03/13 — Let’s take a break from free agency for a minute (even if the Jets are still exploring all their options) and use this space to discuss the upcoming draft. As pro day numbers continue to file in, I’m thinking Jets Nation must be pretty happy about their position in the draft.

There are six prospects on top of most prognosticators’ boards and the Jets own the sixth overall selection. That means at least one of this elite group — LSU DT Glenn Dorsey, Ohio State DE/OLB Vernon Gholston, Virginia DE/OLB Chris Long, Michigan T Jake Long, Arkansas RB Darren McFadden and Boston College QB Matt Ryan — will be on the board if the Green & White choose to keep their pick.

Wall Street might be a mess but Gholston’s living in a bull market. He followed up an impressive showing in Indy with an excellent pro day, racing to a 4.58 in the 40 (almost a 10th of a second faster than his combine performance) and then most reports had him posting a 42-inch vertical (six inches better than February’s measurement).

"A lot of the times I saw [coming out of Indy] were around the 4.6 range, and I know I wasn't in that range — 4.5 was what I wanted to push for," Gholston said. "It was going out there and showing that I can do that."

And he ran well despite slowing down the last 20 yards after feeling a twinge in the hammy. Some people complain that Gholston is too stiff, but the reality is he’s a 6’4”, 258-pound muscular wonder. Here’s a kid who played high school football for only two years, lives in the weight room and has racked up 22½ sacks the past two seasons. He’s the prototypical 3-4 OLB.

Michigan is hosing its pro day Thursday, so we’ll soon read about Jake Long’s effort. The Jets signed Damien Woody to play RT, so they don’t enter the draft with a hole at the position.

Then the Green & White will do their due diligence after St. Patty’s Day and watch Matt Ryan sling it around in Beantown. You just can’t predict what will happen with signalcallers — remember how we watched Brady Quinn drop last year before Commissioner Goodell invited the youngster to his suite.

Let’s be clear here with Ryan and this goes with any quarterback. If a team determines a passer to be special, then he would be hard to pass up no matter what your current situation. But most likely Ryan will go before six and the Jets can win with their current QB crop. The line’s better already and whoever — CP or KC — is in command of the huddle will have a better chance to succeed.

On that same day, Chris Long will host scouts at UVa. The ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year registered 14 sacks last season, playing in a collegiate system that mirrors the Jets’ system more than most. He could be very effective as an OLB in a 3-4 and will execute linebacker drills at his pro day.

A week after Ryan and C.Long, our eyes turn to Arkansas on the 25th and "Run DMC." Fans and pundits seem to be split on McFadden, a guy who torched the RCA Dome's synthetic field with an unofficial 4.27-second 40. The 6’2”, 210-pounder rushed for a school-record 1,830 yards in '07 and joined Herschel Walker as the only two players in Southeastern Conference history to rush for over 1,000 yards as freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

The Jets are more than stable at RB with not only Thomas Jones and Leon Washington to carry the pill but three huge blocking additions in Woody and two Pro Bowlers — LG Alan Faneca and FB Tony Richardson.

A name who’s lost luster of late has been LSU DT Glenn Dorsey. The Bayou Bengals host their pro day March 26 and Dorsey, who in ’07 captured the Nagurski, Lombardi and Lott awards in addition to the Outland Trophy, will be closely scrutinized. He played through nagging injuries during his team’s national championship season and didn’t take part in combine drills after his grandmother passed away.

After acquiring NT Kris Jenkins from the Carolina Panthers, the Jets already have their prototypical 3-4 nose. Dorsey probably is best suited to play in a 4-3 but also could move to end in a 3-4 front.

With the way Tangini struck in free agency, the Jets will enter April in an envious position. They don’t have a glaring need and one or two of the top six will still be on the board when the Commish puts the Green & White on the clock.

The possibilities are endless but that’s what makes this time of year fun. Imagine Gholston and McFadden on the board and Jerry Jones is calling Mike. T, offering the Cowboys' two first-round picks — Nos. 22 and 28 — and, say, a second or a starter to move up.

It’s early yet but what do you think happens and what do you hope happens? I think with this sixth selection, the Jets hold a key trump card in the entire draft. And please remember that Real Football will keep newyorkjets.com updated throughout the spring on pro day happenings.