Darren McFadden. Vernon Gholston. Chris Long. Matt Ryan.
In no particular order, those are the big four names at the top of tomorrow’s NFL Draft who have been most associated with the Jets, owners of the No. 6 overall pick.
It’s a virtual lock that one of those four will be available when the Jets’ pick arrives.
The question is, will the Jets be happy with what’s in front of them or will they trade out of the pick, move down a few slots and pick up one of the second-tier first-rounders while acquiring another pick or two in the draft? That, according to two people inside Weeb Ewbank Hall, is a possibility.
If a trade is made, here are several players to keep an eye on, players who visited the Jets, but are not top-six prospects: Tennessee inside linebacker Jerod Mayo, Auburn outside linebacker Quentin Groves and cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin from Troy State, Brandon Flowers from Virginia Tech and Tracy Porter from Indiana.
“I got the feeling that I am a player they like character-wise and ability-wise and the way that I play,” Porter, who also plays special teams and is a strong punt returner, told The Post. “A number of Jets coaches told me they like my game and like the way I play, so I definitely feel those guys are interested in me.
“How high on that list I am is something I don’t know. But I definitely think that if I’m available at some point in the draft and they feel the need to, they’ll take a chance on me.”
Asked about his size (5-foot-11, 188) being an issue with durability, Porter said: “Durability is not something I’m concerned about. Does size matter? That’s another thing I’m not worried about. I have the physical strength to play with anybody.”
Mayo is another player who seemed to hit it off with the Jets, who were specific with him about his role.
“They definitely told me I would be one of their inside guys,” Mayo said.
“You never know what’s going to happen on draft day, so I’m not going in there with any expectations. I’ll be doing yard work with my mom in the backyard not even watching the TV. I’ll have my cell phone on my hip, though.”
Groves’s biggest question to answer was about heart surgery he had recently. In February, Groves was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition in which the heart has an extra circuit that can cause it to beat faster than normal.
Groves had that extra circuit removed March 27 and has been fine since, according to his agent, Sean Kiernan. Groves sent letters out to all 32 teams letting them know about the operation.
“I feel really good,” Groves said. “I think I can bring speed as well as the ability to get to the quarterback. That’s what I bring most of all, rushing the passer.”
That’s what the Jets need most.