03/16 — Don Banks took two weeks to weigh free agency and assemble his Mock Draft 4.0 late this past week on SportsIllustrated.com, advising that in this mock "we factor in those recent acquisitions and continue to keep track of the ever-present buzz factor that is always a significant part of the predraft scouting process." But that buzz didn't shake him off picking Ohio State's Vernon Gholston for the Jets at No. 6.

Part of Banks' reasoning, besides Gholston's strong pro day on top of his strong combine: "Remember, the Jets know that if they don't take Gholston, the No. 7 Patriots probably will."

This is a popular line of thinking, but where do you draw the line? Any player the Jets pass on could wind up with the Pats. Do you take New England into account when you pick or do you do what your value board tells you? I'd go by my board, which distills the work of my scouting department for the past three months. But that's just me.

Some other mocks I've seen online this weekend also marry up the Jets and Gholston. That's the way Clark Judge — who did an unconscious job on his mock draft last year — and Pete Prisco are going on CBSSportsline.com.

That's also how Rob Rang and Chad Reuter of NFLDraftScout.com see it again this week, as well as does DraftTek.com in its latest first-round "primary simulation." (Which also has Darren McFadden falling to Cincinnati at No. 9!)

Earlier in the week Chris Steuber of Scout.com had Gholston going to the Rams at No. 2 and McFadden going to the Jets on FoxSports.com.

Schein's High on T

Also on FoxSports — not to mention Sirius NFL Radio and a few Jets shows as well — Adam Schein declared this past week that "absolutely" the Green & White are headed in the right direction in the first two weeks plus of free agency.

"I know some people are rolling their eyes at all the money Mike Tannenbaum's throwing around," Schein said. "But I was killing him last year for not spending the money."

Schein — the only one I saw or heard who nailed the Jets' tradeup to get Darrelle Revis before last year's draft — likes Alan Faneca, pegging him along with Minnesota's Steve Hutchinson as "the two best guards in the NFL" and calling Faneca a "roadgrader" who "instantly changes the attitude of the Jets."

He's less sold on OL Damien Woody, although the mouth that roars concedes that head coach Eric Mangini is familiar with him from their New England days together and that Mike T "said the scouts are very high on what Woody did playing right tackle at the end of last year" for the Lions.

And Schein is high on the trade for DT Kris Jenkins — "He's gonna be a classic clogger ... How could you not love that?" — and the signing of OLB Calvin Pace — "I really think he can blossom into a borderline Pro Bowler if not a Pro Bowler."

In summation, Schein said although he doesn't like the trade of Jonathan Vilma to New Orleans, the Green & White's off-season so far is "a check-check-check for Mike Tannenbaum."

More Number Games

A few more uniform number changes came in late in the week from equipment manager Gus Granneman, both involving Jets vets.

Justin Miller, the cornerback and kickoff returner who has been No. 22 since he was drafted in the second round out of Clemson in 2005, will now wear No. 21.

Blackjack had been called until this off-season. When Miller arrived, Derrick Strait had 21, and in '06 veteran Andre Dyson was signed and wore the number for two seasons.

FB Stacy Tutt also has swapped out his number of the past two seasons, No. 45, for No. 32.