Rex Ryan has a new pass rusher.
With the 16th pick of the first round, the Jets selected defensive end Quinton Coples of North Carolina. As with almost every other Jets first round pick in history, the annoucnement was met with a mixture of groans and boos from the fans who came out for the draft.
The Jets found themselves with an abundance of pass rushing options available thanks to the way the first 15 picks played out. They could have chosen one of several options that they were thought to be interested with over the last few months. South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram, the choice of the Jets fans at Radio City, and Syracuse’s Chandler Jones were both mentioned as possibilities, but they ultimately went for Coples.
It’s not a pick without risks. Coples’ talent is praised to the moon, but there have been a lot of questions about his motor and productivity at North Carolina last season. He was still a strong pass rusher, however, and that’s something the Jets defense desperately needs.