Jets leaning toward defense with 30th pick

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Joey Clinkscales had just finished thanking members of the Jets' scouting staff when he ended his introductory remarks by mentioning the number of picks the franchise has in the three-day NFL draft that kicks off tonight.

"It's nice to have six picks for a change," the Jets' vice president of scouting said before delivering the punchline, "and we'll see how long we have six picks."

"I don't know what to add to that," Terry Bradway, the Jets' senior personnel executive, said with a chuckle.

Mike Tannenbaum giggled himself, knowing he's the wheeling-and-dealing type of general manager who loves to swap players and picks. He's become the master of the draft-day trades, moving up three times in the past five years to scoop up a player he really coveted.

He jumped up on the draft board in 2007 to pick up Darrelle Revis and David Harris, and he did it again in 2008, sliding up to pluck Dustin Keller. Of course, no one will forget the deal of two years ago, when he acquired the fifth overall pick from the Browns to select Mark Sanchez, the face of the franchise.

He also sent three picks to the Lions in the same draft, getting the second day's first selection in order to draft Shonn Greene.

However, this year things may be a bit different because of the trade restrictions brought by the lockout and lack of a new CBA. Although draft picks can be traded, players can't be included, thus making deals like the one Tannenbaum swung last year -- shipping Leon Washington to Seattle for a fifth-round pick -- unable to take place over these next three days.

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So does that mean Tannenbaum will keep all six picks?

"We have run scenarios," he said. "We've looked at a lot of different opportunities. We'll continue to do that. Maybe we'll move up, maybe we'll move back. We'll be ready to go . . . But again, it's a long continuum. When opportunities present themselves, we'll be prepared. That's the only part of the process we can control."

The Jets appear to be leaning heavily on collecting some fresh blood for their defense, something that would thrill Rex Ryan, who's seen the Jets draft six offensive players with their seven picks in his first two seasons. They've been tied by some to Georgia linebacker Justin Houston and UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers, as well as Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor and Temple defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson.

The Jets are in dire need of replenishment along their front seven, and could use someone with pass rushing ability so they can improve their anemic 2010 regular-season sack total off 40.

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"I think if we could add some depth, competition on the defensive side," Tannenbaum said, "that's something we'd like to accomplish during the offseason, if the right opportunity comes along. Of the seven, [draft] picks, six have been on offense. [Ryan] will tell you how good of a coach he is on defense, so that doesn't even matter. That is something we're looking at. In a perfect world you balance it out."

Tannenbaum said there are anywhere between eight to 10 players they've targeted with their first-round selection, which is No. 30 overall.

"When you're at 30, there's going to be a few trades ahead of us," he said. "We try to be as prepared as possible, see if we can move up a few spots or back a few. I think you have to have a pretty good number to start with just because you're sitting at 30."