18th pick of the seventh round, 233rd overall: Trevor Reilly, an outside linebacker from Utah. He is 6-5 and 245 pounds.

He is married with two daughters, the youngest of whom, Shayn, was diagnosed with kidney cancer before the 2013 season. He went on a two-year Mormon mission in Sweden before beginning his college football career in 2009 with a redshirt season.

Reilly's daughter's cancer is currently in remission.

Reilly said Utah played some 3-4 defense and that, when Utah used this alignment, he played everywhere from end to outside linebacker to inside linebacker.

"I think I can fit in wherever they want me to fit in," he said of the Jets' 3-4 defense.

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Reilly believes he might have fallen to the seventh round due to his age -- he is 26, since he started college late because of his mission -- and due to his injury history. He had surgery in January on his right knee, which previously sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Four of the Jets’ picks Saturday were compensatory selections. They could not be traded. Teams are not allowed to receive more than four compensatory picks in any one draft.

The Jets entered the draft tied with the Rams for the most picks this year.

The Jets ended up getting nine players on the third and final day of the draft, when Rounds 4-7 were picked.

Here is the final rundown of the Jets’ picks in this year’s draft …

First round – Safety Calvin Pryor

Second round – Tight end Jace Amaro

Third round – Cornerback Dexter McDougle

Fourth round – Wide receiver Jalen Saunders

Fourth round – Wide receiver Shaq Evans

Fourth round – Offensive guard Dakota Dozier

Fifth round – Inside linebacker Jeremiah George

Sixth round – Cornerback Brandon Dixon

Sixth round – Wide receiver Quincy Enunwa

Sixth round – Defensive end IK Enemkpali

Sixth round – Quarterback Tajh Boyd

Seventh round – Outside linebacker Trevor Reilly

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NFL Draft 2014: Jets get Clemson's Tajh Boyd, strong-armed quarterback, in sixth round (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_jets_get_clemsons_tajh_boyd_strong-armed_quarterback_in_sixth_round.html

FLORHAM PARK – Jets coach Rex Ryan gained quite a bit of familiarity with Tajh Boyd this past season. That’s because Ryan’s son Seth was a walk-on freshman wide receiver at Clemson, where Boyd was the starting quarterback.

Rex Ryan must have liked what he saw.

Boyd, once considered a potential high draft choice, was chosen by the Jets on Saturday with the 37th pick of the sixth round, 213th overall. It was the Jets’ second-to-last pick of this draft, and fourth of the sixth round. Their final three picks of the round were compensatory selections and could not be traded.

At Clemson, Boyd was a respected leader and willing public face of the program. In the Tigers’ up-tempo offense last season, he threw for 3,851 yards, 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The previous year, those numbers were 3,896, 36 and 13. And as a sophomore: 3,828, 33 and 12.

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Boyd joins a quarterback room headed by second-year pro Geno Smith, who struggled last season as the Jets’ starter, and veteran Michael Vick, signed this offseason in free agency to challenge Smith (or back him up/help him improve).

The Jets’ backup quarterback last year was Matt Simms, son of Giants legend Phil Simms, but he could now be the odd man out with the addition of Boyd.

Boyd will be able to come to the Jets and develop, with no pressure or expectations on him to win a starting job immediately, as he learns to play at this level and prove his gaudy stats were not just a product of Clemson's spread offense.

Boyd is 6-1 and 222 pounds. There are questions about his height and how it might limit him in the NFL. He did not line up under center at Clemson and will have to adjust to a pro-style offense with the Jets’ West Coast system.

His biggest asset is his arm strength, which Ryan and Jets general manager John Idzik got to see at Boyd’s pro day.

"I think he brings some important things, including arm talent,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said, according to NFL.com. “At his pro day, he put on a show. He's as athletic as can be. He reminds me of Troy Smith when he came out of Ohio State. At this point in the draft, to get a guy with that arm talent and athleticism is pretty exciting."

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NFL Draft 2014: Jets select receiver Quincy Enunwa, defensive end IK Enemkpali with back-to-back sixth-round picks (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_jets_select_receiver_quincy_enunwa_defensive_end_ik_enemkpali_with_back-to-back_sixth.html

FLORHAM PARK – The Jets had back-to-back picks in the sixth round – 209th and 210th overall – on the final day of the NFL Draft.

Both selections were compensatory picks and could not be traded. The Jets had two other compensatory pick. Teams cannot receive more than four total compensatory picks, which come from losses and gains in the previous year’s free agency period.

The Jets used these two picks to select wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, a 6-2, 225-pounder from Nebraska, and defensive end IK Enemkpali, a 6-1, 261-pounder from Louisiana Tech. (His name is pronounced “EYE-KAY IN-em-PALL-ee.” His parents were born in Nigeria.)

Enunwa continues the Jets’ Day 3 stockpiling of receivers. They added two in the third round – Jalen Saunders and Shaquelle Evans – after not picking any on the draft’s first two days. Enunwa is known for being strong after the catch, and his physique could translate well to the NFL, though he is not considered to be particularly fast.

"I like to say I have physicality," said Enunwa, who also noted that he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds at the NFL Combine.

Enemkpali figures to fit into the Jets’ 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker and edge rusher. The Jets’ strong-side linebacker, Calvin Pace, is 33 years old. But Enemkpali is considered an overly stiff player.

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He said he stood up a little bit in Nebraska's defense, as an outside rushing linebacker would, but mostly played in a three-point stance, like a traditional defensive end.

The Jets' previous draft picks were safety Calvin Pryor in the first round; tight end Jace Amaro in the second; cornerback Dexter McDougle in the third; Saunders, Evans and offensive guard Dakota Dozier in the fourth; inside linebacker Jeremiah George in the fifth; and cornerback Brandon Dixon in the sixth.

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NFL Draft 2014: Jets pick Division II cornerback Brandon Dixon in sixth round (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_jets_pick_division_ii_cornerback_brandon_dixon_in_sixth_round.html

FLORHAM PARK – The Jets picked up another cornerback, their second of this NFL Draft, with their first of four picks in the sixth round.

It was Brandon Dixon of Northwest Missouri State, a Division II school. He is 5-11 and 203 pounds.

In Friday night’s third round, the Jets picked Maryland’s Dexter McDougle. Their pass defense needs help, but they still do not have a definitive starter to play opposite Dee Milliner. They signed journeyman Dimitri Patterson in free agency.

Dixon was the 19th pick of the sixth round, and the 195th overall selection. At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds – tied for fifth-fastest among defensive backs. But he does not have top-end leaping ability.

Dixon said Jets scout Aaron Glenn, a former cornerback for the Jets, visited his school three times. Dixon also said Jets defensive backs coach Tim McDonald "loved me."

Describing his style, Dixon said, "I'm a man-press corner. I like to get my hands on receivers. I like to get physical at the line of scrimmage."

The Jets’ three remaining picks in the sixth round are compensatory selections and cannot be traded. The Jets have one pick in the seventh round. It is their only remaining pick that can be traded.

The Jets’ draft picks so far: safety Calvin Pryor in the first round; tight end Jace Amaro in the second; cornerback Dexter McDougle in the third, wide receiver Jalen Saunders, wide receiver Shaquelle Evans and offensive guard Dakota Dozier in the fourth; inside linebacker Jeremiah George in the fifth; and Dixon in the sixth.

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NFL Draft 2014: Jets pick inside linebacker Jeremiah George of Iowa State in fifth round (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_jets_pick_inside_linebacker_jeremiah_george_of_iowa_state_in_fifth_round.html

FLORHAM PARK – The Jets just made their lone fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft, and it was Jeremiah George, a 5-11, 234-pound inside linebacker from Iowa State.

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He is the first linebacker picked by the Jets in this draft. Last season, he led the Big 12 with 133 tackles, including 12 for a loss. He pulled a hamstring while running the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and had to sit out position drills.

George is an undersized player at a position where the Jets have two entrenched starters: middle linebacker David Harris and weak-side linebacker Demario Davis. Harris is 30 years old and Davis, a rising player, is entering his third season. The Jets’ strong-side linebacker, Calvin Pace, is coming off a 10-sack season (his career high), but he is 33.

George was the fifth round’s 14th pick, 154th overall. He could turn into a productive special teams player, much like the Jets' current top backup inside linebacker, Nick Bellore.

"Last year, we felt very fortunate to get by with only three inside linebackers (Harris, Davis and Bellore), where Nick Bellore had to back up both the mike and the will, to the point where we really didn't want to play (Bellore), because we had no more backups," said Jets coach Rex Ryan. "So here, (George) fits a role. We'll try to teach him both (inside linebacker spots). We'll flip both those guys (Bellore and George) and that's what you want to have, that kind of flexibility. We'll put (George) at both spots and maybe switch days where Nick is the (backup) mike one day maybe and just flip them, to make sure they have this whole thing down. Last year, we really felt we kind of dodged a bullet there."

As for George's size in the Jets' 3-4 defense, Ryan said, "Sometimes that can be overrated. Zach Thomas (5-11, 242 pounds) was one of the best linebackers in the league and he was much smaller in a 3-4."

George said he did not discuss his potential role with the Jets. In college, he mostly played middle linebacker. As a senior, he said, he expanded his duties and played more as an outside linebacker. At that position, he had to play in pass coverage, because of the type of offenses in his conference.

“I love being in coverage,” he said. “Playing in the Big 12, everybody loves to throw the ball 100 times a game.”

He chafed at the notion that being undersized will limit him.

“I’ve heard it my entire life,” he said. “But it doesn’t bother me at all. I know what I’m capable of. I know the skill sets that I have. I know my strengths. I know my weaknesses. My weaknesses also turn into my strengths, because if I know I’m not capable of going against this guy because he’s 115 more than me, then I’ll just use something else to counter that. Honestly, it’s never been an issue in my eyes. I play the game of football with my heart, not my height.”

The Jets have five picks remaining – four in the sixth round and one in the seventh. Three of their sixth-round picks are compensatory selections and, thus, cannot be traded.

So the Jets have just two picks left that can be traded. They tried to trade up Friday night, but now it appears there is a chance they could indeed use all 12 of their picks in this draft. The Jets entered the draft tied with the Rams for the most picks in the draft.

The Jets’ draft picks so far: safety Calvin Pryor in the first round; tight end Jace Amaro in the second; cornerback Dexter McDougle in the third, wide receiver Jalen Saunders, wide receiver Shaquelle Evans and offensive guard Dakota Dozier in the fourth; and George in the fifth.

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NFL Draft 2014: Jets pick Dakota Dozier, offensive tackle likely converting to guard, with third fourth-round selection (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger May 10, 2014

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http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_jets_pick_dakota_dozier_offensive_tackle_likely_converting_to_guard_with_third_fourth.html

FLORHAM PARK – The Jets on Saturday picked offensive guard Dakota Dozier of Furman with their third selection of Day 3 in the NFL Draft.

The pick was 137th overall and 37th in the fourth round. It was a compensatory selection and, thus, could not be traded.

Dozier is 6-4 and 313 pounds. He played four years of left tackle at Furman, but projects as an NFL guard. He is the first offensive lineman selected by the Jets in this draft.

Dozier had never played guard in high school or college until his final two games at Furman, which he started at guard as he prepared to make the transition. He also played guard in the East-West Shrine Game.

"My line coach at Furman, he made us learn our assignments at all the positions, not just tackle," Dozier said. "I knew all the guard stuff."

The toughest part of moving from tackle to guard?

"(The defensive linemen) are a little bigger, a smaller space, the contact is going to come a little quicker," Dozier said. "You’ve got to get in there, hold your anchor and go."

The Jets return their starting guards: Colon on the right side and Brian Winters on the left side. But Colon is 31 years old and coming off a biceps injury, and Winters struggled as a rookie last season and has yet to prove himself as a starter. Winters also played tackle in college, at Kent State, and had to move to guard in the NFL.

The Jets selected wide receivers with their first two fourth-round picks on Day 3. They have six picks remaining in this draft and are now halfway through their 12 selections. Their next one comes with the 14th pick of Round 5. It is their only pick in that round.

The Jets’ draft picks so far: safety Calvin Pryor in the first round, tight end Jace Amaro in the second, cornerback Dexter McDougle in the third, wide receiver Jalen Saunders, wide receiver Shaquelle Evans and Dozier in the fourth.

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NEW YORK POST

Jets tab Clemson quarterback Boyd (Brian Costello) New York Post May 11, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/05/11/jets-tab-clemson-quarterback-boyd/

The Jets took a player coach Rex Ryan is very familiar with in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday — quarterback Tajh Boyd of Clemson.

Ryan’s son, Seth, is a wide receiver at Clemson and played with Boyd last year. The Jets coach traveled to two games and watched the rest and knows Boyd well. The Jets had a long meeting with Boyd at the Senior Bowl and stayed on top of him throughout the recruiting process. The Jets traveled to Clemson last month to work Boyd out.

Boyd is a 6-foot, 222-pounder. He completed 283-of-413 passes for 3,851 yards with 34 touchdown and 11 interceptions and ran for 400 yards and 10 touchdowns.

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Ryan admitted it was his pick and said the Jets definitely had inside knowledge on Boyd.

“We probably had more insight to his character with my son being there,” Ryan said. “My son had a thing with his leadership. He said he was the leader of that program as far as a player is concerned. … He said if Tajh would have called a meeting at 2 a.m. the entire team would have been there.”

Boyd will give Matt Simms competition for the third quarterback spot this year and the Jets will hope he develops.

Jets general manager John Idzik surprised some people by using all 12 of the team’s draft picks, including nine Saturday, instead of packaging them in a trade to move up. Idzik said there were some chances to trade.

“As you get closer to your pick, your alternatives you have there versus moving, we felt very good about the players we selected,” Idzik said. “Did we have opportunities? Yeah, we had opportunities. We felt like the players we selected, it was not worth moving out of that pick. We’d rather have them as a Jet.”

The Jets bolstered their offensive line in the fourth round by taking Dakota Dozier out of Furman. He played tackle for four years in college, but will move inside to guard in the NFL.

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” Dozier said of the move. “My O-line coach at Furman, Coach [Scott] Smouse, he made us learn all assignments at all of the positions not just tackle, so I already knew all of the guard stuff and was able to play our last two playoff games at guard. That was really exciting. Then going out [at the] East-West [Game] playing guard as well. I really enjoyed the opportunity. I showed that I could do that as well. I’m just ready to come in and play wherever it is. I’m very excited to be a Jet.”

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Jets catching on: Trio of WRs join Gang on final day of draft (Brian Costello) New York Post May 10, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/05/10/jets-catching-on-first-two-picks-of-day-3-are-wrs/

The Jets waited until Day 3 of the NFL Draft to take a wide receiver, but they wasted no time grabbing two and added another later.

The Jets selected wide receivers Jalen Saunders of Oklahoma and Shaq Evans of UCLA in the fourth round of the draft. They added Quincy Enunwa of Nebraska in the sixth round.

After finishing 31st in passing offense last year, the Jets had to address the position. They signed Eric Decker and Jacoby Ford as free agents and took tight end Jace Amaro in the second round, but still needed to add some help at receiver.

Now, the Jets feel like they have some depth at the position, something that has been lacking for several years.

“I love the group,” coach Rex Ryan said of his receivers. “I think the group is so deep now. … It’s going to be extremely competitive. I think that will be great for us. … I think it’s a deep group where last year, obviously, we were bringing in guys left and right. This one we’re deep going into it and let the competition begin.”

The Jets, who had nine picks in the final four rounds, made another splash in the sixth round when they took Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, who will compete with Matt Simms for the No. 3 job. Boyd, who played with Ryan’s son Seth at Clemson, set the ACC record with 107 touchdown passes.

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Saunders is a 5-foot-9 speedster who can return kicks and play some slot receiver. He caught 61 passes for 729 yards and eight touchdowns last year for the Sooners. He also returned 31 career punts for 465 yards and three touchdowns.

“He is smaller in stature, but he’s as tough as they come,” senior director of college scouting Terry Bradway said. “You go watch him play. He has no fear. He’s blocking bigger guys. He’s breaking some tackles. He’s a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands, too. He brings that return element. It was really an attractive pick for us.”

The Jets may be looking for someone to replace Jeremy Kerley in 2015, when he is scheduled to become a free agent.

Here is what NFL.com’s Nolan Nawrocki said about Saunders: “Saunders is a lightweight, quickert-than-fast, competitive slot receiver and punt returner. Will always have size limitations, but has the hands, suddenness, polish and moxie to be a useful piece for a creative offensive coordinator able to free him up. Return ability adds to value.”

Saunders began his career at Fresno State, but transferred in 2012. Despite his small stature, Saunders vowed to play big.

“I would describe my playing style like a gorilla,” Saunders said. “I’m a savage on that field. I would say between a gorilla and a terrier, a pet dog or a terrier. They’re real small and people don’t expect too much from them. They always like to fight and always like to play around. That’s just the type of player I am. I’m real feisty. I’m going to get the ball and if you tell me to go block the defender, I’m going to go block them and try to ear-hole them. I’m just going to do my best. I love to compete. That’s just the way I am. I’ve always been that way.”

Evans began his career at Notre Dame then transferred to UCLA in 2010. He was the Bruins’ leading receiver for the last two years. In 2013, he had 47 catches for 709 yards and nine touchdowns.

Here is Nawrocki’s scouting report: “Good-sized, sure-handed possession receiver with the toughness to work through the middle and catch in a crowd. Can make a living as a zone-beating, move-the-chains target.”

Evans does not have top-line speed but still managed to get open deep at UCLA.

“The way I play, I play with a lot heart, a lot of passion and I’m a team player,” Evans said. “And I’m a guy that can go out there and do whatever you need me to do: Catch a check-down pass, catch a deep pass and a guy that’s also going to block for you and just be an ultimate team player. So, that’s the type of player I am.”

Enunwa is another big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-2. He caught 51 passes for 753 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2013 and was the Cornhuskers’ team captain.

The selection of three receivers puts the heat on third-year Jet Stephen Hill, whose production has been limited.

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

NFL draft: NY Jets lands Clemson QB Tajh Boyd and pair of speedy wideouts (Seth Walder) New York Daily News May 10, 2014

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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-draft-oklahoma-wr-jalen-saunders-4th-article-1.1787303

The Jets already had a little extra insight on their newest quarterback when they drafted him in the sixth round Saturday. Gang Green selected Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, a college teammate of Rex Ryan’s son, Seth Ryan, with the 213th overall pick.

Seth is a wide receiver on the Tigers squad, and it’s quite clear that had a big impact on Boyd landing with the Jets. Asked if he had been given a pick by GM John Idzik in this year’s draft, the head coach said, “I think we all know my pick,” referring to Boyd.

Ryan got some inside information from his son on Boyd’s leadership abilities.

“My son had a thing about his leadership ... he said he was the leader of that program, as far as a player is concerned,” Rex Ryan said. “He said if Tajh would have called a meeting at 2 a.m., the entire football team would have been there.”

Both Idzik and Ryan were at Clemson’s pro day, and the Jets flew down to Clemson in April to see Boyd again.

On Saturday afternoon, Boyd was sitting in a car in Clemson, S.C., with a hat over his head as the draft wore on, a little frustrated at not having been selected. Then he got a call from Rex Ryan, and the feeling washed away.

He joins a quarterback group of Geno Smith, Michael Vick and Matt Simms. The drafting of Boyd could be trouble for Simms, who served as Smith’s backup last season and showed progress. Smith and Vick are set to be in competition for the starting job. Boyd will presumably compete for the No. 3 quarterback job with Simms, though Boyd said he wasn’t sure what his role would be.

Boyd said he would try to make the most of any opportunity, but of course, he wants to play. “I don’t pride myself on going to be the backup for anybody, I want to come out here, I want to compete,” Boyd said on a Google+ hangout after he was drafted.

Boyd already knows Vick; the two are from the same area in Virginia. “Michael was like a mentor to me throughout this whole process ... as a kid, he was my idol,” Boyd said.

Quarterback wasn’t exactly a need for the Jets, but since the position is unsettled, it’s not surprising they would take a young QB again.

Boyd completed 68.5% of his passes at Clemson last season, throwing for 34 TDs and being intercepted 11 times. Boyd was a team captain and was the ACC player of the year in 2012. He did have the benefit of throwing to the best receiving prospect in the draft class, Sammy Watkins, who is now with the division rival Buffalo Bills.

The Jets got their fourth round started with back-to-back receivers in small but quick Jalen Saunders out of Oklahoma, followed by UCLA wideout Shaq Evans. Saunders is 5-9, 165 pounds. Jeremy Kerley is currently entrenched as the slot receiver. Since Saunders is likely too small to play outside, he presumably would be unlikely to start opposite Eric Decker. Despite his small size, Saunders had an interesting way to describe to his style of play. “I would describe my playing style like a gorilla,” Saunders said. “I’m a savage on that field. I would say between a gorilla and a terrier, a pet dog or a terrier. They’re real small and people don’t expect too much from them.”

The Jets also selected G Dakota Dozier (Furman), ILB Jeremiah George (Iowa St.), CB Brandon Dixon (Northwest Missouri St.), WR Quincy Enunwa (Nebraska), DE IK Enemkpali (Louisiana Tech) and OLB Trevor Reilly (Utah).

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JETS PICKS ROUNDS 4-7

JALEN SAUNDERS

Fourth Round, Pick No. 104

School: Oklahoma

Hometown: Elk Grove, Calif.

Position: WR

Ht./Wt.: 5-9/165

Strengths: He provides good insurance as a shifty slot receiver in case Jeremy Kerley isn’t re-signed after the 2014 season. He could be a good punt returner.

Weaknesses: His slight frame won’t allow him to play outside. He could have durability issues. Was arrested in 2012 for marijuana possession.

SHAQ EVANS

Fourth Round, Pick No. 115

School: UCLA

Hometown: Inglewood, Calif.

Position: WR

Height/Weight: 6-1, 213

Strengths: His size and good hands could make him a good possession receiver who can play in traffic in the middle of the field.

Weaknesses: Struggles with beating man coverage and lacks long speed.

DAKOTA DOZIER

Fourth Round, Pick No. 137

School: Furman

Hometown: W. Columbia, S.C.

Position: G

Height/Weight: 6-3, 313

Strengths: He has a solid frame and strong lower body that makes him a solid run blocker.

Weaknesses: He’ll have to improve his pass protection as he makes the adjustment from college left tackle to the interior line. He’ll need to improve his footwork and hand techniques.

JEREMIAH GEORGE

Fifth Round, Pick No. 154

School: Iowa State

Hometown: Clearwater, Fla.

Position: ILB

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Height/Weight: 5-11, 234 pounds

Strengths: He has the requisite strength (28 reps on the bench press at the Combine) and gives maximum effort. He has a great work ethic.

Weaknesses: He is undersized and sometimes overpursues.

BRANDON DIXON

Sixth Round, Pick No. 195

School: Northwest Missouri State

Hometown: Pompano Beach, Fla.

Position: S/CB

Height/Weight: 5-11/203

Strengths: He has good size, toughness and durability. Could be a special teams contributor if he makes Jets.

Weaknesses: He’s not explosive. He will need to improve his ability to absorb complex principles as he makes the jump from Division 2.

QUINCY ENUNWA

Sixth Round, Pick No. 209

School: Nebraska

Hometown: Moreno Valley, Calif.

Position: WR

Height/Weight: 6-2, 225 pounds

Strengths: He has great size with long arms. He has leadership traits and a good motor.

Weaknesses: He isn’t a fluid route runner.

IK ENEMKPALI

Sixth Round, Pick No. 210

School: Louisiana Tech

Hometown: Pflugerville, Tex.

Position: DE/OLB

Height/Weight: 6-0, 261 pounds

Strengths: He is a physical player with excellent character.

Weaknesses: He needs to improve football instincts.

TAJH BOYD

Sixth Round, Pick No. 213

School: Clemson

Hometown: Hampton, Va.

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Position: QB

Height/Weight: 6-0, 222 pounds

Strengths: He’s a high-character leader with excellent mobility. He has a great arm and good composure.

Weaknesses: He is undersized and needs to be a better decision-maker. He will need time to adapt to a pro-style offense.

TREVOR REILLY

Seventh Round, Pick No. 233

School: Utah

Hometown: Valley Center, Calif.

Position: OLB

Height/Weight: 6-4, 245 pounds

Strengths: He has toughness and solid tackling ability with a competitive streak.

Weaknesses: He’s 26 after serving on a two-year Mormon mission. He lacks elite athleticism.

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Smalltown hero! NY Jets' top pick Calvin Pryor has always been the big fish of Port St. Joe (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News May 10, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-calvin-prior-big-fish-port-st-joe-article-1.1787446

The Haughty Heron, a happening spot next to the Piggly Wiggly on Florida’s Forgotten Coast, was buzzing with nervous energy Thursday night for Port St. Joe’s favorite son.

The legend of Calvin Pryor grows each day in this pint-sized town off the Gulf of Mexico, filled with athletic feats on grass, dirt and hardwood that sometimes turn honest men into fibbers.

The kid known simply as Third in this blue-collar place with a population of under 3,500 belongs to them. A thousand or so friends and neighbors gathered at the outside patio by the marina, wondering where he would go next.

“You would have thought he was running for President,” said Derek Kurnitsky, who was Pryor’s high school basketball coach.

Before the Jets drafted the hard-hitting former Louisville safety in the first round to bring a fear factor to Rex Ryan’s secondary, the people of Port St. Joe crossed their fingers.

“If you wanted to rob a bank, Thursday night was the time to do it,” Kurnitsky said. “It was like a ghost town at 10 o’clock. Everybody was watching the draft.”

* * *

There was only one plausible explanation: He must have fallen out of the sky.

How else could a 5-11 point guard block a dunk attempt by a guy nearly a foot taller?

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Pryor was playing out of position in the post against 6-10 center Chris Walker, a future McDonald’s All American, in the Florida 2A regional championship.

Undaunted by the size disparity, Pryor challenged Walker, who was going strong to the basket early in the game. Pryor left his feet and rejected the rim-rocking attempt into the fifth row.

“It was the cleanest block you’ve ever seen… and they called a foul,” Kurnitsky said. “It was just his way of making a statement like, ‘Dude, you ain’t coming in here tonight.’”

Pryor has a fearless strand in his DNA, confidence instilled in him long ago. The people in his hometown emboldened him.

When Kurnitsky first stumbled upon the kid in the gym of Port St. Joe Junior and Senior High School, the 12-year-old delivered a not-so-subtle message.

“Hi, I’m Third Man,” the boy said. “I’m going to play on your varsity team as a freshman.”

It was bold, brash and funny.

“No you’re not,” Kurnitsky said with a laugh. “I don’t play freshmen on the varsity.”

“Yes, I am,” said Third, whose nickname seemed natural since he shared a name with his daddy and grandfather.

And he was right. Pryor was a four-year starter on the varsity basketball team.

“As a sixth grader, he knew how good he was,” the coach said.

It would not be the last time that Pryor proved a point.

* * *

T.C. Brewer didn’t really think that the school’s star athlete would follow through on his pledge.

So, when Pryor, a two-sport stud in basketball and football, walked up to him in the spring of his sophomore year to let him know that he wanted to play for his baseball team the following year, the coach didn’t exactly do backflips. Seeing was believing.

When Pryor, who hadn’t picked up a bat or glove in years, showed up on the diamond the following spring, one of Brewer’s assistants suggested putting him on the jayvee team to iron out the rust.

“This is Calvin Pryor,” Brewer matter-of-factly told his assistant coach. “He’s not playing junior varsity.”

Brewer stuck Pryor out in right field before quickly realizing the error of his ways during a preseason scrimmage. He was way too good to be hidden out there.

“He ran what seemed like a 30-yard sprint to the foul pole,” Brewer said. “It was a line drive that probably shouldn’t have been caught, but he got to the ball so quickly in the corner of the outfield. I looked over at my assistant and moved him immediately to center.”

Major league scouts had been flocking to town to check out prospect Roman Quinn, who would be drafted by the Phillies in the second round in 2011, when they became interested in Pryor’s potential.

“He was pretty raw,” Brewer said. “But he was clutch, man. If you needed a big hit, it was him.”

A Houston Astros scout suggested that Pryor could be a late-round draft pick, but spring football beckoned. He batted over .400 as a junior, but never played again.

“He just wanted to prove to everybody that he could do it,” Brewer said. “Now he had bigger and better things to do.”

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* * *

The collision sounded like a thunderclap.

Pryor had been a two-way star for football coach Vern Bath, doling out punishment as a safety and running back, when a jarring helmet-to-helmet hit with Alabama recruit Eddie Williams one Friday night left everyone in hushed silence. Pryor took a handoff before smacking into the defensive back. They both fell to the ground, motionless.

Pryor’s reputation preceded him, but he desperately wanted to make sure that everyone was fully aware that there was only one top dog in that game. His high school football resume included a legal, but frightening blow to the back of a tight end one night. That poor kid writhed in pain seemingly forever before safely walking off.

Pryor was used to inflicting pain, not receiving it. This time was different.

“Oh boy,” Barth thought. “This could be bad for both of them.”

After a few minutes, Pryor and Williams both got up.

“It was a test,” Barth said. “They were both trying to establish who was the big guy on the field.”

Barth had a message for Pryor when he went to the sideline.

“Hey, Third,” he said. “We don’t need to show everybody who the stud is on this field.”

Pryor winked.

“I know, Coach,” he said. “But I just had to let everybody know.”

Soon, the college football world would know too.

* * *

The 55,000 people packed into Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium provided the soundtrack with a collective gasp on the second offensive play on that Thursday night in October.

Pryor had just lowered his left shoulder with a running start into J.J. Worton, a teeth-rattling blow that sent the Central Florida wide receiver flat on his back. Jets general manager John Idzik, who flew to Kentucky for the game, took notice.

“When you see an impact like that and someone goes down like that, first you wonder, ‘Is he ok?’” Pryor said of delivering violent hits. “That’s the type of person I am. I care for people. At the same time football is a physical and a tough game. You have to play fearless.”

Pryor was Chuck Norris in shoulder pads for head coach Charlie Strong, the embodiment of controlled chaos, a big hitter with an appetite for violent collisions.

“He set the tone,” said Strong, who coached Pryor for all three years before taking the head coaching job at Texas in January. “You got to be good right down the middle of your defense, from the nose guard, to the middle backer to the free safety. And he was definitely that for us.”

“I want to be like Brian Dawkins,” Pryor would tell Strong of the retired Pro Bowl safety who routinely delivered jarring body blows.

Strong liked to play him close to the line of scrimmage, but didn’t shy away from moving him around downfield.

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“He can play in space,” Strong said. “That’s not an issue. Any time you get an athlete like that, they can handle it.”

Pryor’s hard hits will live on YouTube forever, but his football I.Q. will give him longevity in the league.

“It’s all business with him,” Strong said. “When it’s time to go to work, it’s time to go to work.”

* * *

Loyalty is a strand that bonds the people of Port St. Joe. The closest Wal-Mart and movie theatre are an hour away. It’s lost on a map, a fishing outpost filled with hard-working, blue-collar folks who take care of each other.

Fall Friday nights matter. High school basketball games matter. Kids like Third matter.

As Pryor sat with his parents, two sisters and daughter inside a building filled with more people than the population of his hometown, his extended family waited 1,200 miles away to learn his fate. They had watched him on a football field, baseball diamond or basketball court. Now, they were watching the oversized television at the Haughty Heron.

Two hours after the draft began, the wait was over.

“When the Jets picked him,” Kurnitsky said, “this little town went crazy.”

Third may have found a new place to play, but he’ll always have one home.

“That’s the place that made me who I am today,” Pryor said. “Everything I’ve gotten to this point has been earned, not given. So I’m proud to say I’m from Port St. Joe.”

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NEW YORK TIMES

A Bushel of Selections Allows the Jets to Build Depth in the Later Rounds (Ben Shpigel) New York Times May 10, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/sports/football/a-bushel-of-selections-allows-the-jets-to-build-depth-in-the-later-rounds.html?ref=football&_r=0

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Soon after the Jets made their final draft selection Saturday, Coach Rex Ryan spoke for every coach or general manager or scouting director in the league.

“Did we get everybody we wanted?” he said. “As far as you guys know, we did.”

This was at the end of a long day, a long weekend, a long evaluation process for the Jets, who entered the draft with 12 picks and used them all. General Manager John Idzik craved volume and, by extension, flexibility. He had chances to move up. He had opportunities to move down. Despite his efforts, the Jets did neither.

What resulted was the team’s largest draft haul since 1998, a group split evenly between offense and defense and one that, to various degrees, addressed the Jets’ needs.

They took receivers and cornerbacks late, pass-catching tight ends and hard-hitting safeties early, and naturally, Idzik and his staff were delighted with each and every one: the 5-foot-9 receiver who compared himself to a gorilla, a savage and a terrier; the quarterback who threw passes in practice to Ryan’s son; the 26-year-old linebacker who served as a Mormon missionary in Sweden. All of the draft picks, Idzik said, shared three common traits: aggressiveness, passion and strong character.

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It will take years before the Jets learn whether they mined a bonanza of talent, but they came away confident that they had discovered potential starters and contributors. Their director for college scouting, Jeff Bauer, said he had been more excited for the later rounds than he had been for the first two days. That was because, he said, they knew the back of this draft better than in any year before.

The expectations for players taken on the draft’s first two days are higher. The Jets’ three early selections — safety Calvin Pryor, tight end Jace Amaro and cornerback Dex McDougle — are counted on to assume important roles. But for Bauer, the Saturday picks, all nine of them, are, in some ways, more important. Even if he was comfortable saying that the quality of the draft would allow the Jets to unearth starters in the later rounds, building depth and adding strong special-teamers — both of which were deficiencies last season — are just as critical.

Of the three receivers taken, none seem likely to evolve into the type of player the Jets could still use — a field-stretching threat on the outside — to complement Eric Decker and, in the slot, Jeremy Kerley. They tried to move up in the second round Friday to nab Marqise Lee but failed.

But all of them — Jalen Saunders from Oklahoma, Shaq Evans from U.C.L.A. and Quincy Enunwa from Nebraska — will provide competition for Stephen Hill, David Nelson and the tier of players not named Decker or Kerley.

Saunders, the first of the Jets’ three fourth-round picks, drew raves from the senior director for college scouting, Terry Bradway, for his toughness and blocking. Saunders likened his approach to a terrier, insisting that he could play bigger than his 5-9 and 175 pounds.

“They’re real small, and people don’t expect too much from them,” Saunders, who was an explosive punt returner at Oklahoma, said of the dogs. “They always like to fight and always like to play around.”

The Jets added some much-needed depth along the offensive line with Dakota Dozier, a fourth-round pick from Furman, and in their linebacking corps with Jeremiah George, a fifth-rounder from Iowa State who could be an asset on special teams. Despite adding McDougle and, later, Brandon Dixon in the sixth round, the Jets still lack a natural cornerback to play opposite Dee Milliner.

Also in the sixth round, the team took a player Ryan knows well: quarterback Tajh Boyd of Clemson, where Ryan’s son, Seth, is a freshman walk-on receiver. It was Seth who offered Ryan and the Jets a scouting report. “He said if Tajh would have called a meeting at 2 a.m.,” Ryan said, relaying Seth’s impression, “the entire football team would have been there.”

Boyd, who is likely to compete with Matt Simms for the No. 3 job, grew up in the same area of Virginia where Michael Vick did and said he considered Vick a mentor. The Jets chose Boyd with their fourth pick of the sixth round, three slots after taking a pass-rushing defensive end, IK Enemkpali from Louisiana Tech. Michael Sam, who is openly gay, plays the same position and is a similar size, and had not yet been picked by St. Louis.

Idzik, asked why the Jets had chosen Enemkpali instead of Sam, said he did not want to discuss players they had not selected or to compare them.

“Obviously, we felt very good about IK and that he has a chance to fit a role here, come in and compete,” Idzik said.

With their final selection, the Jets chose Trevor Reilly, a versatile linebacker from Utah who said he thought his age and injury history (knee) had scared teams off. Idzik did not disagree, but he was not deterred.

“In all 12 occurrences,” he said, “we were happy with the players that were there.”

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ESPN NEW YORK

Rex Ryan: Son helped in picking QB (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York May 10, 2014

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/10914302/2014-nfl-draft-rex-ryan-says-tajh-boyd-pick-was-helped-son?ex_cid=espnapi_public

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Armed with inside knowledge from a source close to the head coach -- his son -- the New York Jets selected former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd in the sixth round of the NFL draft on Saturday.

Rex Ryan's son, Seth, is a freshman wide receiver at Clemson, and that allowed him to develop a relationship with Boyd. It was Ryan who pulled the trigger with the 213th overall choice, the 11th of 12 draft picks for the Jets. Ryan likes to say he gets to make one draft pick a year.

"I think we all know my pick," a smiling Ryan said at the conclusion of the draft. "I can't lie about that. It's pretty obvious."

Ryan acknowledged that the unusual situation allowed them to get a better feel for Boyd, a record-breaking quarterback whose pro stock slipped during his senior year.

"We probably had more insight into his character with my son being there," Ryan said. "My son talked about his leadership. He said he was the leader of that program as far as a player is concerned. He said that if Tajh called a meeting at 2 a.m., the entire football team would've been there. That speaks about the type of person he is. We're excited to bring Tajh here and let him compete."

The Jets have four quarterbacks on the roster. Boyd will compete with Matt Simms for the No.3 job, behind Geno Smith and Michael Vick. Boyd grew up in the same area of Virginia as Vick and considers him a mentor. He said he consulted with Vick before making his decision to return for his senior year.

Boyd said he was sitting in his car, the seat reclined, a hat pulled over his eyes, dozing off, when he received a call from a New Jersey area code. It was Ryan.

"He said, 'How'd you like to be a Jet?' " Boyd said. "It was probably the most refreshing call and the most exciting call I've received in my life."

Boyd admitted the long wait was difficult. He was the 13th quarterback chosen in the draft.

"Half those guys I beat in games," he said. "It was a little frustrating, but once you get the call it all goes away."

Boyd was a three-year starter, compiled a 32-8 record and passed for nearly 12,000 yards and 107 touchdowns. He considered himself a top-10 or top-15 prospect, but he sensed his pro stock started to slip when he lost at home to Florida State last season. He followed that with an "OK performance" at the Senior Bowl.

Suddenly, "it seems like everything at Clemson goes to waste," he said.

But the Jets were impressed by Boyd's pro day. Terry Bradway, their senior director of college scouting, called it "as fine a quarterback workout as there might have been all spring. He was really on. He threw the ball great." The coaches met privately with Boyd and were taken by his leadership qualities.

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Boyd said he's not comfortable being a backup, but won't complain, of course. There will be a steep learning curve because he has to learn a pro-style offense.

"It's going to take some time, but we have three other quarterbacks on the roster," said Jeff Bauer, the Jets' director of college scouting. "Eventually, he'll get it. He's a smart kid. He'll learn."

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New York Jets draft wrap-up (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York May 10, 2014

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/38799/jets-draft-wrap-up?ex_cid=espnapi_public

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- A wrap-up of the New York Jets' draft. Click here for a full list of Jets draftees.

Best move: Safety Calvin Pryor in the first round was a solid move. It came as a mild surprise because of their previous philosophy at the position. Rex Ryan always treated his safeties as interchangeable parts, saving the big money for the cornerbacks. Now they are trying to copy-cat the champion Seattle Seahawks, recognizing the importance of safeties in the current NFL. Let's face it, the Jets' safeties were mediocre at best last season, so they needed a playmaker. Pryor isn't a ballhawk, but he's a hard-hitting enforcer who will bring attitude to the secondary, the weak link on defense. He was a a good value at No. 18 overall. They could have used a cornerback in Round 1, but their scouts believe Pryor has enough athleticism and range to hold up in pass coverage. Pryor will be a Week 1 starter, mark it down.

Riskiest move: Third-round cornerback Dex McDougle missed the final nine games last season because of shoulder surgery. So, yes, he qualifies as a risk. Cornerback is the last place they needed another durability question; remember, they signed the injury-prone Dimitri Patterson in free agency -- and he's a likely starter. With McDougle, the Jets are making a projection based on his junior tape -- but it's not like he lit up in the ACC in 2012. He displayed ball skills in the first three games of '13 (three picks), but the competition was highly suspect. At 5-foot-10, he'll have trouble matching up against the big receivers. The Jets' scouts were giddy after watching his pro day (he ran the 40 in 4.43 seconds), but great pro days don't always translate to the field. McDougle doesn't solve the concerns at cornerback.

Most surprising move: We'll call this most surprising non-move. The Jets went into the draft with 12 picks and came out with 12 players -- not a single trade, reinforcing John Idzik's reputation as a conservative general manager. Naturally, he was satisfied with the outcome, but this was curious draft management. The Jets squandered a rare opportunity. They could have used the extra ammunition to jump other teams, allowing them to cherry-pick players they really wanted. They tried to trade up in the second round for wide receiver Marqise Lee, but they couldn't get a deal done. Right now, their draft haul includes a handful of small-school players and undersized talents for their respective positions. You can't help but wonder if they could have done better. Of course, their passive approach will be forgotten if it turns into a watershed draft for the Jets.

File it away: The wild card is second-round tight end Jace Amaro. He was the most prolific pass-catching tight end in college football, but were his gaudy statistics (106 catches for 1,352 yards in 2013) the product of Texas Tech's pass-happy offense? It will be fascinating to see it play out because, if the Jets are right about him, they will have a legitimate threat at a position that has been a black hole in their passing attack. No one is expecting him to be the next Jimmy Graham, but if he can be a poor man's Graham, the Jets' passing game -- ranked 31st last season -- will be dramatically improved. It might take time, though. Amaro faces a potentially difficult transition into a pro-style offense. He's not a blocker, so it will be up to coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to scheme up ways to feature his strengths.

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NJ.COM

Tajh Boyd: Scouting report on the Jets' fourth sixth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/tajh_boyd_scouting_report_on_the_jets_fourth_sixth-round_pick.html

Name: Tajh Boyd

Position: Quarterback

College: Clemson

Height/Weight: 6-1, 222

Stats: Started 40 of 47 games played in college career. Set Clemson records with 901 completions in 1,402 attempts, 11,904 passing yards, 107 touchdowns, 39 interceptions. Completion percentage of 64.27 is also a school record. Led Clemson to victory in last season's Orange Bowl.

Projected fit: Boyd could make the team as the Jets' third-string quarterback behind GenoMichaelSmithVick. Jets head coach Rex Ryan makes one draft pick annually, and he went with Boyd, a teammate of Ryan's son, Seth, a Clemson walk-on. "I think we all know my pick," Ryan said after the draft. "I can’t lie about that. It was pretty obvious." Was thought to be a possible first-round pick until a disastrous loss last season to Florida State caused his stock to plummet.

Strengths: Can throw deep or underneath when not under pressure. Good at escaping a rush and making plays with his feet. Personable, likable guy with leadership ability.

Weaknesses: Undersized, accuracy needs improvement, inconsistent, widely credited with benefiting from playing with NFL-type talent at Clemson, which must be tough for scouts to truly gauge.

Character issues: None.

Experts' breakdowns:

• NFL.com: "A short, stocky, fairly nifty, strong-armed quarterback most ideally suited for a vertical-power system. Projects best as a career backup or No. 3 quarterback in the pros and compares very favorably to Ravens 2007 fifth-rounder Troy Smith."

• Draft Insider: "Boyd was a tremendous college quarterback who approaches the game in a professional matter. In the end, he's a developmental prospect who must improve his throwing mechanics and accuracy before he'll ever get a chance to line up behind center in the NFL."

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IK Enemkpali: Scouting report on the Jets' third sixth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/ik_enemkpali_scouting_report_on_the_jets_third_sixth-round_pick.html

Name: IK Enemkpali

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Position: Defensive end

College: Louisiana Tech

Height/Weight: 6-1, 261

Stats: First-team all-Conference USA. As a senior, had 47 total tackles, including 11 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks. Also had two interceptions, making him one of two defensive linemen in the country to record multiple interceptions. Full name is Ikemefuna Chinedum Enemkpali.

Projected fit: Enemkpali is an edge rusher the Jets can convert from a defensive end to an outside linebacker.

Strengths: Plays with nastiness, tough, strong, studies the game.

Weaknesses: Stiffness in his movements, which takes away from his speed and power.

Character issues: None.

Experts' breakdowns:

• NFL.com: "A strong, tenacious, tightly wound leverage-power rusher most ideally suited for a 3-4 outside linebacker role. Will require patience to develop. Has a high-collision special-teams temperament to contribute in coverage if he can learn to unlock his hips."

• Draft Insider: "Enemkpali is a natural pass rusher whose game took off last season. He comes with poor measurables but can be a situational rusher out of a three-point stance or standing up over tackle."

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Quincy Enunwa: Scouting report on the Jets' second sixth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/quincy_enunwa_scouting_report_on_the_jets_second_sixth-round_pick.html

Name: Quincy Enunwa

Position: Wide receiver

College: Nebraska

Height/Weight: 6-2, 225

Stats: One of four team captains. Caught 51 passes for 753 yards and a school-record 12 TDs as a senior. Caught a 99-yard TD pass in Gator Bowl win over Georgia.

Projected fit: Enunwa gives the Jets a big receiving target, but he could make the roster as a fourth or fifth option at receiver.

Strengths: Has size, long arms, strength, leaping ability. At Nebraska, Enunwa played in the west coast offense, the same system the Jets utilize.

Weaknesses: Not especially fast, has tendency to catch ball with body.

Character issues: None.

Experts' breakdown:

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• NFL.com: "Big, tough, athletic, West Coast receiver who broke out as a senior. Has a mixture of "Z" and "X" traits and could even be viewed as a developmental H-back prospect."

• NFL Draft Scout: "Enunwa lacks elite route quickness and burst in his breaks, but he has some deceiving speed down the field, subtle moves to hold defenders and does a nice job locating and attacking the ball—just needs to do it more consistently, dropping some easy grabs. He needs some technique work as a blocker, but is more than willing and knows how to use his body on the football field. Enunwa has strong intangibles with experience on special teams and has the skill-set to stick on the roster as a No. 4 or 5 WR. Late round option."

• Draft insider: "Enunwa comes with solid size and speed numbers and has flashed the ability to take control of games but shows little consistency in his play. He's a possession receiver with sneaky speed and a prospect who really needs to complete his game before he'll be NFL ready."

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NFL draft 2014: GM John Idzik declines to say why Jets passed on Michael Sam (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_gm_john_idzik_declines_to_say_why_jets_passed_on_michael_sam.html

FLORHAM PARK -- At the end of the sixth round of the NFL draft, the Jets had three selections to make. They still had a need to fill with a pass-rusher, and Michael Sam, the NFL's first openly gay draft prospect, was still on the board.

Sam, a defensive end from the University of Missouri, was never going to be a high draft pick. But he did have a chance to be picked on Saturday at some point in rounds four through seven.

Back in February, I had argued that Sam could be a good late-round addition for the Jets. And at pick No. 210 at the end of the sixth round, the Jets did indeed draft a defensive end.

Only it was IK Enemkpali of Louisiana Tech.

Enemkpali and Sam are similar in size—Sam is 6-foot-2, 261 pounds; Enemkpali is 6-1, 261—but at least two draft experts had Enemkpali ranked lower than Sam.

That fact was not lost on Outsports co-founder Cyd Zeigler, who back in February had helped arrange Sam's announcement that he was gay:

@CydZeigler – Jets just selected DE Ik Enemkpali, from NFL.com rated below #MichaelSam. Doesn’t tell the story, but it’s interesting. 5:15 PM – 10 May 2014

Pre-draft rankings do not indicate how a given team views a player, of course. But Zeigler was right about this much: The Jets' decision was interesting.

The Jets held a press conference after they were done making all nine of their picks on Saturday. At the time, the draft wasn't yet over and Sam hadn't yet been picked by any team. Jets general manager John Idzik was asked about why the team went with Enemkpali instead of Sam.

"I don't know that we'll get into guys that we considered and comparing them against guys [we picked]," Idzik said. "We felt very good about IK. He has a chance to fit a role here, come in and compete. So we're happy to have him on board."

Minutes later, the question would turn out to be moot. Sam wound up making history when the St. Louis Rams grabbed him with the 249th pick, only seven selections before the end of the draft.

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Brandon Dixon: Scouting report on the Jets' first sixth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/brandon_dixon_scouting_report_on_the_jets_first_sixth-round_pick.html

Name: Brandon Dixon

Position: Cornerback

College: Northwest Missouri State

Height/Weight: 5-11, 203

Stats: Had 36 tackles, 11 pass breakups, one interception in 2013 while playing for NCAA Division II national champions. Began college career at Joliet (Ill.) Junior College.

Projected fit: The Jets get another corner, but unlike Dexter McDougle, whom they took in the third round, Dixon is bigger and stronger. Dixon also can play special teams.

Strengths: Size, length, toughness, willingness to dig in and tackle.

Weaknesses: Played against lesser competition, can struggle to locate ball, lacks explosion, and elite speed.

Character issues: None.

Experts' breakdowns:

• NFL.com: "Big, athletic, Division II standout and JUCO product whose size, length and physicality will appeal to teams in search of a developmental press corner. Could also be viewed as a potential safety conversion, but does not exhibit requisite instincts and dependability as a tackler."

• NFL Draft Scout: "Dixon is an interesting player in that he clearly has the physical traits of a BCS prospect with excellent size and speed that translate well to the press-cover skills teams are increasingly valuing in the NFL. He was credited with a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine - the fifth-fastest of all cornerback at the event. But having played in Division II after twice failing to qualify academically, Dixon will have to make a significant jump in competition to prove he can succeed in the NFL. He also must vastly improve his recognition and ball skills, as right now he lacks instincts and technique that will make it difficult to be anything more than a developmental prospect."

• Draft Insider: "Dixon displayed steady progress the past two seasons and comes with a large amount of upside. He was a solid special-teams player in college and projects as a dime back/coverage unit ace."

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Jeremiah George: Scouting report on the Jets' fifth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/jeremiah_george_scouting_report_on_the_jets_fifth-round_pick.html

Name: Jeremiah George

Position: Inside linebacker

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College: Iowa State

Height/Weight: 5-11, 234

Stats: Co-captain who was first-team all-Big 12. Led Big 12 in tackles per game (11.1), which ranked fourth nationally. Also had 12 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks.

Projected fit: The Jets are set with Demario Davis and David Harris as their starting inside linebackers, so George is being brought in for depth and to play special teams.

Strengths: Plays with a lot of energy, has a good burst, and lots of strength. From NFL.com: "Has the makeup of a special-teams terror."

Weaknesses: Lack of size, has tendency to react too much, runs around blocks, average speed in open field.

Character issues: None.

Experts' breakdowns:

• NFL.com: "Undersized, run-and-hit linebacker most ideally suited for a special-teams role. Lack of size will relegate him to a fast-flowing 4-3 under front, where he could be best on the weak side where action is funneled to him and he has a clean path to the ball."

• NFL Draft Scout: "He took over a starting job as a junior and was third on the team with 87 tackles to go with four tackles for loss and three pass break ups. That foreshadowed a senior season in which George earned first team All-Big 12 honors, leading the conference and ranking fourth nationally with an average of 11.1 tackles per game. George earned an invitation to the Scouting Combine, where he posted a 4.83 40-yard dash and 28 reps on the 225-pound bench press. Disappointed with his timed speed, George ran again at his pro day and was clocked at a much better 4.66 seconds to go with 30 reps and a 38 1/2-inch vertical."

• Draft Insider: "George took off at an incredible rate the past two seasons and has enough skill to line up on the inside of a 3-4 alignment in the NFL. He plays with a special teams mentality, which is added value."

• Cole Patterson, Turn on the Jets: "He should immediately become a special teams star with his speed and tenacity. He could eventually be groomed to start in the middle but his limitations are not easily improved. There were some solid linebackers still available (Shayne Skov/Chris Smith) and picking George this high was a reach."

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Dakota Dozier: Scouting report on the Jets' third fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/dakota_dozier_scouting_the_jets_third_fourth-round_pick.html

Name: Dakota Dozier

Position: Tackle/Guard

College: Furman

Height/Weight: 6-4, 313

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Stats: Team captain and MVP at Furman, a FCS school that won its conference. Consensus FCS All-American. Won Southern Conference's blocking award. Led all FCS players with 133 key blocks/knockdowns. Also produced 17 touchdown-blocks that resulted in TDs.

Possible fit: Dozier played left tackle in college, but he projects as a guard in the NFL. Dozier figures to come in as insurance for Jets starter Willie Colon, who is 31 and coming off surgery for a torn biceps.

Strengths: Big-bodied guy who dominated lesser competition at a small school, but also played well in Furman's loss to LSU last October.

Weaknesses: Footwork needs improving, has tendency to keep hands low, slow getting into defensive backfield.

Character issues: None.

Experts' breakdowns:

• NFL Draft Scout: "Dozier's athleticism and movement skills are some of the most impressive in this year's class of O-linemen, but he has some room to grow in terms of technique and will need to be prepared to play with better physicality if he's to have an immediate impact at the next level."

• Draft Insider: "Dozier is an athletic prospect who would be a good fit in a zone-blocking scheme or one which puts him in motion. He needs to improve his overall playing strength but is a small-school player with starting potential in the NFL."

• NFL.com: "Small-school college left tackle best suited to kick inside in the pros. Has the girth and enough athletic ability to compete as a guard or center and ornery football disposition desired in the trenches. A tough, gritty, road grader capable of paving the way in the run game, Dozier will require some technique refinement in pass protection, yet possesses clear starter potential with continued development. Draft status could ascend if he proves he can play center."

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Shaquelle Evans: Scouting report on the Jets' second fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/shaquelle_evans_scouting_report_on_the_jets_second_fourth-round_pick.html

Name: Shaquelle Evans

Position: Wide receiver

College: UCLA

Height/Weight: 6-1, 213

Stats: Was UCLA's leading receiver the last two seasons. Caught a pass in last 28 college games. Finished career with eight TD catches of at least 20 yards. Ranked fifth in Pac 12 in punt return average yards (6.8). Made Biletnikoff Award watch list.

Projected fit: Evans could give the Jets a big, muscular target with good reach. He has deceptive speed, so he can play in the slot or on the outside.

Strengths: Size, long arms, long strides, ability to beat press coverage with strength.

Weaknesses: Takes time to accelerate to top speed, production from junior to senior year dropped off.

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Experts' breakdowns:

• NFL Draft Scout: "Evans is the type of player you want walking off the bus first with his bulk and muscular frame, especially for a receiver with average height. He is patient and disciplined with his routes and eats up grass quickly, but needs a few steps to get going. Observant player who works hard to get better. Evans flashes a lot of ability, but isn't the most natural of hands catchers and needs to be more of a consistent performer."

• NFL.com: "Good-sized, sure-handed possession receiver with the toughness to work through the middle and catch in a crowd. Can make a living as a zone-beating, move-the-chains target."

• Draft Insider: "Evans is a big pass catcher who plays tough, competitive football. He needs to improve his consistency but offers possibilities as a fourth receiver at the next level."

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Jalen Saunders: Scouting report on the Jets' first fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/jalen_saunders_scouting_report_on_the_jets_first_fourth-round_pick.html

Name: Dakota Dozier

Position: Tackle/Guard

College: Furman

Height/Weight: 6-4, 313

Stats: Team captain and MVP at Furman, a FCS school that won its conference. Consensus FCS All-American. Won Southern Conference's blocking award. Led all FCS players with 133 key blocks/knockdowns. Also produced 17 touchdown-blocks that resulted in TDs.

Possible fit: Dozier played left tackle in college, but he projects as a guard in the NFL. Dozier figures to come in as insurance for Jets starter Willie Colon, who is 31 and coming off surgery for a torn biceps.

Strengths: Big-bodied guy who dominated lesser competition at a small school, but also played well in Furman's loss to LSU last October.

Weaknesses: Footwork needs improving, has tendency to keep hands low, slow getting into defensive backfield.

Character issues: None.

Experts' breakdowns:

• NFL Draft Scout: "Dozier's athleticism and movement skills are some of the most impressive in this year's class of O-linemen, but he has some room to grow in terms of technique and will need to be prepared to play with better physicality if he's to have an immediate impact at the next level."

• Draft Insider: "Dozier is an athletic prospect who would be a good fit in a zone-blocking scheme or one which puts him in motion. He needs to improve his overall playing strength but is a small-school player with starting potential in the NFL."

• NFL.com: "Small-school college left tackle best suited to kick inside in the pros. Has the girth and enough athletic ability to compete as a guard or center and ornery football disposition desired in the

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trenches. A tough, gritty, road grader capable of paving the way in the run game, Dozier will require some technique refinement in pass protection, yet possesses clear starter potential with continued development. Draft status could ascend if he proves he can play center."

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Shaquelle Evans: Scouting report on the Jets' second fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/shaquelle_evans_scouting_report_on_the_jets_second_fourth-round_pick.html

Name: Shaquelle Evans

Position: Wide receiver

College: UCLA

Height/Weight: 6-1, 213

Stats: Was UCLA's leading receiver the last two seasons. Caught a pass in last 28 college games. Finished career with eight TD catches of at least 20 yards. Ranked fifth in Pac 12 in punt return average yards (6.8). Made Biletnikoff Award watch list.

Projected fit: Evans could give the Jets a big, muscular target with good reach. He has deceptive speed, so he can play in the slot or on the outside.

Strengths: Size, long arms, long strides, ability to beat press coverage with strength.

Weaknesses: Takes time to accelerate to top speed, production from junior to senior year dropped off.

Experts' breakdowns:

• NFL Draft Scout: "Evans is the type of player you want walking off the bus first with his bulk and muscular frame, especially for a receiver with average height. He is patient and disciplined with his routes and eats up grass quickly, but needs a few steps to get going. Observant player who works hard to get better. Evans flashes a lot of ability, but isn't the most natural of hands catchers and needs to be more of a consistent performer."

• NFL.com: "Good-sized, sure-handed possession receiver with the toughness to work through the middle and catch in a crowd. Can make a living as a zone-beating, move-the-chains target."

• Draft Insider: "Evans is a big pass catcher who plays tough, competitive football. He needs to improve his consistency but offers possibilities as a fourth receiver at the next level."

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Jalen Saunders: Scouting report on the Jets' first fourth-round pick (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/jalen_saunders_scouting_report_on_the_jets_first_fourth-round_pick.html

Name: Jalen Saunders

Position: Wide receiver

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College: Oklahoma

Height/Weight: 5-9, 165

Stats: Caught 61 passes for 729 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior last year. Also returned two punts for touchdowns, including a 64-yard TD against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and was named first-team all-Big 12 as a returner by ESPN.com. Had 62 catches for 829 yards and three TDs as a junior. As a sophomore at Fresno State, where he played before transferring, Saunders averaged 21.3 yards per catch.

Possible fit: Saunders gives the Jets a potential speed threat on the outside, and special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey seems excited about using him as a return man.

Strengths: Speed, hands, potential special-teams value.

Weaknesses: One of the smallest players taken in this draft.

Character issues: None.

Experts' breakdowns:

• NFL Draft Scout: "Saunders doesn't look like much and his light frame allows him to be pushed around, but he's savvy, elusive and speedy with multiple gears. He shows excellent quickness in/out of his breaks with fluid hips and explosive cuts to make shifty open-field moves and turn on the jets. Saunders projects as an undersized slot receiver in the NFL with his ability as a space player and catch-and-go style, although the limited size and durability concerns hurt his NFL projection."

• NFL.com: "A lightweight, quicker-than-fast, competitive slot receiver and punt returner, Saunders will always have size limitations, but has the hands, suddenness, polish and moxie to be a useful piece for a creative offensive coordinator able to free him up. Return ability adds to value."

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NFL draft 2014: Jets take receivers with first two of three fourth-round picks (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_jets_select_oklahoma_wr_jalen_saunders_in_fourth_round.html

FLORHAM PARK -- The Jets finally got receivers in the 2014 NFL draft.

After taking a receiving tight end in Texas Tech's Jace Amaro during Friday night's second round, the Jets used two of their three fourth-round selections on Saturday to select wideouts Jalen Saunders, a 5-foot-8, 165-pound speedster out of Oklahoma; and Shaquelle Evans, a 6-2, 213-pound wideout from UCLA.

Saunders might wind up being the smallest player chosen in this year's draft. He was selected with overall pick No. 104, which the Jets obtained from the Bucs as part of last year's Darrelle Revis trade.

The final tally of the Jets' return for Revis—who has since been cut by the Bucs and signed by the rival Patriots—is defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and Saunders. Richardson, taken No. 13 overall in last year's first round, was the 2013 NFL defensive rookie of the year.

Evans, who goes by Shaq, was selected by the Jets with the No. 115 pick.

Saunders is considered quick off the line of scrimmage with good acceleration. He ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash at the combine in February. He's also a capable punt and kick returner, which new Jets special teams coach Thomas McGaughey seems to like a lot:

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@CoachTMcGaughey – SPEED SPEED AND MORE SPEED!!!! 12:34 PM – 10 May 2014

Evans is bigger and has a longer reach, but he's considered slower off the ball. His 40 time at the combine was 4.51 seconds.

The obvious downside for Saunders is his size; Oklahoma's website listed his playing weight last year at a rail-thin 157 pounds. Saunders said he currently weighs 175, and that he would have weighed that much at the combine—where he tipped the scales at 165—had he not been sick in the days prior.

"I would describe my playing style like a gorilla," Saunders said. "I’m a savage on that field. I would say between a gorilla and a terrier, a pet dog or a terrier. They’re real small and people don’t expect too much from them. They always like to fight and always like to play around. That’s just the type of player I am. I’m real feisty."

Saunders is a native of Elk Grove, Calif., who played his first two college seasons at Fresno State before transferring.

Evans, a native of Inglewood, Calif., spent a year at Notre Dame before transferring closer to home.

"I’m a guy that can go out there and do whatever you need me to do: catch a check down pass, catch a deep pass and a guy that’s also going to block for you and just be an ultimate team player," Evans said.

Saunders and Evans now join Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley, David Nelson, Jacoby Ford, and Stephen Hill as Jets receivers heading into minicamp. The competition will be on.

The Jets still have seven more picks in today's rounds four through seven, including No.137 in the fourth round. That selection is a compensatory pick that cannot be traded.

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NFL draft 2014: Why the Jets would be smart to use all nine picks on Day 3 (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com May 10, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/05/nfl_draft_2014_why_the_jets_should_use_all_nine_picks_on_day_3.html

FLORHAM PARK -- When he was asked whether the Jets would use all nine picks to select players during today's third and final day of the NFL draft, John Idzik did what John Idzik does.

He played it coy.

"Well, we’ll see what happens," Idzik said during a midnight press conference at Jets HQ of the picks he stockpiled for this year's draft. "Again, it’s nice going in with some ammunition. We can maneuver. When you have three and you select three it looks like you’re just waiting for your pick, but there are so many things happening behind the scenes. [It’s] tough to predict, but it’s nice going in with nine."

It's not only nice to go in with nine; it's actually nice to use all nine.

Here's where the Jets will be drafting during rounds four through seven today. Should the Jets choose, they can trade as many as five of their nine selections; the four compensatory picks, by rule, cannot be dealt.

But those other five they can trade shouldn't be dealt.

Without question, if the Jets were to use all nine picks rather than trade some of them away, most of the players they take today won't make the roster. But that's also exactly why it behooves the Jets to use all nine picks.

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Consider this quote from Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta, which we told you about earlier this week:

“We look at the draft as, in some respects, a luck-driven process. The more picks you have, the more chances you have to get a good player. When we look at teams that draft well, it’s not necessarily that they’re drafting better than anybody else. It seems to be that they have more picks. There’s definitely a correlation between the amount of picks and drafting good players.”

The Ravens, of course, have made the playoffs in seven of the last 11 seasons. They've also reached the AFC championship three times in that span, and won a Super Bowl. And they emphasize quantity.

The Jets will certainly whiff on some choices today. But by making picks with all nine, there's a greater chance they won't. No matter what they do, they also won't have to invest a ton of money in anyone they take. By choosing nine players, there would little risk with the potential for great rewards.

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SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

Associated Press May 10, 2014

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Saturday-s-Sports-Transactions-5468653.php

BASEBALL American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Sent 1B Chris Davis to Bowie (EL) for a rehab assignment. CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Designated RHP Maikel Cleto for assignment. Selected the contract of RHP Frank Francisco from Charlotte (IL). KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Optioned RHP Michael Mariot to Omaha (PCL). Recalled 2B Johnny Giavotella from Omaha. LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Sent LHP Sean Burnett to Arkansas (TL) for a rehab assignment. National League ATLANTA BRAVES — Placed RHP Jordan Walden on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Monday. Recalled LHP Ian Thomas from Gwinnett (IL). CINCINNATI REDS — Optioned RHP Curtis Partch to Louisville (IL). Reinstated LHP Aroldis Chapman from the 15-day DL. NEW YORK METS — Assigned INF Omar Quintanilla outright to Las Vegas (PCL). SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Placed 1B Brandon Belt on the 15-day DL. Optioned RHP George Kontos to Fresno (PCL). Reinstated RHP Matt Cain from the 15-day DL. Selected the contract of OF Tyler Colvin from Fresno. Transferred INF Marco Scutaro to the 60-day DL. American Association AMARILLO SOX — Signed OF Lyndon Estill. Released RHP Ryan Mitchell. Traded INF Eli Sonoqui to Southern Illinois for OF Justin Pearson. KANSAS CITY T-B0NES — Traded SS Stephen Rodgers to Evansville (Frontier) for future considerations. SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS — Released RHP Elisaul Pimentel. Can-Am League ROCKLAND BOULDERS — Signed C Marcus Nidiffer. Frontier League EVANSVILLE OTTERS — Signed RHP Eric Gonsalves. FLORENCE FREEDOM — Signed C Matt Albaugh. Released Cs David Carrillo and Brian Sheehan and RHPs Matthew Johnson and Cory Jordan.

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FRONTIER GREYS — Signed C Matt Chavez. JOLIET SLAMMERS — Released RHP Troy Josza and C Tony Sanzhez. LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS — Released C Conor Thompson. RIVER CITY RASCALS — Released C Anthony Foulk, 1B Kyle Jones, RHP Tyler Lavigne and LHPs Jon Levin and Tommy Organ. SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS — Released LHP Gilbert Barrera, RHP Seafth Howe and OFs K.C. Judge, Matt Petrone and Zac Zdanowicz. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS — Sold the contract of INF David Nick to the Atlanta Braves. Released RHPs John Colella, Jeff Neptune, Jordan Poole and Steven Upchurch and OF Greg Kumpel. WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS — Released INF Kyle Breault, C Nick Hladek and RHPs Griffin Jones and Eric Meyerchick.

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