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CFN’s Cirminiello on Possible Jets Draft Targets

Add Rich Cirminiello to the list of professional draft watchers who likes a pass rusher for the Jets’ 16th selection in Round 1 of the NFL Draft a week from tonight.

“When the discussion comes to No. 16, I like the fit of Courtney Upshaw to the Jets,” Cirminiello told me this afternoon in between stories for his gig as senior writer at College Football News. “The talk has started to wane a little over the last week or so, but Upshaw’s a great fit for Rex Ryan’s system. I love his personality, he’s got a great motor, he has that kind of versatility where I think the Jets can move him to a couple of different positions, and he comes with that championship banner from Alabama.

Cirminiello also sees merit in the Jets perhaps being interested in such as Illinois OLB Whitney Mercilus, Syracuse DE Chandler Jones and Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd. “I’ve waffled a little bit recently,” he said, “but I’m still leaning toward Courtney.”

Cirminiello has more than just first-round leanings for the Green & White. Here are some of his notes by position on possible Jets targets in the lower rounds that will be held next Friday (Rounds 2-3) and Saturday (Rounds 4-7):

RB: Doug Martin (if he happens to slip to No. 47), Isaiah Pead and Chris Polk (really like in 3rd round), Tauren Poole (4th round)

WR: Rueben Randle (2nd), Marvin McNutt (3rd or 4th), T.J. Graham, Mohamed Sanu (feels so underrated to me), Dwight Jones (3rd-5th range).

OL: G David DeCastro, OT Cordy Glenn, OT Bobby Massie (2nd), Jeff Allen (3rd-4th), OT Markus Zusevics ( a real wild card because he’s hurt).

DE: Courtney Upshaw, Vinny Curry (3rd), Jared Crick (3rd-4th), Malik Jackson (4th)

OLB: Shea McClellin (love everything about him, but especially his versatility if around at No. 47)

S: Mark Barron, Markelle Martin (3rd), George Iloka (4th).

We obtained these notes not nefariously but because Rich will be joining Eric Allen, myself and a host of others on our second annual “NewYorkJets.com Predraft Show,” which will air on our site live next Thursday beginning at 6 p.m.

This is also Cirminiello’s second year on the show with us. He’s been covering college football and the NFL draft for  more than a decade with CFN and for the last six of those years in CFN’s affiliation with FoxSports.com. And in fact he appeared on he appeared on NFL Network last week to make pick Nos. 13-22, so you can see the context of his 16th pick for the Jets in that context.

Cirminiello’s also been the director of college awards for the Maxwell Football Club for the past five years. You can catch his observations in 140 characters or fewer on his Twitter page. And a week from tonight you can catch his last-minute analysis of the draft on newyorkjets.com.