Let’s assume pick #2 is a QB. Right now I’d say CB and OG are two biggest needs. Options? Wyatt Davis-OSU Vera-Tucker-USC Greg Newsome-Northwestern Those are guys I have seen mocked in that range. Anyone else?
Players who could be available at 23 or 34: Jaycee Horn, Pat Freiermuth, Rashod Bateman, Kadarius Toney, Deonte Brown, Trey Smith, Tyson Campbell
I have seen Smith and Campbell mocked lower, but they could go that high. Brown isn't a fit for our wide zone scheme, he is not very agile/mobile. He is more of a man, power scheme imo. If we are unable to sign a FA CB outside of K'waun Williams or Poole, then I think the choice probably has to be either Horn or Wyatt Davis or Alijah Vera-Tucker if one of them is there. Someone posted in another thread that WLB seems to be a high priority of Saleh, so Zaven Collins could still be available at that spot as well. I really wish that we had been able to sign Thuney, Neal, and Jackson, or may sign Trae Turner (although I haven't heard anything of the Jets having any interest in Turner). That would have left us sitting at #23 withouta critical need, and we could have been free to take Kadarious Toney. Now, even if he's there, we'll proabably have to take one of Collins, Vera-Tucker/Davis and Horn. Both Collins and Davis could still be there at #34, as could Campbell and Stokes, the other UGA CB. For certain, we should get a very good player at #23 and at #34.
Brown and Trey Smith don’t really fit this type of scheme (smaller more athletic guards). Don’t see Douglas going WR that early given that he seems committed to Davis and Mims as the starters for the next few years. Athough Toney fits the scheme perfectly and could replace Crowder next year in the slot. Horn and Campbell are definitely options although Newsome played in a more zone heavy scheme at Northwestern which more closely aligns to what Saleh likes to do. Friermuth is an interesting prospect as well. The Jets badly need help at tight end which is an important position in this scheme. Got to wonder if the coaches believe in Herndon as a reclamation project.
If we take a QB the next two picks should be to help him, so no CB. I'd say you go Creed Humphry (IOL) at 23 and Javonte Williams (RB) at 34. Or a tackle at 34.
This is how I want it to go down who ever falls to us out of this first group I would be extremely jacked about. Instant starters with playmaking abilities. 23: Najee Harris/Gregory Rousseau/Jaycee Horn/Zavin Collins/Kwity Paye I really like the potential the group for the 34th pick too. I believe they can all be starters. 34: Travis Etienne/Kadarius Toney/Tyson Campbell/Creed Humphrey/Wyatt Davis
Not to mention this is a deep draft for CB and the team already invested so much money in free agency for defensive players. The offense is in dire need of help.
IMO taking a DE anywhere in this draft before the 4th round would be an unwise use of draft capital and resources, neither Rousseau nor Paye should even be a consideration. Their DL was already the strongest unit on the team prior to FA, and now it's much stronger with the additions of Lawson and Raskins. There is not a single blue chip DE in this draft. Not one. Why in the world should JD use a 1st or 2nd round pick on a DE who is not an elite prospect? The team isn't desperate for a DE now. With Lawson at one DE spot, and with Zuniga, John Franklin-Myers, Josh Huff, and with Q. Williams possibly rotated out to DE at times, there is zero reason or need add another DE at this point. See how Zuniga and Huff do this year. They may learn that they have a great pass rush without adding another DE, but if the DE spot opposite Lawson doesn't flourish, then next year's draft will have 2-3 blue chip DEs in it and we have two 1st round picks. THAT would be the draft to take another DE if need be. If the Jets draft a DE high this year, they most likely would then not take one next year. IMO that would be dumb to be impatient and take a lesser prospect this year, instead of waiting a year and getting a much better prospect at DE. IMO there should only be 5 positions under consideration at both #23 and #34: OG, CB, RT, WLB and WR only because of Kadarius Toney, or if the unthinkable should happen and Jaylen Waddle falls that far. OG and CB should be the two prime positions imo, and if Alijah Vera-Tucker and/or Wyatt Davis is there at #23 and that's where the Jets have them rated value-wise (or close), then they should take the one they like best or that's there. That's true regardless of who is playing QB if JD is going to be true to his word of building the trenches and protecting the QB. If they think they can get an OG at #34 or 66 who can step in, start day one and play at a high level and have a WLB, CB or RT that they have rated much higher that's sitting there, then fine, but they'd better not be wrong. If they don't take an OG at #23, then the pick should probably either be Jaycee Horn if he's there, Kadarius Toney, or the WLB prospect they want. The only other exception would be if Teven Jenkins is there and they love him, or if Jaylen Waddle somehow falls to #23. Depending upon who they took at #23, at #34 the pick should still probably be either CB or OG. RT or WLB again would be the 3rd choice. IMO they shouldn't even consider another position at those two spots. I find it hard to believe that there won't be prospects at those positions I listed whom the Jets have rated at those positions. While I would dearly love to add eithe Najee Harris or Travie Etienne to our offense, it's a luxury we just cannot afford at this point. I also really like Creed Humphrey, but unless the Jets plan on playing him at OG until McGovern's contract is up or they can release him without taking a big cap hit, I wouldn't even consider taking Creed Humphrey, as it would probably not be that big an upgrade at C for the next year or two, and McGovern at OG would probably not be that big of an upgrade over Lewis or Van Roten. I'm hoping that they can get their WLB in the 3rd round, and with their late 3rd round pick and 4th round pick a RB and TE.
We still need a #1 CB. I don't believe it's wise to bank on Hall becoming that. Taking a CB at 23 or 34 wouldn't stop us from going offense at 2, 23/34, and beyond.
