Lombardi down on Upshaw; Floyd, Jones high on Jets

The Courtney Upshaw bandwagon is getting lighter as we speak.

NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi is one of the latest prognosticators to lower their draft expectations of the Alabama linebacker. During a Monday radio interview with Joe and Evans on WFAN, Lombardi said he could see Upshaw slipping into the second round if Cincinnati (which has two first-round picks) doesn’t scoop the linebacker up at 21.

“There’s no position you really can say he can play,” Lombardi explained. “People say, he can rush as a down defensive end. Well, I think if you really study it closely, he beats a lot of running backs and tight ends in protection. Not often does he beat the tackle. He can, but he’s not a speed rusher and his power is not going to be as effective once he plays down full-time.

“And then you take the element, ‘Well, he’s a 34 outside back’ - well, that’s great. Everybody wants to say that, but a 34 outside backers have to drop into coverage, or else you know what it becomes if they don’t drop? It’s the 62 high school defense, so you’ve got to be able to drop. And his versatility in terms of his athleticism is best going forward, but that power isn’t there. So I think he’s one of these guys who doesn’t have a specific answer for where he’s going to play or how he’s going to play.”

Lombardi thinks the Jets will end up with Melvin Ingram or Whitney Mercilus.

He also said the Jets likely will lose out on safety Mark Barron, who sees being snatched up by Buffalo at No. 10. “I think he’s a real hot commodity right now," said Lombardi. "And there’s a true distinction between the best safety, which is Barron and the second-best, which is Harrison Smith.”

Here are some other tidbits:

* The Jets have raved about ND’s Michael Floyd, but Lombardi pointed out the Jets have much bigger issues than wide receiver -- namely, a pass rushing presence and upgrade at right tackle.

* As far as running backs go, the Jets dream would be to get Alabama’s Trent Richardson. If they can’t trade up to get him, Lombardi highlighted Cincinnati’s Isaiah Pead as a good fit. “He can run, he can catch, he can return kicks. I think he’s a real dynamic player. He could really help the Jets.”

* Mike Tannenbaum’s best draft pick has been CB Darrelle Revis, whom the Jets traded up to get. This year, however, it may be tough for them to pull off that kind of magic with six of their 10 draft picks coming in the sixth and seventh rounds. “Nobody wants a sixth or a seventh round pick, so I don’t know if they’ll have the ammunition to get up to where they need to go,” Lombardi said. “If they go up, who are they going to get? Are they going up to get Barron? Or are they trying to get all the way up to three to get Trent Richardson, which wouldn’t be a bad play for the Jets. They’ve talked about being ground and pound, but they’re a blue-chip running back away from being the ground and pound.”

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In other radio news, Floyd said on Sirius XM NFL radio Monday that he had great visit with the Jets and would fit in with Jets toughness. He also said he's willing to be a run blocker.

* Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones (younger brother of Ravens’ defensive tackle Arthur and UFC Light Heavyweight champ Jon) was interview a few hours later.

Jones, an Endicott, N.Y. native, sounded enthusiastic about possibly playing less than four hours away from home in Florham Park, N.J.

“That could be pretty fun,” he said. “Rex Ryan’s a great coach. I’m a fan of the Jets as well. And as far as the location, it’s pretty good. My parents and my family are huge supporters of me and both of my brothers. And it being only four hours away, it would be quite the gig.”