By Glenn Naughton<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Just like any other fans of an NFL\u00a0team with a new front office in place, the Jets\u00a0faithful will have to wait until the NFL draft to find out exactly what Gang Green will be prioritizing on their draft board,\u00a0which is likely all but ready to go\u00a0at this point.<\/p>\n
While talent, skill, and on-field production\u00a0will play the biggest role in determining a player’s assigned draft grade, it’s the off-field issues that may scare some teams away while others view it as an opportunity to steal a player several slots\u00a0later than they may have gone if no off-field concerns were present.<\/p>\n
With the sixth overall selection in round 1, pick number 5 in round two and the added possibility of trading down to accumulate more picks, the Jets could be one of many teams faced with a risk vs. reward dilemma on more than one occasion.<\/p>\n
Should they stand pat at number six,\u00a0a player who fits one of their most immediate needs and is widely considered to be worth the sixth overall pick is outside linebacker Randy Gregory out of the University of Nebraska.\u00a0 However, a failed drug test during the NFL combine along with Gregory’s admission of regular marijuana use throughout is college career isn’t going to help his draft stock, but nobody knows just yet exactly\u00a0 how much it’s going to\u00a0 hurt it.<\/p>\n
Fans and analysts have expressed concerns not about the marijuana use itself, but the poor decision by Gregory to continue using at such a critical time.\u00a0 With a known drug test in his future that could be worth\u00a0 millions as a top-10 pick, Gregory chose to continue using.\u00a0 Some teams will\u00a0undoubtedly hold that against Gregory as it presents legitimate questions about\u00a0his commitment to becoming the type of player a team covets with their top selection.<\/p>\n
At 6′ 6” 240 lbs, Gregory has been described as a high ceiling\/low floor prospect by NFL.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and the it’ll be up to Gang Green’s talent evaluators to decide just how high that ceiling is and if Gregory is worth the risk.<\/p>\n The Gregory dilemma has had some Jets fans flashing back to the 1995 NFL draft when, despite Jets fans chanting his name on draft day, the Jets passed on future hall of famer Warren Sapp in the wake of reports of a failed drug test in favor of Penn State tight end Kyle Brady.<\/p>\n Whether or not the Jets opt to trade down in round one, there are two other players with character concerns who some feel possess top-15 talent that may be there early in round two.\u00a0 While neither fills a pressing need, could either one be too good to pass up at that point in the draft based on value alone?<\/p>\n Perhaps the most intriguing prospect is one\u00a0whom the Jets hosted<\/strong><\/a> just a few days ago in Washington cornerback Marcus Peters.\u00a0 Like Gregory, there are those who feel Peters is among the top players at his position and some have gone so far as to say he’s the best overall cornerback<\/strong><\/a> in this draft.<\/p>\n However, the knock on Peters is that he’s just not a coachable player.\u00a0 Suspended by Washington<\/strong><\/a> during the season for multiple run-ins with the coaching staff has left a blemish on his draft profile that some scouts have acknowledged led to teams taking him off of their boards completely.\u00a0 Given head coach Todd Bowles’ reputation as a coach who knows when to turn on the heat and when to back off to get the most out of his players, is Peters an ideal candidate for the Jets to get maximum value in the second round?<\/p>\n Even with the recent\u00a0additions of Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine,\u00a0a key consideration for the Jets regarding Peters\u00a0has to be their expectations of Cromarite beyond this season.\u00a0\u00a0Despite having just signed\u00a0a brand new three-year deal with the Jets,\u00a0Cromartie’s\u00a0contract is\u00a0structured in such a way that he could be let go after this season without any salary\u00a0cap ramifications.\u00a0 With the uncertainty lingering over the oft injured, yet talented Dee Milliner and an unproven Dexter McDougle, will Peters’ character concerns scare the Jets off, or will they view this as an opportunity to get maximum value by grabbing a potential top-15 talent in round two?<\/p>\n