Joe Douglas

The Jets have some franchise-defining decisions to make on draft night

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The NFL Draft in my eyes is the staple of the sport. It’s where dreams are made realities, it makes weak teams strong again and over anything, every player has been drafted once upon a time.

There’s always one team a year in the draft who have an abundance of picks and are ones to watch. Last season that was the Miami Dolphins, this year it will be the New York Jets. The Jets have two in the first round to start things off, pick two and twenty-three.

Jets draft preview 2021

Free agency has looked somewhat promising but there are still some draft needs in key positions for the Jets, some of which can be addressed in the draft.

The biggest talking point is the quarterback situation. Will the Jets in fact draft BYU’s Zach Wilson, or will they go with Ohio State’s Justin Fields?

I think those are the two biggest potentials now that Sam Darnold has been traded. That said, the most likely one of the college quarterbacks who could go to MetLife is Zach Wilson.

We’ve seen plenty of mock drafts. Some had Gang Green keeping Darnold and picking a different position at pick two, others had them keeping Darnold again, but trading out of the second pick to acquire more picks later in the draft. Whilst most have the Jets going with college stud from BYU, Zach Wilson.

    

Non-quarterback Jets draft needs

So while quarterback is the biggest need, there are plenty of others. Two are running-back and cornerback.

It is yet to be seen if the two will be sorted in free agency, if not, there’s picks in the draft to do so.

With the twenty-third pick in the first round, it could and should be one of running-back, cornerback or offensive guard.

There are two very good running-backs going towards the back end of round one so that could be something for the Jets to look at. Those are Alabama’s Najee Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne.

However, Etienne looks the more likely of the two if the Jets are to pick a running back with the twenty-third overall pick. Some NYJ fans are seeming to be against that, with the offensive line being a bigger need with the recent free agent signing Tevin Coleman being signed by the Jets.

How do the Jets prioritize in the draft?

There is an argument for the Jets to go for an offensive guard with the twenty-third pick. The one name that’s been flying around is USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker. He would be a fantastic pick there.

    

It is a known fact that most drafts are stacked with running-backs in the later rounds, so it could be an idea for the Jets to steer clear of one with their second pick. Cornerback is the third position they could go after at twenty-three. Jaycee Horn out of South Carolina is the biggest prediction I feel.

Quarterback, running-back, cornerback and guard are the biggest needs for the Jets in the draft and I am confident Joe Douglas will find fits where he feels best. The draft does go beyond the first round as well. The Jets have plenty of picks later on in the draft where these positions can be targeted.

It’ll all be about Douglas and where he thinks it will be better picking players from. For example, getting a running-back would make more sense coming later on but a good offensive lineman will be better in the early rounds.

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