By Tom E. Curran
CSNNE.com
Mike Tannenbaum has become one of the NFL's most aggressive and risk-welcoming general managers. Theballsy moves the Needham native has swung include dealing for Brett Favre, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and Antonio Cromartie. He also went way up in the first round in 2009 to draft Mark Sanchez, so his draft day adventurousness is proven as well. And Tannenbaum went aggressive again in this draft. Picking at 30, the Jets got the best player available for them in Temple DEDT Muhammad Wilkerson. The knock on him was that he played against a lower level of competition and is still raw, but the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Wikerson is just perfect in terms of athleticism, potential and frame to be a success in the Jets 3-4 scheme. Kenrick Ellis was the Jets' third-round pick and they got a talented, tough and competitive nose tackle who goes 6-5, 346. The reason he was there at 94? He's facing a felony assault charge after breaking the jaw and nose of a man last April. The story goes that Ellis was approached by this bat-wielding fella and it didn't turn out well for the bat-wielder. It goes to trial in July. Ellis was kicked out of South Carolina for reportedly failing drug tests. The Jets took running back Bilal Powell from Louisville with the 126th pick. He's a good one-cut runner and decent pass-catcher. His profile in Pro Football Weekly's Draft Preview begins, "Neglected academics, ran with the wrong crowd, and was stabbed after his sophomore season as a Florida prep before moving in with a coach's family and turning his life around."Their next two picks - wide receiver Jeremy Kerley from TCU and Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy - were less risky. Kerley's a good little slot guy who can do some return work. McElroy is a smart, tough, hard-working quarterback who is good depth but not starter material. Tannenbaum came back in the final round and drafted Colorado wideout Scotty McKnight, a longtime friend of Sanchez. SUMMARY:The Jets could wind up with absolutely nothing to show from the 2011 draft. Taking a semi-project, a guy who could end up in jail, and some roster-fillers? Yeesh. The Jets could also wind up hitting the mother lode if Wilkerson plays to his capability, Ellis doesn't go to jail, Kerley becomes a successor to Jerricho Cotchery and Powell steps in when LT steps out. The linchpins of this draft, though, are Wilkerson and Ellis. This is a defensive-oriented team and the Jets either set up their defensive line for the long haul or missed out big.
Tom E. Curran can be reached at tcurran@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Tom on Twitter at http:twitter.comtomecurran