Round Eight Underway
My favorite part of the draft has kicked off with the Jets apparently signing the following free agents:
DE Jamaal Westerman (Rutgers)
TE Andrew Davie (Arkansas)
DL Matt Kroul (Jets) (Iowa)
P T.J. Conley (Idaho)
TE Robert Myers (Utah State)
DE Zach Potter (Nebraska)
TE J’Nathan Bullock (Cleveland State – Basketball)
UPDATE:
OT Kyle Link, McNeese State
QB Chris Pizzotti, Harvard
OT Tavita Thompson, Oregon State
S Emanuel Cook, South Carolina
More to follow in due course, plus more information about these guys later today.
57 Responses to Round Eight Underway
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Rod Majors says:
They also signed these guys:
SS Emanuel Cook (South Carolina)
QB Chris Pizzoti (Harvard)
OT Tavita Thompson (Oregon St.)
OT Kyle Link (McNeese St.)I think you can sign up to 15 UDFA’s, so that would leave 4 more slots.
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Brandon "You're With Me"riweather says:
The list I saw also included S Emanuel Cook (South Carolina).
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UKJetsFan says:
I figured Zach Pootter would be brought in given Callahan’s Nebraska links – he sounds pretty decent so I think Adam’s right about him having the best chance.
Rod’s rigt with those guys too – http://gridironfans.com/forums/latest-nfl-headlines/96134-jets-sign-seven-undrafted-free-agents.html
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Love the TJ Conley pickup too – he led the nation in punting during 2008 with a 47.4 average. And we definitely need a good punter to get us great field position if we’re gonna fully utilise Rex’s killer D.
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Doctor K says:
Potter was Adam Carricker’s replacement on that Nebraska team, although obviously not the same. He obviously has the size but maybe less talent. Interesting though.
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Harsh says:
hmm, maybe Conley could turn into a starter? It would only take a half-decent performance for him to beat out Hodges
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BigKatFan says:
I love that they got out there right away and started signing. Now go after Iowa DT Mitch King and Buffalo QB Drew Willy.
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clint says:
Players that are undrafted to look at:
Darry Beckwith-lb
Dannell Ellerbe-lb
Quan Cosby-wr
Aaron Kelly-wr
Ryan Purvis-te
Alex Boone-tackleI want to see some of these players, they are all pretty decent.
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Bent says:
BKF, those guys have been picked up by Tenn and Balt respectively.
Clint – Beckwith, Cosby, Kelly, Boone have been picked up by SD, Cincy, Atl, SF but Purvis and Ellerbe seem to be available still.
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dade county jets fan says:
T.J. Conley is going to be the starting punter. I just looked at this kids stats online…….he averaged 47 yards a punt for the whole year….had 5 games where he averaged over 50 a punt ……and most of his games he punted about 5 times so they weren’t fluke punts that drove his average up…..If mangini was still here we might have drafted this guy in the second round….hah….
I’m happy for clowney and stuckey…….the jets didn’t draft any wr’s and they haven’t signed any free agents…I hope he turns out to be the best 87 the jets ever had….
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johnl says:
you have to wonder if we are still in the market for a vet qb. sanchez has to learn nfl tricks from somebody..or mabey favre returns in some way. how about favre plays the first 8 games( intresting thought)…sanchez stated they he could learn alot from clemmens and i am sure he could but…….
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Electric Ham says:
Well you would hope one of those three TE’s can make the team considering we still dont have a blocking TE.
I think that continues to be our greatest need.
Overall I think this has a chance to be a great draft. Wish we could have drafted more players but if Sanchez and Greene are the playing in pro bowls and the playoffs in the near future we did great. Next year were going to have to save our picks tho.
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johnl
Favre wouldnt want to do that and also we don’t have any money to pay him.
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Pera says:
Still no wide recievers…are you kidding me
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Biebs says:
Matt Kroul played for Iowa, not the Jets
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Bent says:
You can blame the Pats website for that…bizarrely that was where I first found these details and cut and pasted them.
Pera – not much point in adding any UDFA WRs when the Jets already have guys like Henry, Raymond and Whitaker as projects. I could see them targeting a potential #1, but another UDFA is just going to add to the logjam.
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Bent says:
I wonder if Shonn Greene had anything to do with either the Jets targetting Kroul or Kroul agreeing to sign.
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MEL31602 says:
Still surprised at the lack of WR. At least they have a bunch of TE on the list…
Oh and Bassett I found the clip of you ranting after the Sanchez trade. I was not enamored with Sanchez’s lack of experience either but considering how little they gave up it is worth a shot.
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Have to say I fancy Conley to start. Him and Beuhler were guys I though we might draft during the heady days where we had a few late picks…hehe!
Gotta be exciting for any TE being picked up by us at the moment though – with no depth at the position, they could have a real shot of making roster if they show good blocking skills and some catching potential!
On a side note about WRs, I was so disappointed Tiquan Underwood from Rutgers got picked with one of the last few compensatory picks – he was pretty damn fast so would’ve liked to see him get a tryout.
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Bent says:
Mel – He promised he would post that here eventually. I’m looking forward to seeing it. I think he has calmed down since then!
They are only really guessing that Bullock is a TE…maybe he will be a WR. He’s 6’5″ 240 and played every skill position on offense (and DE and LB) at high school.
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David Gould says:
Did anyone notice All-American kicker/punter Louis Sakoda of Utah was undrafted? This guy’s very good and would be a great pick up as a two for one player with terrific kicking and punting accuracy.
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Le'Sean Roberts says:
Blasted patriots already drafted Appleby. Frantz Joseph, Lee Robinson, and Daniel Holtzclaw are still available at ILB. For DL Nader Abdallah, and Khalif Mitchell are still available. OLB, there’s Ian Campbell.
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Bristolstreet says:
Do the Jet brains believe they can win without a blocking TE and a speedy WR?
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Sorry, I meant signed Appleby.
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David
Think Skoda is with SD – your right though, he’d have been a nice addition. He was the only All-American to go undrafted this year too – there is my trivia fact for the day. Lol!
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nyr2k2 says:
Emanuel Cook was #5 on Scouts, Inc.’s list of Best Remaining.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/insider/news/story?id=4103469
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Hoz The Jet says:
I hope TJ conly is the real deal he could really help our defensive with good field positioning,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hodges suck
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Amazingly no WR brought in yet…….am I missing something here??? lol
As to Potter….my boy is a huge NU fan and was shocked to see he didnt get drafted. The kid had 3rd round grade.
He has great size and motor for a 3-4 DE
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Doug in Long Valley says:
We’ll sign 15 FA’s to fill some holes and get us some depth. In previous years June 1st was a big cap-space cut day and a considerable amount of talent hit the street. Last year June 1st was a non-event with the expanded cap.
What do the cap guru’s think this June 1st will bring? Feast or Famine? Will we have any space or will we be cutting our own guys to fit under the cap??
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jvsvn says:
This OT Tavita Thompson looks ike an interesting prospect. Suspended for his senior year for using a banned dietary suppliment but has size and some talent.
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Emanuel Cook has got Victor Green written all over him…. suprised he didnt get drafted.
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How does any of the undrafted FA’s WR’s not look at the jets roster and run to Floram Park to sign a FA contract??
Either I am missing something or Mr T has a big suprise for us
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Inteeresting article on Thompson: http://www.oregonlive.com/beaversfootball/index.ssf/2008/10/tavitas_back_after_a_year_off.html
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Drew I agree that the jets have something up their sleeves especially finding out that percy harvin was the only receiver they liked in the draft they have to have their eye on a veteran
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Here’s some footage of Andrew Davie. He’s supposed to be a stronger blocker than pass-catcher.
http://www.joost.com/098unuu/t/Draft-Prospect-TE-Andrew-Davie
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IhorNYC says:
I think there’s still a WR shakeout to happen in the NFL – quite a few were drafted that will definitely stick on thier team’s rosters – which mean there will be quite a few WR’s released or traded for great value. I see the Jets picking up a decent name mid way through camp
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Frank says:
I think it’s highly unlikely that an UDFA WR will make any sort of an impact — maybe Rex and co. really like the guys we have, or at least like them enough that they considered WR a lesser concern than the QB and RB issues.
Truthfully, I think we’re fine. We’re probably going to be patterned after San Diego’s offense of a few years ago — pound the ball with the RBs, lots of play action, with Keller playing the Gates role, Cotchery playing the McCardell role. Hopefully Sanchez will turn out as well as Brees and/or Rivers! It’ll be nice to see some hard-nosed football out of this franchise finally.
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john sec.125 says:
we better include free agents in the draft contest, since we only had 3 picks.
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Bent says:
john…results are coming any second now…. UDFAs don’t count, that’s in the rules. I don’t think anybody called any of these guys anyway. That’s why we have a tiebreaker!
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Bent says:
Drew – Cook reminds me of Elam, who was also an undrafted free agent, so you never know, he might end up being a good replacement.
Doug – If they stand pat, they should be under the cap. If they trade for – or sign – a veteran receiver, they will probably have to release some vets to get under.
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matt says:
why no wr?
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bent, you caugt me. i think i picked andrew davie.
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igs says:
Greg Carr, Ryan Purvs? Aaron kelly? Cullen harper? Greg isdaner? Other than Cook, it feels like the Jets are signing the projected UFA’s that didn’t rise instead of the projected late rounders that fell. I hated round 8 last year and outside of Cook, so far I hate it this time around.
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Matt W says:
is there any news where Brian Toal or Michael Ray Garvin have ended up in the undrafted free agent pool?
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Greg Isdaner is now with the cowboys, and Kelly has joined the Falcons I think Igs. Agree with looking at Carr and Purvis though. Carr looked properly good in college before his QBs hit the fan. And you’re not the first guy to mention liking Purvis as a viable option.
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NY Jayhawk says:
I went to high school with Zach Potter. The kid is a beast, 6’7″ 280 with a great presence on special teams, blocked a number of kicks at Nebraska. Could be a great role player for the Jets.
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SackDance99 says:
Chris Pizzotti? I think that’s a very interesting signing. He’s listed at 6-5, led Harvard to a 20-2 record as a starter and threw just 8 INTs his final 2 seasons. Notwithstanding Jay Fiedler’s success and Ryan Fitzpatrick’s somewhat lesser success, why waste a roster spot on an Ivy-league QB? Are Eric Ainge’s days as a Jet numbered?
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WR Britt Davis from Northern Illinois has signed on with us apparently.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/blogs/entries/2009/04/27/37317410/index.xml
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blee says:
go for Michael Bennett.. DE that can play in a 3-4.. he should try his luck w/ the Jets.. if he does well, he could compete for some playing time here
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JerryB says:
The reason we have not signed any UDFA WRs is that there are none available that meet our need for a #1 WR. We have plenty of WRs that are better than anyone on the FA market. We have a gaping hole at TE and back-up linemen which is why we’re recruiting those players.
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Hmmm….or no WR FAs then….
Full list of 15 is
QB Chris Pizzoti, Harvard
FB Brannan Southerland, Georgia
OT Ryan McKee, Southern Mississippi
OT Kyle Link, McNeese State
OT Tavita Thompson, Oregon State
C Michael Parenton, Tulane
TE Robert Myers, Utah State
TE Andrew Davie, Arkansas
TE J’Nathan Bullock, Cleveland State
DE Jamaal Westerman, Rutgers
DE Zach Potter, Nebraska
DL Ty Steinkuhler, Nebraska
DL Matt Kroul, Iowa
S Emanuel Cook, South Carolina
P TJ Conley, IdahoThis is according to Erik Boland
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/blog/2009/04/dbrickashaw_on_the_draft_im_op.html
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Moyvore says:
I’m disappointed that the Jets didn’t have the draft choices left to draft a very good punter.
Look at the great deal New Orleans made to get the punter they wanted in the 5th round: Their 7th + a 2010 5th rounder.
If their pick works out, they will be cutting Glenn Pakulak, a free-agent punter who did a good job for them.
The reported knock on T.J. Conley is good distance but poor hang time.
Here’s the New Orleans story:
The New Orleans Saints traded up into the fifth round to pick Thomas Morstead, a punter from Southern Methodist.
The trade was this year’s seventh round pick and a fifth round pick in 2010 for the New York Giants’ fifth round pick this year.
Saints Coach Sean Payton said that the punter position was one the team had identified as a need going into the draft.
“He has a strong leg, we think the best leg in the draft,” Payton said. “We think we’ve got a very good punter and the objective is to improve ourselves at that position. We think it’s going to be a very good competition with Glenn (Pakulak)”
Morstead averaged 41.8 yards per punt with the Mustangs last season and pinned opponents inside the 20 yard line 20 times.
He ranked sixth in Conference USA in punting last season.
“In talking about Glenn, he did a good job for us in a tough situation,” Payton said. “We’re not handing the job over to this college player, but we’re looking forward to good competition.”
Morstead was a consensus All-Conference USA as a sophomore when he led the league with a 44.6-yard average and set a league record as a placekicker by hitting all 43 PAT attempts.
In his career at SMU, he averaged 43.38 yards per punt and downed 58 inside the 20. That average ranks third in school history and sixth all time in Conference USA.
Morstead was one of three punters the Saints were wanting to acquire, Payton revealed later, but one of two he said they would have drafted. He didn’t say who the third prospective punter was the team was considering.
“The one that was taken by Cincinnati (Kevin Huber from University of Cincinnati, 22 picks before the Saints took Morstead) was one of the only players,” Payton said. “Thomas was the only one we felt we would draft. The second route to go is if you don’t draft the guy you target than immediately when the draft ends you recruit for these others, but we didn’t feel like he was a guy we were going to be in a position to sign after the draft. We were fairly certain that we were going to be dealing with another list. We thought that much of him to select him in the fifth round and for a punter or a kicker, the evaluation would have to be strong.”
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JP says:
Sack – my thoughts exactly; I think Ainge is on the way out and they need a 3rd stringer. Could always hit lightening in a bottle with late round QB’s, esp those over 6’5.
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Here are the guys from UKJetsFan’s list that seem most interesting at first blush:
- Southerland: Scored 21 TD’s for Georgia his first three yrs as a short-yardage specialist. Excellent run blocker. Really high-character kid – team captain, graduated in 3 yrs. Didn’t get drafted b/c he’s had a series of shoulder and foot injuries over the past 2 yrs. If he’s healthy, sounds like a great pickup.
- Link: Spent 2 yrs at TE before switching to OT, but still managed to be all-conference his last two years. Prototypical height and weight. Could become an excellent backup.
- Davie: good blocker, great size (6′5″, 265 lbs). Zero downfield ability, but did score 6 TD’s his last two seasons because of his height and range.
- Westerman: 265 lb pass rusher with great speed. 22 career sacks, and has some experience dropping into coverage too. He’s pretty short – not sure how much that matters…
- Potter: what everyone else said – 6′7″, good size for a 3-4 DE with room to add some weight. Special teams standout – five career blocked kicks. Probably my favorite guy on this list.
- Cook: Big-time run support guy, not so good in coverage. As Bent said, looks like another Elam. -
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I’m kinda excited about Zach Potter. He had a mid-round grade on a few prospect lists that I saw, and he certainly has the size for a 3-4 DE. He probably has the best chance to make the team of all those UDFA’s listed above, since DE’s probably the position of most need right now. He could definitely earn himself a spot in the DE rotation as the last backup.
Andrew Davie could be penciled in as a blocking tight end. He certainly has the size for it, but I’m not actually sure if he’s good at it.
Robert Myers is another interesting TE, but very raw after missing this past season due to injury. He’s more of a pass catching TE, in theory, seeing as he’s on the smaller side, but very fast for the position. I’m hoping he can make it on the practice squad and the team can try to develop him into a legitimate tight end.