253 draft picks selected over the weekend transformed NFL rosters in a matter of days. Around the League will take a look at the aftershocks by asking one post-draft burning question for all 32 teams. First up: The New York Jets.
Are the Jets asking too much of their first two picks?
After the Seattle Seahawksswiped Bruce Irvin, the New York Jetsswung for the fences with their first round pick defensive end Quinton Coples. The kid is a quintessential boom-or-bust pick that is long on talent and short on certainty. Second round pick Stephen Hill is in the same mold. The Georgia Tech product owns terrific measurables, but he's considered raw and difficult to project after playing in a limited passing offense in college.
Taking calculated risks is fine, but this Jets team is counting on these two players to fill major holes immediately. Coach Rex Ryan said he envisioned Coples and Hill starting right away.
New York is desperate for a pass rusher that can win one-on-one matchups. Mike DeVito is apparently not that guy; Coples might be. Hill is a very raw route runner, but he'll have to learn on the fly with Jeremy Kerley as the team's No. 3 receiver and, uh, Chaz Schilens after that. Ryan is making life difficult on his inexperienced quarterbacks and his inexperienced rookie wideout.
The Jets expect to make the playoffs. They need their first two picks to contribute a great deal to get there, no matter how much they have to learn. Ryan's comments on the state of his defense after adding Coples says it all.
"I don't want to put any undue expectations on our team," Ryan said. "So I would expect that we'd lead the league."
