NFL Mock Draft: Who will New York Jets select?

Jul 17, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Bud Dupree talks to the media during the SEC football media days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

With the fifth pick in the NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins will have to be drafting to improve their defense. They lost pass-rusher Brian Orakpo in free agency, and replacing the often injured Orakpo makes sense in the first-round.

The Redskins will be using the fifth-pick to select defensive end Dante Fowler from Florida. Fowler was a very talented edge-rusher at Florida, as in his junior season he totaled 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.

Fowler has great size at 6’3” 261 pounds, and can be an impact player for the Redskins right away. With the Gators, Fowler was moved around the defense, as his speed and strength makes him one of the best defensive players in the draft. Washington has been struggling on the defensive side of the ball for a while, and Fowler will help that begin to turn around.

The New York Jets could be going in multiple directions in this draft, but adding a pass-rusher might be the final piece to the puzzle on defense.

This offseason, the Jets addressed their secondary by signing Buster Skrine, Antonio Cromartie, and Darrelle Revis. The Jets have some older players at outside linebacker right now with Calvin Pace and Jason Babin. The addition of Bud Dupree with the sixth pick could give the Jets a great edge-rusher for years to come.

In 2014, Dupree totaled 7.5 sacks as a senior, and finished his college career with 23.5 sacks. Dupree has the ability to get to the quarterback, and that is something the Jets could use. For his size, Dupree is fairly quick, but he would be best-suited to mostly be attacking the quarterback. The Jets will certainly hope that a quarterback falls to them, but realistically they will be drafting another position, and Dupree would be a great fit.

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