By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan and www.Facebook.com/CoachMcCartan)

BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. – Any listener to my sports talk radio show (60 Minute Overtime – #60MinOT)  knows that my draft strategy is not to select the best player on the board (unless as a trade chip), but to select players based on the team’s needs.

Although the New York Jets have many holes to plug, none are more urgent than at the cornerback position.  Darrelle Revis, although the charges against him were dropped in the recent altercation in his hometown of Pittsburgh, was released earlier this calendar year.  Because he had one of the worst seasons of his career (detailed in the embedded tweet below), it became obvious how important it is, especially in the AFC East, to possess a lockdown corner.

Career passer rating of QBs targeting Darrelle Revis 2007-15: 60.4 Passer rating of QBs targeting Darrelle Revis 2016: 109.8 📉💣

— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) December 26, 2016

Friday afternoon, I had a unique opportunity to serve as the Jets’ General Manager in a national live mock draft on Sirius XM NFL Radio. In it, with the sixth overall pick in the 2017 National Football League Draft, I chose Marshon Lattimore, cornerback from Ohio State University.

The MTC Fan Mock Draft complete. Thanks to everyone who participated.. Switzer?!!?!??!? pic.twitter.com/xBjL5yuLAY

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) April 21, 2017

• The only negative I see to drafting Lattimore at 6th overall is his constant hamstring injury (which dates back to his high school playing days).  An MRI was ordered at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, indicating that there is concern about this issue among the NFL’s brass.  To me, the upside to Lattimore outweighs this risk.
• Completely healthy last season, Lattimore only allowed one reception for 10+ yards, caught three interceptions, broke up 6 passes, and scored one touchdown.  At the NFL Scouting Combine, he ran a 4.36 second 40-yard dash.  How does that stack up against his competition?  Lattimore was clocked with the 5th fastest dash time, beating the times of all running backs in this year’s draft.
• Additionally, Ohio State University’s defensive scheme directly translates to the NFL. In the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Jets selected Darron Lee (linebacker) and the New York Giants selected Eli Apple (cornerback): both solid picks from Ohio State.

With a mass exodus of veterans this off-season, the Jets have to plug more holes than a sinking ship. They need to take into consideration opposing quarterbacks’ dominance without a true shut-down corner last season. Without a good, young cornerback, the Jets (who often pride themselves on their defensive prowess) will continue to get toasted.  Marshon Lattimore will be the NFL’s next lockdown cornerback. Forget Revis-Island, Lattimore will begin booking tickets to his own remote destination beginning on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Opposing WRs, beware: don’t drown in the Latti-moat.

I discussed this topic, in-depth, on my sports radio show, 60 Minute Overtime (#60MinOT), on Sunday, April 23, 2017 (90.3FM-WRPR). Begin audio at 50:49.

Click below to listen or to download on my iTunes official podcast or on Soundcloud.