NFL

JETS DRAFT GHOLSTON

If you were seeking high drama and a sexy pick from the Jets in the first round of today’s NFL Draft, you either came to the wrong place or woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

When the Jets made the sixth overall pick, there would be no Darren McFadden nor Matt Ryan to rock the world of the expectant Jets fan.

Both of those intriguing, potential franchise-changing talents already were drafted: quarterback Ryan to the Falcons at No. 3 and running back McFadden to the Raiders at No. 4.

That left the Jets with the chalk pick, Ohio State defensive end/linebacker Vernon Gholston, a pass rushing specialist who actually might make a few sacks for the Jets, a novel concept.

Seven of the 32 NFL teams had fewer sacks than the 29 quarterback takedowns the Jets managed last season. Five of those seven teams had a losing record.

So, as much as the Jets could have used an instant injection of the offensive energy that McFadden, the prolific Arkansas product, would have provided, they, too, are in need of someone to scare opposing quarterbacks.

The Jets are hopeful Gholston, who recorded 22-½ sacks in 28 games at Ohio State, will be that guy.

If there’s been one knock on Gholston from the various pre-draft scouting and analysis it’s that he takes some games and plays off, and that his sacks have come in bunches. For example, 11 of his 14 last season came in four games.

“I’m always happy with sacks in bunches,” Eric Mangini said today after the pick was made. “If that’s the way they’re going to come, that’s fine; 22-½ sacks in 28 games is a pretty good ratio, however they came.”

Gholston, who turns 22 in June, said he hasn’t been bothered by the analysts who’ve called him overrated.

“Everybody has their opinion. The biggest thing for me is go out there and show what I can do,” he said. “The biggest thing is, I have a lot of attributes they can use.”

Though Gholston appears to be a quality pick and someone who figures to strengthen a Jets’ weakness, there were other compelling scenarios that never came to fruition for the Jets.

They spent a lot of time with McFadden, researching his off-the-field issues, squiring him around Manhattan. And the possibility of McFadden jump-starting their plodding offense was tantalizing to many Jets fans.

Though he conceded there were phone calls made and taken before their pick, Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum declined to be specific. Rest assured, though, that the Jets at least made an inquiry about McFadden.

The other interesting scenario many speculated might unfold was Ryan being there at No. 6 and what the Jets would do if the Boston College product was available: Draft him or trade out of the pick with the Ravens.

One final scenario that appeared poised to doom the Jets’ first-round plans was Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards, the former Jets head coach, picking Gholston right in front of them at No. 5. That would have left LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey as the best available talent, and the Jets wouldn’t have had a position for him in their 3-4 scheme.

The Chiefs secured the fifth pick in the draft by losing to the Jets in last season’s finale, a scenario that would have been rather ironic had Edwards scooped up Gholston.

The Jets then traded back into the first round, acquiring the 30th pick from the Packers to select Purdue tight end Dustin Keller.

Keller, known as a much better receiver than blocker, caught 68 passes for 881 yards and 7 TDs last season.