It was the easy pick.
Running back Darren McFadden was off the board as was quarterback Matt Ryan (thank Budda) so the Jets chose wisely and selected the speed pass-rusher
Vernon Gholston from Ohio State with the sixth pick in the 2008 draft. Gholston recorded a school-record 14 sacks last year and picked up 22.5 sacks in his last 25 games at The Ohio State University. Those numbers should bolster an anemic Jet pass rush that generated only 29 sacks last season.
Gholston was a defensive end with the Buckeyes, but his size (6'3, 266) makes him a perfect fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. The Detroit native put up impressive numbers during his pre-draft workout -- running the 40 in 4.67 seconds and performing a scouting combine-best 37 reps on the bench press.
The biggest drawback about Gholston is his passion -- or lack thereof. Here's what one scout had to say:
"He's a talented, athletic kid, but his instincts and efforts aren't what they should be."
Said an opposing GM:
"When you watch his tape, he's probably a first-round pick. When he works out, he's in the middle of the first round. When he takes his shirt off, he's a top-10 pick."
Gholston didn't want to be a team's second or third or, in this case, sixth choice. "I want to go where the team wants me,"
Gholston said when asked about the Jets. "I don't want to be in a situation where [a team says] 'We wanted this guy, but we just pick up Vernon Gholston.'" That shows me that he has some fire in the belly. Whether it's always burning remains to be seen.
Gang Green also pulled off a trade and netted themselves another first-round pick. The Jets sent their second and fourth-round picks in this year's draft to the Green Bay Packers for the right to pick at No. 30. And the Jets choose ... a tight end. Strange. The Green and White selected Purdue's Dustin Keller. I'm not that familiar with Keller, but here's what the good people at
Scouts Inc. had to say about the 6'3, 242 pound tight end:
No tight end in this year's class projected as a first-round pick in our opinion, making this pick a reach. One of the biggest knocks on Keller is that he's probably never going to develop into an excellent in-line blocker. Also, he doesn't have the frame to add a lot of bulk without sacrificing his greatest strength: his speed. However, Keller certainly has the athletic ability, versatility and burst to make an immediate impact as a receiver. He will be a tough matchup for opposing defenses; his size can cause enormous problems for defensive backs and most linebackers are going to have problems turning to run with him.
The Jets are a team lacking playmakers, but Keller gives offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer a lot of versatility with his personnel groupings and matchups. He has good hands and gives them a threat in the passing game, unlike Chris Baker or Bubba Franks. Look for Schottenheimer to move him around and detach him in the formation. The Jets have spent heavily on offensive line and defense in the offseason, and now Keller will help them put points on the board.
Again, it's a strange decision. The Jets certainly need playmakers on offense, but there were a slew of wide receivers out there who were available. This could also mean that the Jets are really, really down on current tight end Chris Baker. Baker is unhappy with his contract status and has stopped reporting to the Jets' offseason program.
The Daily News said Baker recently asked the Jets for a trade, but the team responded with a negative.
So, the first day of the NFL Draft ended with one expected pick and one surprise pick for the New York Jets.
Let's see what tomorrow brings.
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