National Football Post is reporting that the Jets have worked out top Guard Mike Iupati. Iupati (6-5, 331) played collegiately at Idaho, and is considered the best Guard in the draft by many.
The young lineman wowed scouts and coaches at the Senior Bowl and Combine, and is projected to be a top 20 pick.
While there’s some disagreement on where he’d fit best (Tackle or Guard), he’s likely better suited to the inside game. Drafting a Guard above the 20th pick would seem like a stretch, so that might very well be why the Jets are paying attention to the player as he might slip if he’s a true Guard. The Jets could use some more depth for 2010 on their line, and a new projected starters going forward as some of their pieces (Moore, Faneca, Woody) are aging. Other than the Jets, Iupati has been scheduled for at least nine official visits.
Our brand is a tough O-line and let’s keep it going. I really like the idea of drafting a future Faneca
hmm…interesting. probably the FO just doing their due diligence with players that should be available around that time. But this is an intriguing guy to look at.
Agree with JFiM, but maybe if they trade back to get an extra 2nd or something they could look to add this guy. He seems like he’d be right up Rex’s alley.
I like it too. Just not this year.
This post made my day. My hope all along is that the Jets would use their first 2 picks regardless of which order to get a pass rushing DE and an O-lineman. I have read about this player.. he’s big and lean (so can add weight along the way) and is quick as a cat. I would love to see Tanny use his trading magic and land Mike. Coupled with Matt Slausen from last year who I hear is doing extremely well in his development, we would be getting the next round of ‘ground and pounders’ ready to go a year or two from now.
I wouldn’t hate this pick, I think that it is a guarantee that Faneca will be cut next year and we need a guy to fill his spot immediately after next season. I would agree with almost everyone though. An impactful pass rushing outside linebacker is what we need even if we need to trade up with our fourth to get him.
I think some people project this guy as a LT but I saw him get abused at LT at the Senior Bowl. Maybe a RT down the road but this guy can come in and start at G from day one for anyone.
He is a tough SOB and just mauls people but he should be drafted as a guard right now
I wouldnt be upset if we called his name……but their would be a lot of confused Jet fans if that happened.
Jeff,
Yahoo Sports had the same exact picture up with “Thomas Jones” under the caption talking about the best free agent signings. It’s not like they’re identical. TJ is darker and more defined and Greene is a little chubster.
Im wondering if Tanny is seeing some WR talent in the later rounds, and is looking to address the D-line/O-line in the first 2 rounds..I think i’ve read almost every mock draft out there, but most of them dont go passed round 4
Yaar let’s go get him! I think he will be good!
I would love this pick! Only, Top-15 player that could fall / would pick better is Brandon Graham. Probably means we’ll have to trade up!
Otherwise, I would be very happy drafting Jared Odrick or Golden Tate at #29.
Should none of these guys be available by the time we pick, I would be inclined to settle on Ricky Sapp or Devin McCourty.
I’m Itching for the draft already..i dont know if i can make it to April :(
1st round picks especially late 1st round picks are guys who you should start and should be solid, aside from the QB position, and it’s not meant for development, or depth, we have a good O-line, and if we want depth and guys we can develop we should do it in the 4th round or next years 2nd round. because to me 1st rounders should fill a need, and a big one, and right now O-line isn’t the biggest.
ahhh a solid pick at 29.
so many factors come in to play during the draft. always want to draft BPA.
i see nyckage’s point and agree, however how ’bout we start him at RG and move him to LG when Faneca retires?
still adding depth by moving Moore to backup duty
This kid is going to be a good NFL lineman but Im not sure how this makes us better next year…
With all the restrictions this year, I think our first pick has to be a guy who can play right away…this guy wont start for a year or two
With that being said, he wouldnt help this year but definitely down the road
Never wrong looking to improve either line.
96 Debacle?
Why move Moore out of the lineup? I thought Moore had a very good year and is underrated
Yeah im not for benching someone who really contributed last year, if hes selected, hes waiting a year
These are the type of draft picks that great franchises make. It wont make us better next year, because he wont play, but it will make it a lot easier to fill the hole left by Faneca when he is no longer able to cut it. I’m telling you, these are the kind of draft picks that winning franchises make.
JR
Absolutely my man
I was just saying Id rather have the pass rusher but this kid would be a really good pick no doubt about it
Eddie,
I’d rather have the pass rusher too, but if the right one isnt available at 29, it would be better to draft this guy than to reach on an OLB.
Ideally I want the Jets to sign Joey Porter and then draft an OLB in the 2nd or 3rd round.
JR
And you are right again my man, if Graham, Hughes or Kindle are gone and this kid is sitting there, we have to pick him…
only thing with Porter is that if Rex thought he could play in his system, I would have thought they would have been all over the guy right?
I mean Porter is a pure pass rusher, may not be as explosive as he use to be, but man, he gets after QBs
If the Jets scouts believe he will be a good replacement for faneca then take him if he is available. He will be that good OL backup that many have been hoping for and then next year he will replace Faneca. I just hope he is quick enough for that pulling guard play that we love to use.
I would love to see what Slauson can do first. Google the guy on image search and tell me he ain’t a player.
The Jets as has been mentioned are only doing their due diligence. I think you really have to look at what they have done in the past. The Jets are pretty secretive about who they draft and who they are looking at. From time to time you will get a tid bit about this guy or that guy. But be sure of one thing before the draft many an NFL team has 20-30 guys come in and look at them. But when following the Jets they look at a minimum of 10 guys that you hear of. Same holds true for N.E., N.Y.G. Steelers, etc. So I wouldn’t put too much weight in who they are looking at. By the way they had a good look at Ray Fisher, WHO? Yeah thats my point.
I’ve heard Faneca retirement talk and he has a huge cap number coming up. If we can find a solid replacement I say we do it. The O line is our offensive strength and letting it age and decay is not a good plan.
this would b a nice pick next year, moore is solid at rg, we don’t have a third.pick
not this year i believe we can wait till next year to re-tool our o-line… i really like brian price out of ucla he was projected as a mid first round pick and his stock has dropped because of a bad combine… i believe this kid will be a beast whereever he goes maybe he can play the end in the 3-4 next to elllis and big jenks
Either way this will be an interesting draft we can go in so many different directions i wish i could pick Tanny’s brain but well just have to wait and see
Unless the Jets draft “down” they will draft DE/OLB “Hybrid”. Second round, Safety…then Offensive line. Just my two cents.
If he’s BPA at 29 and there is no WILL/DE hybrid pass rusher available, why not? Jets are a ground and pound team and you never know what happens during a season. There’s injuries, sometimes playoff positions are wrapped up early and there’s blowouts. Resting the vets on the OL to have them fresh for the playoffs is important and Faneca or Woody can’t last forever.
forget about porter guys he just signed with zona… i say lets retool our oline begining next year. witha young qb and running back we should have as much stability as we can on the o line
I’m always a little skeptical about these private workouts. I think a lot of what happens in the draft process is just scouting in general. Remember, any guy you don’t draft is someone you may have to play against. For instance, if the Jets know some of the teams in the division love Iupata, why not get a close look at him. It’s hard to see the Jets going OL in the first round unless they have concerns about Woody, Moore, or Faneca holding up for another season. Dominance by the OL is one of the foundations of the team. Maybe they feel they need reinforcements at this point.
Good business……reasonable and practical……really, how long will it be before they give the boot to RT Woody and LG Faneca?
Would npt be upset at all, if his name is called. U win in the trenches and the fact of the matter is this line is getting old but we have a super young QB,) and TE…..shoring up the line for the future would not be a bad idea …esp if he’s BPA at EC
Meant BPA at 29
I think its a good move to draft these replacemnt guys so the vet can teach him his winning ways .
We really need to start addressing the LG and RT I say it would be good to get fanacas replacemnt cause hes the most likly to leave .
Woody could play another year but he was a bit inconsistent last year no. I remeber a lot of offsides from him
i was actually refering to nypackage’s comment about a guy inth efirst round should be a starter no matter what. Moore did a very good job last year, not taking anything away from him. if he’s that good he can win the job from moore and we can have moore back the OL up. keeping a guy that is a starter as a backup who knows the system is agreat insurance for an injury.