Jets, Ryan Corner Draft Market, Select Boise State's Kyle Wilson

As the NFL's first prime-time draft drew towards a close, the New York Jets bolstered a busy offseason infusion of talent, by selecting Boise State senior cornerback Kyle Wilson with the No. 29 overall selection. Wilson serves as the latest addition (as well as potential Hall-of-Famer Jason Taylor and fellow cover-man Antonio Cromartie) to compliment Rex Ryan's No. 1 ranked defense from 2009. Jets' fans should expect an immediate impact from Wilson this upcoming season, due to the talented corner's NFL-ready cover skills and expected versatility within Ryan's exotic blitz packages.

Although talented defenders such as Sergio Kindle from Texas and Jerry Hughes from Texas Christian remained available, the Jets strengthened an already elite secondary, by selecting Wilson. Newsday's Roderick Boone reports Wilson clocked in at a blazing 4.42 40-yard dash time, in addition to a remarkable 25 bench press reps at the NFL combine. The 5'10", 190-pound cover-man possesses a rare blend of speed and strength, which Ryan will likely feature in the role of nickel cornerback in 2010. Expect Wilson's strength to prove tremendously advantageous in press coverage, as Ryan will regularly isolate the rookie versus opponents' slot receivers, such as New England's Wes Welker, in man-to-man coverage. The Jets should also creatively utilize the former Bronco's speed off the edge within various man and zone blitz packages. Wilson also excelled as an electric return-man and special teams performer at Boise State, enhancing the talented corner's potential value in New York.

Wilson will almost certainly improve the league's best defense from 2009. According to NFL.com, the Jets' vaunted defense remarkably led the league in passing yards allowed, total defense, and points allowed, in Ryan's first season at the helm. The Jets first-round selection perfectly reflects Ryan's steadfast committal to the blueprint in place in New York. As the league evolves into a pass-first league, the Jets have successfully stockpiled an unrivaled myriad of team speed, in the form of talented pass rushers, playmakers, and cover-men. New York's attacking, aggressive style of play is designed to create turnovers, touchdowns, and shorten the field for developing quarterback Mark Sanchez and one of the league's most potent rushing attacks. Wilson's versatility and experience as the unquestioned defensive leader at Boise State, should prove advantageous within Ryan's veteran-laden, dominant defense.

Lastly, Wilson must certainly improve in certain areas to become an elite NFL cornerback. ESPN's Scouts Inc. assesses Wilson's weaknesses, "Lacks elite recovery speed and struggles to recover when getting caught in trail position (and) needs to do a better job of getting head turned in time to locate the ball." With looming questions concerning Wilson's recovery skills, who better to groom the young cornerback than the Jets' All-Pro owner and operator of "Revis Island," Darrelle Revis? Eventually, Wilson should supplant Cromartie at starting cornerback, while pairing with Revis to form one of the league's finest cornerback duos of the future.

Ultimately, expect Wilson to prove tremendously valuable, as the Jets' late first-round selection. The versatile, experienced "cover-corner" should immediately supplement Rex Ryan's arsenal of prime-time playmakers. Expect Wilson to create even greater headaches for opposing quarterbacks and coaches, in terms of preparation, as well on the field for many Sundays to come.

References:
Boone, Roderick. "Jets Get Their Man in Boise State's Kyle Wilson,"
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view/20100423jets_get_their_man_in_boise_states_kyle_wilson/srvc=home&position=recent

Graham, Tim. "Jets Collect Another CB in Kyle Wilson, http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/12991/jets-collect-another-cb-in-kyle-wilson.