The New York Jets have the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but so many things can transpire and it's largely unknown what they will do. Could Nebraska linebacker Randy Gregory be No. 1 on their radar?
Although Mel Kiper Jr. thinks Gregory is a perfect fit for the Jets, there are two problems with such a scenario.
The most recent being he failed a drug test for marijuana at the NFL Combine, which could very well affect his draft stock. We've seen it happen in the past and now more than ever teams are shying away from players with off-field issues, particularly because of the recent domestic violence incidents as well as Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon being banned for the 2015 season because of multiple failed drug tests.
That's the latest issue at hand regarding the Jets' potential decision taking Gregory at No. 6. Their draft pick is highly valued and they'd likely prefer to not use it on a risky investment.
However, Gregory told NFL.com that he discussed his past marijuana use with the 29 teams he talked to at the combine. NFL execs likely had information about him failing drug tests while at Nebraska in January and April of 2014. The linebacker said he hadn't smoked marijuana since December and the result of the failed test was the lingering effect of high THC levels.
If he was candid about his recent marijuana use with the teams he met with then this may not be a problem. He now has former New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards mentoring him and he is being drug tested regularly. Assuming this all goes smoothly, he could still be a top pick, which would put the Jets' chances of getting him in jeopardy.
Here's Mel Kiper Jr.'s take on the Jets' situation and whether they can land him:
"The Jets have had some decent pass-rushers, but they never had a true fear-factor edge rusher like Gregory during Rex Ryan's tenure. I think the combination of Gregory on the edge along with Quinton Coples and then Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson on the inside would make this arguably the top defensive front in the NFL, up there with St. Louis," writes Kiper in his Perfect Fits column.
"It's possible. If the Jets are out on Mariota -- I don't think they can sit still at No. 6 and assume he'll be there -- it's possible Gregory is in the mix as the best player available at No. 6."
Kiper has Gregory going to the Chicago Bears at No. 7 in his latest mock, but Todd McShay has him going to the Washington Redskins at No. 5. It'll be interesting to see what happens on Apr. 30, especially with this most recent development.
