The focus leading up to the NFL draft for the Jets is, of course, centered around what they’re going to do with the No. 2 overall pick.
Now that it has become clear, in the wake of the Sam Darnold trade, that they will be taking BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with their first pick, it’s time to take a closer look at the Jets’ next two picks in design, which begins on April 29.
Those two choices come to a fascinating point in the design and give general manager Joe Douglas multiple options. The Jets have the No. 23 overall pick, their second first-rounder, which they got from Seattle in the Jamal Adams trade. They have another pick 11 slots later at number 34, the second pick in the second round.
As crucial as Wilson’s development will be to the future of the Jets, how these two choices turn out will be almost as important. The Jets expect to field two direct and long-term starters.
Douglas has done an excellent job acquiring design choices. Now he has to attack them.
“We have a lot of assets as we are here now, but we need to make the most of this opportunity,” said Douglas this week.
The selection of the Jets is one of the worst in the NFL, and it showed in their 2-14 record in 2020. The silver lining for Douglas with such a bad team is that the GM has many options with these choices.
These are what I think the Jets’ greatest needs, beyond the quarterback, will enter this draft, listed in order: cornerback, guard, linebacker, running back, edge rusher, tight end, and wide receiver. With a list this long, there are many different directions Douglas can take.
Cornerback tops the list because their starters are currently Bless Austin, Bryce Hall and Javelin Guidry in the closing position. The Jets must provide that position with more talent. The top corners will likely be off the board by 11pm. But with all the quarterbacks and skill players expected to go early, players like South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn and Northwestern’s Greg Newsome could be there. Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley has health issues that could put him under pressure, and Asante Samuel Jr. from Florida State there could be in the second round.
The Jets must also improve the interior of their attack line, and USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker is the top-ranked guard in the draft. The Jets might hope he drops to 23 or use some of that design capital (21 picks over the next two years) to move up a few places if they really like him. Two players from Alabama to guard – Landon Dickerson and Alex Leatherwood – are candidates at number 34.
Other players to watch in these spots are: edge rushers Azeez Ojulari (Georgia), Kwity Paye (Michigan) and Jaelan Phillips (Miami); running backs Najee Harris (Alabama), Travis Etienne (Clemson) and Javonte Williams (North Carolina); linebackers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame), Zaven Collins (Tulsa) and Jamin Davis (Kentucky); and wide receivers Kadarius Toney (Florida), Rashod Bateman (Minnesota) and Elijah Moore (Mississippi).
Douglas also has the flexibility to trade back in both places. Last year, there were three trades between picks 23-26 on draft night. The Patriots handed out pick 23 to the Chargers last year for a second-rounder and a third-rounder. Douglas could get more picks, and with as many needs as the Jets, he could still feel good about filling a hole lower in the draft.
The top of the second round is also an area where there is usually some movement. Teams spend all day Friday thinking about what players slipped out of the first round, and a team may be motivated to move up the ranks. The Jets could be able to acquire more picks again.
While this draw will eventually be remembered by Jets fans for how Wilson turns out, Douglas could help move his team forward if he can maximize picks # 23 and 34 for beginner players, either by lining them up there or using those picks to load even more. design capital.