New York Jets 2013 Draft Preview

Those back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship Game in Mark Sanchez's first two NFL seasons are now just distant memories for the New York Jets, a team which enters this draft process as one of the least talented in football.

The embattled Sanchez will likely get one final chance to prove he can be the answer at quarterback for the Jets but you can't rule out a signal-caller at No. 9 overall for New York, especially if West Virginia's Geno Smith begins to fall.

Other major needs for the Jets include right tackle, a position where Austin Howard allowed 13 1/2 sacks last season, along with outside linebacker where the pedestrian Antwan Barnes and Garrett McIntyre are currently penciled in.

In reality, though, the Jets need help just about everywhere outside of left tackle and center where D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold reside. Of course, even those stalwarts have probably reached the apex of their careers and have started the descent.

Cornerback also looks strong on paper but that will likely change dramatically after the Jets finally pull the trigger and trade All-Pro Darrelle Revis.

If Smith isn't the pick at No. 9 New York could look toward guards Chance Warmack of Alabama or Jonathan Cooper of North Carolina. The team is also enamored with LSU pass rusher Barkevious Mingo while Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, although he has been falling since running some poor 40 times at his pro day, would be a nice fit.

2012 Record: 6-10

Top Needs: OLB, RT, OG, QB

First Three Picks: No. 9, No. 39, No. 72

Number of Selections: 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2012 - Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina): 2011 - Muhammad Wilkerson (DE, Temple); 2010 - Kyle Wilson (CB, Boise State); 2009 - Mark Sanchez (QB, USC); 2008 - Vernon Gholston (OLB, Ohio State), Dustin Keller (TE, Purdue); 2007 - Darrelle Revis (CB, Pittsburgh); 2006 - D'Brickashaw Ferguson (OT, Virginia), Nick Mangold (C, Ohio State); 2005 - none; 2004 - Jonathan Vilma (LB, Miami-Florida); 2003 - Dewayne Robertson (DT, Kentucky); 2002 - Bryan Thomas (DE, UAB).