2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 30

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the New York Jets, at No. 30 overall.

John B of GangGreenNation.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Jets, and checking out Gang Green Nation for all of your Jets needs.

John B explains: This is a case where need meets value. Ayers offers the Jets better value at outside linebacker with this pick than is available at the other positions of need (safety, defensive line, and perhaps wide receiver). The front office has made it clear the status quo at outside linebacker was not good enough. Otherwise, Jason Taylor would be back at his reasonable 2011 salary. While Ayers is more raw as a pass rusher than the Jets would like, they have an excellent defensive coaching staff to try and mold his big time athleticism into a pass rushing threat. Ayers would immediately give the team something it lacks, a linebacker capable of holding up in pass coverage.

Dan Kadar reacts: I only question this pick because Ayers wasn’t really used in 2010 as a pass rusher. Whether or not he can do it is one of the draft’s bigger unknkowns. Everyone will get hung up on Ayers’ NFL Combine numbers and immediately assume he can’t. But go watch a game. Ayers can move around fine. It’s whether or not he has the technique and temperament to do it. John is right about Ayers’ pass coverage skill. He’s one of the best coverage linebackers in this year’s draft. But I’m not sure Rex Ryan would draft an outside linebacker to play pass coverage. [Akeem Ayers Scouting Report]