Tuesday, April 23, 2002

ProFootballWeekly.com asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football. 

Jets’ draft strategy, secondary come clear

Much to the surprise of onlookers in New York, the J-E-T-S selected DE Bryan Thomas from Alabama-Birmingham with their first-round pick in Saturday’s NFL draft when secondary seemed to be a much more pressing need. The club failed to address cornerback, but drafted S Jon McGraw from Kansas State. After Monday’s signing of former Buccaneers CB Donnie Abraham, both situations are making more sense.

Buchsbaum: The Jets’ draft makes a lot more sense now that they have signed CB Donnie Abraham. Many felt they would go for Miami CB Mike Rumph in the first round and the Jets would probably have gone in that direction had they known what it would cost to sign Abraham and decided to go in that direction. With the addition of Abraham and S Damien Robinson, head coach Herman Edwards now has half of his starting secondary from the Buccaneers. Abraham, a former Pro Bowler who was the most productive interceptor, lost his starting job last year with the Bucs after three games. While Abraham may have lost a half-step, he still has good ball skills and knows the system Edwards runs very well. He will be an upgrade for the Jets over what they could have played with. This move also makes CB Ray Mickens a very unhappy camper. Mickens felt he was promised a starting job when he re-signed. It looked like he was a front-runner for one until Abraham, and fellow free agent Aaron Beasley were brought in. Now those two fairly high-priced free agents figure to be the starting corners with Mickens fulfilling the nickel role. Last year’s fourth-round pick, Jerome Henderson, can also work at safety, and is a possibility.

Evans’ status uncertain after damaging ligament

Wisconsin WR Lee Evans could have been a first- or second-round pick in the April 20 draft had he left school after his junior season. But Evans, seeking his degree and a Rose Bowl berth, went back to Madison only to tear ligaments in his left knee in the Badgers’ spring scrimmage.

Buchsbaum: Evans was as productive as any wide receiver in the country last year. Had he opted to enter this year’s NFL draft, he probably would have gone in the first round and would have been the second wide receiver taken. The only problem with Evans was his size. He was a little small by NFL standards at 5-10 3/4, but was solidly built, had 4.4-type speed and was a far more productive receiver at Wisconsin as a junior than Chris Chambers, a second-round pick by the Dolphins in 2001. However, Evans decided to return to the school and try to get his education and help the Badgers get to the Rose Bowl. Unfortunately, in Wisconsin’s spring game, Evans tore a ligament in his leg. Now his status for the upcoming season is clouded. Because of the injury, even if Evans does play, it will negatively affect where he goes in the draft. Fortunately, he does have a redshirt available to him should he choose to redshirt this year and come back at full strength in ’03.

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