Jets Add Depth To Secondary, Offensive Line On NFL Draft's Final Day
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The New York Jets added depth to their secondary and offensive line -- and also got themselves a punter -- on the final day of the NFL draft.
They selected North Carolina State cornerback Juston Burris with their fourth-round pick, and then traded into the fifth to take South Carolina offensive tackle Brandon Shell, the great nephew of Hall of Famer Art Shell.
With their final two selections, both in the seventh round, the Jets selected Sam Houston State punter Lachlan Edwards, an Australian, at No. 235, and Clemson wide receiver Charone Peake six picks later. New York gave up its fourth-rounder in next year's draft to get Washington's fifth-rounder this year, No. 158 overall.
"He was a player we considered taking in the fourth round when we actually took Juston Burris," general manager Mike Maccagnan said of Shell.
Burris was a three-year starter with the Wolfpack and is considered a strong, physical player with good hands.
"I played in the nickel package, but I was also the outside corner," Burris said during a conference call. "We had a couple other guys who are now in the NFL that went inside. I was mostly an outside corner. I didn't really play inside much, unless it was a matchup thing."
Burris will likely compete for a backup spot behind projected starters Darrelle Revis and Buster Skrine, and also play on special teams. Burris also played safety early in his college career, but is expected to play cornerback.
Coach Todd Bowles is impressed with Burris' eyes, ball skills and long arms that can help at the line of scrimmage in the Jets' press man-to-man coverage.
"It's not mandatory, but when you can get a guy like that, who has those type of skills, it's very helpful for our team," Bowles said. "We see him as a press corner. He can do other things as well."
Burris said he's "well-versed" in disrupting quarterbacks' timing and receivers' routes in press coverage.
"That was our scheme at NC State and that's what we modeled our game after," he said. "I think you see on the tape how I'm pretty good at press-man coverage."
Shell is a 6-foot-5, 324-pound lineman who was a right tackle for three seasons before shifting to the left side last year as a redshirt senior. He was a four-year starter who started the last 47 straight games and opened some eyes at the East-West Shrine game with his run-blocking ability.
Shell also has terrific bloodlines, of course. Art Shell played offensive tackle for 15 seasons in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls and making eight Pro Bowls with the Raiders before becoming the first black head coach in the league's modern era when he took over for the franchise he spent his entire playing career in 1989.
"We have a pretty good relationship," the younger Shell said during a conference call. "He's been a real big help to me through this process."
The selection came one spot after where the Jets were originally supposed to pick, which they traded to Denver on April 9 to acquire left tackle Ryan Clady.
Edwards was the first punter drafted by the Jets since they took Craig Hentrich in the eighth round in 1993. New York had a need at the position after allowing not tendering an offer to restricted free agent Ryan Quigley, who signed with Philadelphia. The 6-5, 205-pound Edwards averaged 42.8 yards in four seasons at Sam Houston after playing Australian Rules football and rugby in his home country.
Peake is a speedy receiver who tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in 2013 and his left meniscus the following year before rebounding with his best college season last season, catching 50 passes for 716 yards and five TDs.
After going with Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee as the team's first-round selection with the 20th overall pick Thursday night, the Jets surprised some by drafting Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg in the second round Friday night.
It appeared New York might try to add a pass rusher at that spot, which they did in the third round with Georgia's Jordan Jenkins. While Ryan Fitzpatrick remains a free agent and in a contract stalemate, the Jets took Hackenberg, who set the school marks for career passing yards, completions and touchdowns.
Maccagnan reiterated that the selection of Hackenberg doesn't affect the team's plans to try to re-sign Fitzpatrick. The GM also denied a published report that the Jets were trying to swing a deal to acquire Nick Foles from the Rams.
"I would say, simply, to dispel anything, we're not at this point in time in discussions with any other teams for any other quarterbacks," Maccagnan said. "At least I can put that to bed at this point in time."
Bowles also said it's not necessary to have Fitzpatrick back until training camp, and that there's no sense of urgency to get him into the facility.
"With Ryan, probably not so much because he understands the system," Bowles said. "It's good to get a guy here just to have chemistry, but it's not mandatory right now."
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