Potential Jet Draft Picks

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Key: ++ Best Trait, + Positives, -- Worst Traits, - Negatives, ~ Equilvalent NFL Player, = Overall Grade

OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia 6'5", 294

++ Technique

+ One of the top five prospects in this draft. A near complete package. Has good height and continues to fill out a frame that still has growth potential. Ferguson has a a hug wingspan and is excellent at utlizing his long arms and strong hands. As technically sound as college tackles come. With his terrific feet, he has an explosive first step and takes great angles as a run-blocker. Just as good in pass protection.

-- Power

- Lacks bulk and must prove that he can handle 15-20 more pounds without losing any mobility. Doesn't have a powerful punch and the ability to jar defenders. Not an overpowering run-blocker and will have trouble anchoring the line againist bull-rushers. Lacks a mean streak, which forces him to rely on sound technique to complete his assignments.

~ Walter Jones, Seahawks

= 98

DE Mario Williams, NC State 6'6", 283

++ Explosiveness

+ Outstanding upside. Has protypical size, athletic ability and speed. As a push-rusher. Williams has the explosive first step and burners to consistently turn the corner. Tall, with massive wingspan and powerful upper body, and shows the potential to develop a wide array of moves. Possesses a nose for the ball and makes big plays. Fluid athlete with exceptional change-of-direction ability. Extremely mobile, stays off blocks and makes pursuit plays.

-- Consistency

- Still unpolished. Plays too high and often gets caught out of position as he avoids blocks. Takes too long to disengage from blockers, and must learn to use his arms and hands to keep separation. Double-teams frustrate him too easily. Though he played hard down the stretch last season, Williams has an inconsistent motor and takes plays off.

~ Julius Peppers, Panthers

= 97

OT Marcus McNeill, Auburn 6'7", 332

++ Still set

+ Elite NFL measureables. Extremely tall with a massive build and imprrssive speed for his size. Has a wide wingspan, which makes him difficult to avoid in the passing game. Keeps seperation with his arms and strong hands. When focused, shows impressive quickness and range in pass protection. Handles double moves and rarely gets beaten inside. As a run-blocker, McNeill takes decent angles and reaches the second level of defense. Engulfs defenders at point of attack. Once locked on, he usually wins the battle.

-- Stamina

- Has history of weight fluctuation. Very sluggish when overweight. Needs to refine technique. Gets lazy sometimes and doesn't bend his knees. That reduces his power and lateral mobility. At times McNeill relies too much on his other physical tools and underestimates opponents. Get caught lunging at times and doesn't concentrate of his footwork enough.

~ Jonathan Odgen, Ravens

= 91

OG Max-Jen Gilles, Georgia 6'3", 358

++ Run-blocking

+ The physical tools to develop into a dominant starter. Massive, with long arms and a mammoth frame. An absolute road-grader in the run game. Has good initial power and overwhelming strength, and takes solid angles. Simply engulfs smaller lineman at the point of attack. In pass protection, Jean-Gilles rarely loses a one-on-one battle when he locks on. Has decent inital quickness and plays with balance and leverage. Can anchor againist the bull rush.

-- Conditioning

- Weight has flucturated throughout his carrer, and conditioning and stamina will always be concerns. Runs hot and cold. Lacks ideal athlectism and has marginal speed. Has trouble consitently reaching second level as a run-blocker, and is sometimes slow to the point of attack on pulls and traps. Technique in pass pro needs a lt of work.

~ Shawn Andrews, Eagles

= 89

C Nick Mangold 6'3", 296

++ Power

+ Should develop into a good starter. Has room to grow, gives adequate pop with his hand punch and can jar defenders with initial contact. Great speed for his size; he's quick out of his stance and fast on pulls and down-field blocks. Consistently reaches the second level. Good balance, body control, leverage and knee-bend in pass protection. Mangold is competitve and tough at the point of attack, with strong hands and the ability to sustain once locked on. Excellent on line calls.

-- Agility

- Plays with leverage but lacks an ideal base. Must add bulk and lower-body strength. Will have matchup problems againist two-gap NTs, and powerful bull rushers can drive him into the pocket. Not an overpowering phone-booth blocker. Though fast, he lacks ideal change-of-direction skills and has trouble hitting moving targets in space.

~ Kevin Mawae, Jets

= 88

DT Gabe Watson, Michigan 6'3", 341

++ Power

+ Massive two-gap tacket who can absolutely domintate in spurts. Plays with good leverage and can gobble up two blockers when fresh. Clogs gaps and seals inside, protecting his linebackers and often forcing backs to bounce outside. Shows lower-body strength and mass to overpower lineman at point of attack. Surprisingly quick. Watson has the initial burst, power and size to collapse pocket. Extremely durable and a high-character person.

-- Conditioning

- Runs hot and cold. Conditioning and stamina are poor, and he wears down quickly, which causes him to come out of his stance high and lose leverage. Must be vigilant about weigh. Lacks burst through line and the closing speed to make impact as a puss-rusher.

~ Grady Jackson, Packers

= 93

CB Antonio Cromartie, FSU 6'2", 202

++ Size

+ Outstanding combination of size and top-end speed. Cromartie is tall, with long arms and very good leaping ability. Can smother receivers in press coverage and redirect their routes. Fluid for his size and can flip his hips in turn-and-run situations. Outstanding ball skills and is natural playmaker. Will challenge for the ball in traffic and has strong hands. Good size and strength in run support. A versatile athlete who's spent time at receiver and flashes big upside as return specialist.

-- Health

- One of the draft's biggest boom-or-bust prospects, as he missed 2005 after tearing his left ACL. Elected to declare rather than return for his senior season, putting huge pressure on his predraft workouts. Lacks ideal playing experience and never has show great technique. Needs a lot of work on route anticipation reading the QB's eyes in zone coverage and finding this ball over his shoulder.

~ Charles Woodson, Raiders

= 89

RB Joesph Addai, LSU 5'11", 208

++ Speed

+ The versitle Addai is very underrated. Powerful for a smaller back, he has the frame to get bigger. Has excellent speed and burst. Hits the hole hard. Explosive when he strikes daylight and has the agility and vision to cut back againist the grain. A great blocker for his size, and will cut-block when overmatched. A fluid, reliable receiver with smooth hands and fine route running skill. Shows upside as return specialist.

-- Size

- Lacks the bulk to push the pile as a short-yardage runner or to take on a full-time NFL workload. Not overly elusive in the open field and won't make many defenders miss in space. Bigger blitzing linebackers will sometimes overwhelm Addai at the point of attack.

~ Ahman Green, Packers

= 84

Source: Premiere Issue, ESPN Magazine NFL Draft Guide 2006