2017 NFL Draft analysis: New York Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Most teams don't enter the draft looking to dramatically overhaul their safety corps within the first two days. But most teams weren't as bereft of talent at safety as the New York Jets were in 2016.

The Jets followed up their first-round selection of strong safety Jamal Adams by picking free safety Marcus Maye in the second round. While Maye is not quite as finished a product as Adams, he may have an even clearer path to a Week 1 starting job with Marcus Gilchrist (torn patellar tendon) all but assured of beginning the season on the physically unable to perform list.

Of course, the Jets may clear a path for Adams, too, by trading or releasing Calvin Pryor, who seems to have fallen into the doghouse of head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan.

Round 1/6 - Jamal Adams, S, 6-1, 211, Louisiana State

The notoriously star-crossed Jets got a lucky break when Adams, viewed by some as a top-three pick, slipped to six. As a hard-hitting athletic safety who thrives in coverage and offers plenty of leadership skills, he fills several needs for a defense and locker room starved of talent and intangibles. Adams makes safety Calvin Pryor immediately expendable and should start from the moment he hits the field at training camp.

Round 2/39 - Marcus Maye, S, 6-0, 216, Florida

After ignoring the position for several coaching administrations, the Jets doubled down on safety by taking Maye with their second pick. Free safety is arguably an even bigger need than strong safety for the Jets with incumbent free safety Marcus Gilchrist recovering from a torn patellar tendon. Maye has drawn some criticism for being overly aggressive, but he offers solid all-around skills and plenty of experience (he started 42 games in a career shortened by a broken arm as a senior).

Round 3/79 - ArDarius Stewart, WR, 5-11, 204, Alabama

The verbose Stewart compared himself to former Steelers star receiver Hines Ward, which, if true, would make the Jets quite happy. As is, he looks like someone who could contribute in a variety of ways with solid speed (he was clocked at 4.49 in the 40) and ability to break tackles. He even returned kickoffs at Alabama and could contribute in that long-overlooked area for the Jets as a rookie.

Round 4/141 - Chad Hansen, WR, 6-2, 202, California

If he looks like an Eric Decker replacement and walks like an Eric Decker replacement, he's probably an Eric Decker replacement. Hansen, who has Decker-like measurables, produced at a Decker-like rate in his lone season at Cal, where he racked up 92 catches for 1,249 yards and 11 touchdowns. Decker was already questionable at best for training camp following hip and shoulder surgeries, but the addition of Hansen may lead to Decker getting his outright release.

Round 5/150 - Jordan Leggett, TE, 6-6, 258, Clemson

Leggett made 38 starts, finished with 1,598 receiving yards and won a national title for Clemson and has a seemingly easy route to snaps with the tight end-less Jets. But he was charged with nine drops over his final three seasons and reportedly "earned" the nickname "Lazy Leggett." He probably has the inside track to the Week 1 starting job, but he doesn't look like the answer to a long-time problem spot.

Round 5/181 - Dylan Donahue, OLB, 6-3, 248, West Georgia

Donahue collected 25.5 sacks in two seasons at Division II West Georgia, but is already 25 years old. But the Jets had some success with an older late-round linebacker in 2014 with then-26-year-old Trevor Reilly, who carved out a role as a solid special teamer after being selected in the seventh round. The Jets should be happy if Donahue can do the same.

Round 6/188 - Elijah McGuire, RB, 5-10, 214, Louisiana-Lafayette

An odd choice by the Jets, who are loaded at running back with Matt Forte and jack-of-all-trades Bilal Powell. McGuire holds school records for all-purpose yards (5,968) and touchdowns (52), but there are already workload concerns after he averaged fewer than five yards per carry in his final two seasons after averaging eight yards per carry in his first two seasons. Perhaps he can emerge as a potential replacement for Powell for 2018.

Round 6/197 - Jeremy Clark, CB, 6-3, 220, Michigan

The Jets waited three days to select a cornerback, and there's a pretty good chance they'll have to wait until 2018 to see if Clark can contribute. Clark missed most of his senior season with a torn ACL and also battled shoulder issues at Michigan. While the injury past conjures up memories of Dee Milliner, Clark has the ideal measureables for a cornerback (including 33-inch arms) and is a fine developmental prospect.

Round 6/204 - Derrick Jones, CB, 6-2, 188, Mississippi

The Jets went back-to-back at a position for the third time in the draft by selecting Jones, who qualifies as another project. Jones will likely need to add some weight and is a candidate for a redshirt season on the practice squad following a 2016 in which he played in just seven games.