With the No. 16 overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the New York Jets have selected former North Carolina Tar Heels defensive end Quinton Coples. Coples is the 12th-rated prospect in the draft and the top-ranked defensive end, according to Mocking The Draft's rankings.
2012 NFL Draft Results: UNC DE Quinton Coples Selected By New York Jets With 16th Overall Pick
Bill Hanstock is a writer, author and Emmy Award-winning producer. He began writing for SB Nation in 2011.
Here’s what Mocking the Draft had to say about Coples prior to the draft:
Final word: Make no mistake, despite finishing strong against Virginia Tech and Duke, Coples had a down senior season for North Carolina. He had trouble with teams doubling him outside, using chip blocks from running backs and teams sliding protection to his side of the line. Because that may not happen as much in the NFL (at least initially), Coples’ down stats may not be as big of a negative as perceived.
Don’t forget that Coples spent much of the 2010 season lined up at tackle because of depth issues for the Tar Heels. Playing the inside gap suits Coples’ skills much better. He has a good first step to get inside and the power to finish off the play. When lined up at end, Coples just doesn’t have the elite speed and athleticism you look for in a 4-3 pass rusher.
For more information about Quinton Coples and the North Carolina Tar Heels, check out Carolina March. For more on the Jets, check out Gang Green Nation. For lots more on the 2012 NFL draft, please visit Mocking the Draft. You can learn more about Coples by watching the video below.
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