Having already added a top-flight receiver prospect in West Virginia's Kevin White in the first round of our 2015 NFL mock draft, John Butchko and David Wyatt of Gang Green Nation are back to make a second-round pick for the New York Jets -- and this time, they're focusing on the defensive side of the football.
2015 NFL mock draft: Eric Kendricks to New York Jets at No. 37
If an athletic, versatile inside linebacker were to fall to the Jets in Round 2, could they pass up a quality pass-rushing prospect to take him?
The Jets are undergoing a bit of a transition on defense, switching out of the Rex Ryan system after six years and adjusting to life under new head coach Todd Bowles. Their systems are similar in many ways, but the Jets have worked hard to re-stock the cupboard with talent this offseason. That continues here, with a well-regarded linebacker falling into their laps.
37. Jets: Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
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Butchko and Wyatt: Kendricks is one of the most versatile and athletic linebackers in the draft, and in a linebacking corps severely lacking a playmaker, Kendricks will be an instant fit. If there’s one thing the New York Jets linebackers struggle in, it’s coverage, and Kendricks has the speed, athleticism and sideline-to-sideline ability to excel here. In particular, David Harris is getting older, and while he was just rewarded with a way-too-fat contract, he is very limited to what he’s able to do. If he can add some weight, Kendricks can slide between inside and outside linebacker, subbing in for Calvin Pace, to shore up the weakest group on what will likely be a very good defense.
Dan Kadar, SBNation.com: It was surprising for me to see Kendricks not get picked before players like Shaq Thompson and Denzel Perryman. Kendricks has better instincts than Thompson, and better athleticism than Perryman. There may be some dispute if he’s physical enough to play inside in a 3-4, but he should be able to get bigger in the NFL. The issue with this choice is ignoring a pass rusher, and there are a few available, like Eli Harold of Virginia and Nate Orchard of Utah.
Dan’s Top 5 players remaining
- 29. Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
- 30. Paul Dawson, LB, TCU
- 31. Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
- 32. P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
- 33. Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
Jets picks
- 1-6: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
- 2-37: Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
Next up in our mock draft: our friends over at Hogs Haven, picking on behalf of Washington. That's coming your way at noon ET.
SB Nation presents: The best wide inside linebackers in the draft
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