NY Jets 2008 Off Season Needs and Possible Player Moves Draft Tek Mock Simulation

The depression runs deeper? Still nothing material in terms of off season moves for the Jets. The perception is that the Jets are looking for new starters at LG, RT, WR OLB, NT, ILB and CB. I have the DraftTek team needs matrix for the Jets set to look for players to fill those 7 positions.

There have been changes to the position needs matrix for the upcoming model simulation and I am expecting the simulation results to be different. The general premise remains that the Jets will likely best improve the offense through free agency and the defense through the draft.

Free agency starts on Friday. Let’s see if the Jets can get a guard onto the roster. There are still several decent offensive guards available in free agency so I am optimistic that the Jets can fill this need outside of the draft.

Getting back to the draft. The simulation needs matrix has been set to avoid an overlap of players. Past simulations have generated multiple picks of DE’s and OLB’s. If the Jets are fortunate enough to draft Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB it is perceived that he would play OLB. Given such, there would be no need to draft another OLB. Going forward, this overlap should not appear. It might but only in a situation where an OLB was on the draft board who was considered an extremely high value relative to his draft position.

It remains impractical to think that the Jets will fill their need for a RT through free agency. I have altered the Jets team needs matrix to make a special consideration to taking an offensive tackle in the draft at the top of the second round when the Jets pick. The intended target is Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska. This is a combination of filling a desperate team need with a player that the Jets coaching staff has a connection. The Nebraska connection between recently hired Assistant Head Coach/Offense Bill Callahan and Carl Nicks is too obvious to ignore. If Carl Nicks is available when the Jets pick in the second round, it is likely that the Jets will take him. He is not projected to be available at the top of the third round.

There have been some comments on expected trades by the Jets. I agree that there will be trades. Also, to the extent that the Jets can get an additional second round or third round pick, the Jets would be in much better shape. I think that it is a bit optimistic to think that a trade involving a recently injured Jonathan Vilma will result in a second round pick. At the same time, it would not shock me to see the Jets get a bottom of the round second round pick if they gave back a conditional pick. Vilma might not be traded until later this year as if he proves healthy his value would be much greater. A 2009 draft pick would not be out of the question. It is hard to say what the market is out there. An additional pick in the second round of this year’s draft would be useful in terms of adding a top flight WR. Remember, as currently set up, the Jets are expected to reach for Carl Nicks at the top of the second round. This precludes the Jets from getting a good relative value player at this spot. As I have mentioned, these are troubled times.

Player grades have been changed with the release of the results from the combine.

Let’s see what the next simulation run brings. It should be very interesting.