Jets draft speedy WR Hill
Mark Sanchez has a new target.
The Jets moved up four picks in the second round of the NFL Draft in a trade with the Seahawks last night, and selected wide receiver Stephen Hill out of Georgia Tech.
Hill fills a huge hole for the Jets, who needed a No. 2 wide receiver to replace Plaxico Burress. Hill can now play opposite Santonio Holmes in the Jets offense and give Sanchez a fast-moving target downfield.
At Georgia Tech, Hill averaged 29.3 yards per catch last year as a junior, the best in Division I. His numbers were limited, though. He only caught 28 passes and had five touchdowns in the Yellow Jackets’ triple-option attack.
Hill, who said he was thrilled to be a Jet, met with the team three times — at his pro day, in a private workout and in a visit to their Florham Park headquarters.
“Oh, man. I was happy,” Hill said. “We actually had a lot of conversation and I felt really home there.”
The Jets gave up their own second-round (47th overall) fifth-round (154) and seventh-round (232) picks to move up to the 43rd selection overall. The Jets desperately needed a wide receiver in this draft after getting little production from the position last season.
“We really wanted him,” Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. “Once he was within striking distance … we felt like that was appropriate value for us.”
Hill is a deep threat with 4.31 speed. He is considered to be a good blocker after playing in the run-heavy Georgia Tech offense. That will be a plus for the Jets, who are planning on getting back to being a run-first team with Tim Tebow and Co.
“[I bring] a lot of big plays down the field and getting big touchdowns at the right time, of course,” Hill said. “I think I can bring a lot, especially blocking. I can definitely put somebody on their butt.”
A source said yesterday the Jets were planning on targeting a receiver in the second round despite needs at several positions. By trading up, they showed they clearly did not want to miss out on Hill.
“He’s a unique athlete,” vice president of college scouting Joey Clinkscales said. “He really is. Calvin Johnson, maybe. I’m not going to put that label on him but from a height-weight-speed moniker. He’s just a unique athlete.”
The negatives on Hill are his limited experience running a conventional offense. He did not run a full route tree at Georgia Tech and will now need to learn an NFL offense. Hill impressed teams with his performance in the pre-draft process to make up for his limited on-field production.
The Jets selected inside linebacker Demario Davis from Arkansas State with their third-round pick (77 th overall). The Jets chose him instead of an offensive tackle or safety, two need positions. He is projected as a special teams contributor immediately and an eventual starter.
After the trade, the Jets are left with five picks today, and do not pick again until the sixth round.

