A football nerd's preview of the NFL Draft -- New York Jets - SILive.com

First round: 16th overall

Total picks: 10

Round-overall: 1-16, 2-31, 3-77, 5-154, 6-187, 6-202, 6-203, 7-232, 7-242, 7-244

Associated Press In this Jan. 9, 2012, file photo, Alabama's Trent Richardson (3) scores a touchdown during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game against LSU in New Orleans. Richardson is a top prospect in the upcoming NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) Jets draft 2012 gallery (5 photos)

Gang Green’s biggest needs

1. Outside linebacker. Not since John Abraham in 2005 have the Jets had a pass rusher that scared opposing QBs right out of their jock straps -- and that includes their 2008 all-world bust Vernon Gholston, on whom they wasted a valuable first-round pick. 

Now is the time where the Jets must pull up their big boy pants and grab their next Abraham, justifying the excellent pass coverage provided by their corners.

2. Safety. Victor Green has long retired, and still the Jets have yet to replace him. I know they had Kerry Rhodes for a few years, but he was more focused on being a male model than being a safety for Gang Green.

The Jets may be in the position to make a play for Mark Barron, a safety who is highly regarded and who would all but make the Jets a team that a QB wouldn't try to pass on, especially against a tight end driven offense.

3. Wide receiver. Even though the Jets are looking to focus on the run, it is apparent that they lack depth at the WR position. The Jets have connected themselves to the hip of Santonio Holmes, owing him a boatload of guaranteed money, which scares any team open to trading for him.

With Holmes in the saddle, the Jets must focus on bringing in a No. Two receiver to sandwich between Holmes and speedster Jeremy Kerley, who is best-fitted as a No. Three. The draft is loaded with wideouts this year, leaving Gang Green with many options, if Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd is not available when the Jets are on the clock.

Who the Jets might target

Say the Jets do not take the bait and, as rumored, trade up into the third spot in the draft, grabbing Alabama running back Trent Richardson, who is believed to be the next coming of Adrian Peterson. 

The Jets would still be left with many options at the sixteenth spot, an edge rusher like Courtney Upshaw would be nice, following an excellent BCS Championship game performance against LSU. He would make up for the Jets woes of drafting Gholston in 2008.

In the event Upshaw is off the board, look for the Jets to look at Upshaw’s college teammate Barron, who would help lock up division foes like Pats’ tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez -- that is if a team like Dallas does not grab him earlier in the round.

Another first-round possibility is Notre Dame's Floyd, who might still be available at No. 16, though he has boat load of baggage, coming off a DUI arrest before the 2011 season and two other alcohol-related citations prior to that.

The Jets admittedly have done their homework on the talented but sometimes troubled Floyd, but they may go on the belief that players’ coach Rex Ryan can handle him and make him fly in formation.

THE OUTCOME

“We’ll have 16 names we’re comfortable with. Could we slide up or back (in a trade)? We’re certainly going to be open to all scenarios,” said Jets General manager Mike Tannenbaum. “We’re happy at 16, that’s the cards we’ve been dealt, and we’ll maximize those opportunities. We do like the flexibility of having the 10 (picks).”

Football Nerd's 2012 Mock first round (With possible trades)

1. Indianapolis Colts- QB, Andrew Luck, Stanford

2. Washington -QB, Redskins Griffin III, Baylor

3. Tampa Bay (trade with MIN) -RB, Trent Richardson, Alabama

4. Cleveland Browns- WR, Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

5. Minnesota Vikings (trade with TB)- CB, Morris Claiborne, LSU

6. Buffalo Bills (trade with STL)- Matt Kalil

7. Dallas Cowboys (trade with JAX)- S, Mark Barron, Alabama

8. Miami Dolphins- QB, Ryan Tannehill

9. Carolina Panthers- Fletcher Cox

10. St Louis Rams (trade with BUF)- WR, Michael Floyd,ND

11. Kansas City Chiefs- Dont'a Hightower

12. Seattle Seahawks-OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

13. Arizona Cardinals- David DeCastro

14. Jacksonville Jaguars(Trade with DAL)- Melvin Ingram, SC

15. Philadelpha Eagles-ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

16. New York Jets- OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

17. Cincinnati Bengals( Trade with Oak)- WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

18. San Diego Chargers- DT Michael Brockers, LSU

19. Chicago Bears- DE Chandler Jones, Syracuse

20. Tennessee Titans- OG Cordy Glenn, Georgia

21. Cincinnati Bengals- CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

22. Cleveland Browns (Trade with ATL)- RB, Doug Martin, Boise State

23. Detroit Lions- DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

24. Pittsburgh Steelers- DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

25. Denver Broncos- RB, Lamar Miller, Miami

26. Houston Texans- WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech

27. New England Patriots- OLB Bruce Irvin, West Virginia

28. Green Bay Packers- OLB Shea McClellin, Boise State

29. Baltimore Ravens- OLB, Nick Perry, USC

30.New England Patriots- CB Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma

31. New York Giants- OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

New York Jets Mock Draft (7 Rounds)

1-16-OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

2-31-OT Mitchell Schwartz, California

3-77-ILB James-Michael Johnson, Nevada

5-154-WR Tommy Streeter, Miami

6-187-DT Mike Daniels, Iowa

6-202-RB Dan Herron, Ohio State

6-203-OLB Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh

7-232-SS Matt Daniels, Duke

7-242-TE Nick Provo, Syracuse

7-244- DE Bobby Skinner, Montclair St.