Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has high hopes for Jabari Zuniga entering his rookie year. The third-round pick out of Florida has yet to play a single professional down of football, but Williams is already eying how he can use him in his 3-4 hybrid scheme. Zuniga played a lot of outside linebacker in college, but he can also be shifted inside as a pass-rushing defensive end. That kind of versatility led to Williams comparing the 22-year-old Zuniga to two of the NFL’s better pass rushers in recent history. In 11 seasons with the Giants and Raiders, Tuck recorded 66.5 sacks and earned two trips to the Pro Bowl, as well as an All-Pro selection in 2008. Graham, who has spent his entire career with the Eagles, has registered 51 career sacks playing as a hybrid defensive end and outside linebacker. In 2016, he earned a second-team All-Pro selection. Zuniga has the frame to play the same role Graham and Tuck both thrived in. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 253 pounds, Zuniga has enough size to play inside and enough speed and agility to thrive as a stand-up pass rusher coming off the edge. Graham plays 6-foot-2, 265 pounds and Tuck spent his career playing at 6-foot-3, 265 pounds. Zuniga is 12 pounds lighter than both Graham and Tuck but is bound to put on additional muscle now that he is taking part in an NFL weight training program. If Zuniga can put together a career’s worth of production coming anywhere close to what Graham and Tuck have accomplished, the Jets will have finally landed a top-end pass-rusher in the middle rounds of the draft after striking out for years. Zuniga has a lot to prove before even ascending to a starting job, but if Williams’ evaluation winds up being correct, New York will have a special player on its hands.
That is a bold claim by a coach before camp has even started, fingers crossed Williams can sprinkle some magic dust on another player because we need a pass rusher for sure.
Imagine hitting on Zuniga , becton , mims and hall. that’s the transformational draft we need to go to perennial division winner in one year. That said, I liked this kid 2 years ago as a solid pro, not sure he has 10+ sacks a year in him though.
It's possible. Teams do have drafts like that. The Seahawks pulled 8 starters in back to back drafts in 2010/2011. We need that kind of deal badly.
Let's not forget Mann, Peline, Davis, Clark. The only pick I didn't like was the Qb, not to say he won't be a good backup one day. This was a very solid Draft top to bottom.
All nice pieces but those four I mentioned are positions 2-5 of importance . To come away with your left tackle, edge,cb1, wr1 in the same draft would be too good.
I felt something get excited thinking about that... Getting 4 starters in one draft is franchise changing. Look at Seattle. Look NOLA when they hit 4 or 5 starters. We can only hope we did it!
I can tell already it’s going to be a close race for the off-season Ty Montgomery hype-versus-actual-snaps trophy
In Montgomery’s defense, a coach with a brain would have had him on the field wayyyyyy more. But I do love this part of the offseason. Everyone is an emerging star. Just a few weeks ago Vyncint Smith was gonna break out.