2014 NFL Draft grades: New York Jets

Feb 20, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets coach Rex Ryan speaks during a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Jets came into the 2014 NFL Draft with a lot of needs to address on both sides of the ball. This draft was crucial for the Jets as we saw last year that this team is not that far away from being competitive once again. Head coach Rex Ryan turned in one of the most masterful coaching performances in quite some time last season by not letting this team become a flat out embarrassment.

This weekend in the draft, the Jets and Ryan had 12 choices to pick some of the best collegiate talent available to fill some of those needs, and some of those picks were hits while some of them were misses.

Here’s a look at the complete listing from this weekend’s event for the New York Jets.

Rd 1 – #18(18)	Calvin Pryor (S) Louisville
Rd 2 – #17(49)	Jace Amaro (TE) Texas Tech
Rd 3 – #16(80)	Dex McDougle (CB) Maryland
Rd 4 – #4(104)	Jalen Saunders (WR) Oklahoma
Rd 4 – #15(115)	Shaq Evans (WR) UCLA
Rd 4 – #37(137)	Dakota Dozier (OT) Furman
Rd 5 – #14(154)	Jeremiah George (ILB) Iowa St
Rd 6 – #19(195)	Brandon Dixon (CB) NW Mo St
Rd 6 – #33(209)	Quincy Enunwa (WR) Nebraska
Rd 6 – #34(210)	IK Enemkpali (DE) La Tech
Rd 6 – #37(213)	Tajh Boyd (QB) Clemson
Rd 7 – #18(233)	Trevor Reilly (OLB) Utah

With that, let’s take a look at who from above was the best choice, who was the worst as well as give the Jets their final grade for the 2014 NFL Draft.

Nov 16, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders tight end Jace Amaro (22) catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Baylor Bears at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Pick: Jace Amaro

The Jets definitely needed a versatile, pass-catching threat in the offense and many thought they would address that need in the first round with one of the plethora of great wide receivers available.

Instead, they went defense in the first with Louisville S Calvin Pryor, however they were able to find an absolute gem in the second with Texas Tech TE Jace Amaro.

Actually, as we saw last year with his 1,352 yards and seven touchdowns for the Red Raiders, Amaro is like having a top-notch wide receiver on your offensive line that Ryan and the coaching staff can do a multitude of things with.

He’ll be one of the best outlets for whomever the quarterback ends up being.

Jan 3, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd (10) throws a pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half in the 2014 Orange Bowl college football game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Worst Pick: Tajh Boyd

Boyd is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the ACC, no one in their right mind will question that. However, his translation to the NFL is shaky at best. He had bad workouts at the Senior Bowl, and played about as poorly as you could in the game itself.

With this pick, the Jets are only inviting unwanted controversy to a QB situation that will already be one of the more watched battles of the summer with Michael Vick and Geno Smith.

Feb 20, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets general manager John Idzik speaks during a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Analysis and Final Grade

Overall, the Jets addressed a lot of needs. Although some questioned the selection of Pryor in the first, he’s the prototypical Rex Ryan defensive back and could be a star in a couple years under the tutelage of the defensive master, if not immediately in 2014.

As for the wide receiver holes, in addition to choosing Amaro, the team also took UCLA’s Shaq Evans, Nebraska’s Quincy Enunwa and Oklahoma’s Jalen Saunders.

Just for addressing the obvious receiving help the passing game that was needed, the Jets won in my book.

Final Grade: A

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