The newly John Idzik managed Jets focus for the 2013 draft is on top talent available after first round selections of cornerback Dee Milliner and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. The Jets had the 9th and 13th overall picks and chose not to select offensive players to combat last years bottom three finish in passing yards. 

Idzik told the New York Post “We were not going to succumb to temptation.  Talent will trump need, especially higher in the draft. You stick to what you believe and if you have players on your board you pick them.’’

Alabama’s Dee Milliner was elected to first-team All-American and All-SEC teams as a junior standout cornerback after their championship season.  Jets fans hope Milliner will fill the freshly vacant cornerback position after the Darrelle Revis trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Milliner has all the tools having the experience of playing and winning at college football’s current powerhouse along with his ideal size and elite speed with a sub 4.40 40-yard dash. 

Rex Ryan spoke about the seeming replacement pick after Revis’ departure in saying, “Nobody replaces Revis.”  He plans to pair Milliner with veteran Antonio Cromartie and added,  “We want Cro to be Cro and we want Dee Milliner to be himself.  That’s it. He’s a great football player. All these guys are. They don’t have to worry about trying to be compared to Darrelle Revis.”

The next selection of Sheldon Richardson out of Missouri surprised fans but again,  the Jets valued his talent too high to pass at the opportunity.  Richardson is an incredible athlete that has impressed scouts with an exceptional quickness for his large stature as a defensive tackle. 

Rex Ryan enthused, “These two guys are going to make an impact for us. We love what they bring to the defense..the kind of mentality that both these young men play with are the same traits that we look for in all of our players, but they certainly play like a Jet.” 

To fans awaiting that needed offensive improvement Idzik explained, “We’re not done.  We have two days of work to go.  We feel this draft is very deep. Once you get down a little further in the draft, there’ll be more offensive players that stack up.” 

The Jets went on to shock some fans and grab quarterback Geno Smith out of West Virginia in the second round.   Smith had previously been projected as high as the top ten but fell to 39th overall.  The focus then switched blocking with pick ups of offensive linemen Brian Winters, Oday Aboushi, William Campbell and fullback Tommy Bohanon.