With The 30th Pick In The 2011 Stampede Blue Community Mock Draft, The New York Jets Select...

Phil Taylor - DT, Baylor

Pick made by Eltoasto:

The Jets enter the draft with a few areas of weakness due to free agency and aging. Wide Receiver could certainly use some attention with both Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes free to test the market. A 3-4 DE could also fit the bill with Shaun Ellis headed to free agency. The Left Guard position is also up in the air, though last year's rookie Ducasse should be able to step into the role. Those are all legitimate needs, but to me the most important position in Rex Ryan's 3-4 defense, one that cannot afford lack of depth, is the best pick here:

NT Phil Taylor, Baylor

Quality nose tackles are very hard to come by since the 3-4 defense is the flavor of the month in the NFL, but the impact of a quality NT in Ryan's defense is easily seen when looking at Baltimore before and after Ngata was drafted. Taylor is a large man, 6'4 340-350 pounds, and has the prototype body for the position. Taylor was a beast against the run in college, but will need to improve his pass rush and stamina. Red flags? Oh there are several, you don't get a potential stud NT with the 30th pick unless there are some red flags. He was dismissed from Penn State for academics and undisclosed off the field incidents, and has had problems with his weight. Luckily, only football intelligence matters in the NFL, and he wouldn't be the first 3-4 NT that needed help keeping the weight under control. You don't need me to tell you that Rex Ryan doesn't care much about personality red flags.

Taylor would be in the 2-deep immediately on the Jets, with the inside track of winning the starting job as long as he shows up in shape. With Kris Jenkins cut and Ellis leaving for free agency, only Sione Pouha, the 32 year old veteran who did an admirable job filling in with injuries last season, would compete for the job. While Pouha did decently filling in, he is not the long term solution for a very important position. If Heyward were still on the board he may be tempting, as would one of the top WR's. At this spot, without trading up or down, Taylor is the best pick for this team. The Jets win with defense, and the heart of that defense is the nose tackle.

If Taylor is taken 30th overall, it'll be the first time since 2003 the Jets have taken a DT in the first round (Dewayne Robertson).  Also, he'd be the first DT taken in the first round from Baylor since 1996, when Daryl Gardener was taken 20th overall by the Dolphins.

Phil Taylor Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

The Steelers, and emiller17 are on the clock...