Rex Ryan promised North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples that if Coples was still on the board at No. 16, the Jets would draft him.
He was, and they did.New York took a defensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft for the second straight year, selecting the 6-foot-6, 284-pound pass rusher Thursday night. The Jets made Temple defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson their first pick in 2011.
Coples told SNY's Brian Custer that Ryan said Coples would be a Jet if he fell to No. 16, adding that he felt New York's interest in him rise when he worked out for Ryan at Coples' Pro Day.
Many scouting reports have Coples' consistency as a question mark, as he has a reputation of taking a play or two off every now and then. However, his physicality and talent, which ranks among the top of all 2012 prospects regardless of position, was enough for Gang Green to take a chance on him.
Coples tallied 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 2012. He played both defensive tackle and defensive end during his time at UNC, so he should fit right in with Ryan's multi-tasking defense.
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