Jets use back-to-back Picks in Round six to add CB and D-Lineman
The Jets used a pair of back-to-back draft choices to address their need at slot cornerback and depth on the defensive line by drafting Tulane product Parry Nickerson who ran a 4.32 at the combine in Indianapolis, and defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi out of Connecticut.
Player bio’s on Nickerson and Fatukasi who were both projected as 4th/5th round choices read as follows:
Analysis
Overview
Nickerson is a gritty, undersized cornerback who possesses some of the more impressive ball skills in this year’s draft. His lack of size and length will likely force him into the slot where his athletic ability and technique should allow him to make his mark. Nickerson is tough, smart and instinctive, but he needs to prove he can hold up as an NFL tackler. He should compete for a role as nickel cornerback early in his career.
Strengths
- Competes hard in coverage
- Usually plays on an island
- Despite lack of size, can slow receivers with his press
- Effective from press and off-man coverage
- Quick feet and loose hips to match patterns from his backpedal
- Ballhawk
- Made plays on 28 percent of his targets over last two years
- Highly instinctive and makes plays outside his area
- Has burst to close and can carry long speed down the field
- Tracks the deep ball like a veteran outfielder
- Sinks and crowds receiver’s catch space before turning to find the ball
- Punches above his weight when it’s time to get physical at the catch-point
- Uses high-point talent and positioning to take away 50/50 throws
Weaknesses
- Smallish with a thin frame
- Leans on receivers after release and gets off-balance at times
- Aggressive style can get him tossed around when big receivers get physical back
- Gets grabby when he’s knocked out of position at top of the route
- Plays hard but size matchups could be a challenge on NFL level
- Lacks length for optimal recovery from trail position
- Ducks head and throws his shoulder into ball carrier’s legs to tackle over wrapping up
Fatukasi, a projected mid-round pick is a two-gap lineman was described as follows:
Player Bio
Analysis
Overview
Fatukasi is raw but talented and offers a well-built, versatile defender who can be played at a variety of positions by teams who employ varied defensive fronts. He needs to improve at the point of attack, but that could happen if he’s asked to slant less and improves technique as a two-gapper. Fatukasi’s flashes of power and disruption could be foreshadowing a future as a quality NFL starter with the ability to play on passing downs if he can reach his potential.
Strengths
- Dense, well-proportioned frame with good muscle mass
- Fires out of his stance with good pad level and initial quickness when working in the gaps
- Has brute power to challenge a blocker’s edges and constrict rush lanes
- Has two-gap potential, with more technique work
- Able to rock interior blockers with heavy, punishing hands in his pass rush
- Uses hands and leg drive to cave the pocket and force quarterbacks to move
- Flashed a fluid spin move that could have some legs on next level
- Plays with energy and vigor on every snap
- Raw but talented
- Has necessary size and strength to play play nose or three-technique in a 4-3 and defensive end in a 3-4
Weaknesses
- Plays with some tightness in his knees
- Production as run defender is average
- Lateral movement is nothing special
- Has a hard time staying ahead of blocks when plays flow outside
- Inconsistent in recognition of blocking schemes
- Lacks feel for down blocks
- Needs to work with more consistent technique against double teams to improve anchor
- Gets caught up with fist fights in front of him rather than controlling point of attack with length and power
- Shed timing is below average
- Loses balance when he plays out of control
- Pass rush would improve with greater focus
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