FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Rex Ryan vowed to turn Vernon Gholston into a productive player. It didn't happen. Now the New York Jets' coach has a new reclamation project on defense -- Aaron Maybin, the former Buffalo Bills draft bust.

Maybin, the 11th overall pick in 2009, will sign Wednesday with the Jets, pending a physical. Ryan confirmed the agreement, claiming he believes Maybin has the ability to become an effective pass rusher.

"I think he's got some talent, some pass-rush ability," Ryan said. "If he sticks on our team, he's going to be a pass rusher for us. We don't need him to be a starter. We've got two excellent starters at outside linebacker already (Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas)."

Maybin will sign a one-year contract, presumably for the veterans' minimum. He's also receiving $2 million in guarantees from the Bills, according to a league source. Maybin, released Monday after two awful seasons in Buffalo, still had three years left on his rookie contract.

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If Ryan and his staff can turn Maybin into a contributing player, it might go down as one of the all-time great coaching jobs. In 27 career games with the Bills, he didn't record a single sack or start any games, drawing the ire of fans and media. He hit rock bottom last season, when he was declared inactive for five straight games.

Sound familiar? In 2008, one year before Ryan took over, the Jets used the sixth overall choice on Gholston, who wound up playing three seasons in New York without a sack. Each year, Ryan predicted big things for Gholston. He finally gave up on him, releasing him in February. Gholston signed recently with the Chicago Bears.

One of Maybin's problems is maintaining weight. He entered the league at 250 pounds, but reported to the Bills' training camp at 228.

"That's the big thing," Bills general manager Buddy Nix told reporters when Maybin was released. "I saw where somebody said that he didn't fit the scheme. But I don't know what scheme he fits at that size unless you're a strong safety or something."

Maybin lost weight before camp because he was sick with pneumonia, according to a source, adding that Maybin now is up to 242 pounds. The Jets haven't confirmed that.

Even at 242, Maybin probably is too small to play outside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 scheme. The knock on him is that he's a poor run defender, but the Jets don't intend to use him on first or second down. His only assignment will be to get to the quarterback.

The Jets didn't address their outside pass rush in the draft or free agency, instead relying on Pace, Thomas and unproven third-year linebacker Jamaal Westerman. Jason Taylor, one of their most productive rushers last season, was released in February and ended up re-signing with the Miami Dolphins.

"I always spoke highly of him when he was with Buffalo," Ryan said of Maybin. "I always thought he had ability to rush the passer."