The NFL Scouting Combine is here and the New York Jets are trying to figure out who should be the pick at No. 6. Our Jets staff here at ESNY decided to give our best answers here …
Every week, we’ll pose a question to our staff regarding the New York Jets. If you ever want to make a suggestion for our weekly Jets mailbag question, email the editor (boygreenespn@gmail.com) or tweet at me (@BoyGreen25).Here’s our question for the staff to analyze. It’s a twofer:
- Who do you want the Jets to draft?
- Who will the Jets draft?
Paul A. Esden Jr. (@BoyGreen25):
The New York Jets have a variety of needs to fill on this team. Last year, the strategy was BPA (best player available). They should abide by that again this season.
Let’s quickly go through the major areas of need.
- Quarterback: is there a franchise quarterback in this class? Depends on your definition.
- Offensive line: is there a bookend left tackle in this class? Scouts I’ve talked to have been adamant that there isn’t a guy that is plug and play. Which is unfortunate for the Jets because if there was, this decision would be easy for both answers.
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Who I would like to see the Jets draft is OJ Howard out of Alabama — although he’s a top-15 talent, not a top-six talent. So if the Jets had an offer on the table to trade back and still get their guy, I would sign up in a heartbeat. They’ve neglected the position for too long and it’s time for CPS to come and take away the bad omens at tight end. Start fresh with a young talented player who can play for you for the next decade.
That’s what I would like to see happen. What will the Jets actually do? Well, that’s anyone’s guess, but they probably would go best cornerback on the board. Currently, that would be Marshon Lattimore out of Ohio State. He would fill an immediate area of need, and depending on how the first five picks could go, he could also be the BPA.
Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo):
I want them to trade down and target Cam Robinson, Garret Bolles or Forrest Lamp later in Round 1. If not, No. 6 should be Ryan Ramczyk or Marshon Lattimore. O-line is the ticket. It’s always the safest bet early in the draft and with a team as many holes as the Jets, building from the trenches out is appropriate.
Admittedly, Ramczyk at No. 6 is a reach, but O-line or CB is a must. These two spots aside from QB are, literally, the two most important spots in the NFL these days.
Garrett Ey (@EyBall10):
The New York Jets are in that position that they find themselves in every few years, every position could use an upgrade with the exception of the defensive line. With not knowing who will be back and who will be gone from the current roster, I want the Jets to draft a transcendent talent on offense. The two that have this type of ceiling and will be available at pick six are LSU running back Leonard Fournette and Clemson wide receiver, Mike Williams.
As much as I would be thrilled to see Fournette in green and white, the shelf life of running back averages half of a true number one wide receiver. What if I told you Mike Williams numbers as a senior are just as good, if not better then Julio Jones’ numbers his senior year? Is that something you might be interested in? If the Jets don’t select Williams, Mike Maccagnan needs to trade that pick to someone who will pay the ransom that Atlanta paid for Jones.
The Jets love them some headlines. To grab the headlines with the number six pick in the draft, I see Gang Green selecting Clemson quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Watson went 1-1 against arguably two of the greatest defenses in college football history with the 2015 and 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide. He played well in both games, even in the loss.
I’m not sure Watson’s game translates perfectly to the NFL. If he struggles early and his confidence is destroyed, as we have seen with National Championship winners in the past, then the Jets will chalk up another loss in their search for that decade plus franchise quarterback.
Will Cochrane (@BleedGreen247):
There are two-star Running Backs in this draft. LSU’s Leonard Fournette and FSU’s Dalvin Cook. Some draft experts have said Fournette is the most talented back to come out since Adrian Peterson. NFL Draft guru Todd McShay has said Fournette is even better than Ezekiel Elliot.
Presently, there is a concern over Fournette’s ankle injury he dealt with last season, that constrained him to miss five games. He additionally sat out the Citrus Bowl. That ankle injury may have capitulated from being overused in 2015 when he was vastly overused by LSU, with 300 rushing attempts in 2015. Ultimately the question is, will his ankle be at full strength and not be a nagging problem during his NFL career?
RB Dalvin Cook rushed near the same amount that Fournette rushed for in 2016 with 288 rushing attempts. Consequently, he did not miss a single game last year. Dalvin has additionally received some considerable admiration from NFL Draft experts as well.
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Honestly, as of right now, I’m stuck between these two players that I would like to see the Jets pick. Therefore, I’m for whichever player shows more at this year’s combine. Whoever excels and shows more flair at this year’s combine is who the Jets should pick.
Conversely, some might say RB is not a position of need for the Jets but I disagree. Since Matt Forte is on his last legs, accordingly the Jets do need a #1 RB and this is the draft that the Jets can acquire that running back of the future and a very exceptional one at that.
Who do I believe the Jets will pick? Obviously, The Jets secondary remains a mess, arguably the worst in the league. Amidst Todd Bowles being our head coach and him consequently once being a defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, plus playing defensive back during his NFL Career. I see the Jets selecting Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore.
Matthew Castillo (@MattyDiesel15):
I would like the Jets to take Jabrill Peppers. A few months ago, he was projected as a top 10 pick. Now he has fallen, for whatever reason. I think he is a versatile player and dynamic play-maker.
I believe the Jets will draft Marshon Lattimore. They have a lot of teams needs but they need a better secondary and the word on him is he is the best lock-down cornerback in the draft.
Charles Hart (@CharlieNYK):
The Jets do not have a starting quarterback on their roster. This is not breaking news. Fortunately for the Jets, the 2018 NFL Draft is loaded with talent at that position.
But why not take one in this year’s class? After all, the Jets do own a top 10 pick and might not have one next year. And there are two prospects that are very compelling for the Jets at No. 6.
UNC QB Mitch Trubisky has been brought up as a possible target for the Jets. Trubisky played well in Chapel Hill this season. After serving as a backup for two seasons, Trubisky threw for 3,748 yards and 30 touchdowns. Trubisky had some huge games, 453 yards, five touchdown game against Pitt, and a 405 yard, three touchdown game against Florida State.
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While drafting Trubisky might be tempting, the former Tar Heel is still inexperienced. In addition, Trubisky played in a conference, the ACC, where outside of Clemson and Florida State, the conference was rather average.
Deshaun Watson, the most intriguing prospect in this year’s draft, is another wildcard. Watson just carved up the closest thing to an NFL defense in Alabama, but his decision-making is still questionable. The Clemson quarterback threw 17 interceptions last season, tied for second-most in college football.
Unless you are convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt that the quarterback you select in the first-round is worthy of a pick that high, you simply can not take that quarterback.
The Jets would be wise to use their 2016 pick on a player who could help their team. Why reach for a QB in this year’s draft when you are more than a QB away from being a competitive team?
You can sure up one of the worst secondaries in football by drafting Ohio State S Malik Hooker or LSU S Jamal Adams. You can go offense in the first-round for the first time since 2009 and draft LSU RB Leonard Fournette or Florida State RB Dalvin Cook to continue to build an offense.
But with Bilal Powell already in the fold, and running back not being the biggest need for the team, I think the Jets go with secondary help. More specifically, I think LSU’s Jamal Adams is the perfect fit for the Jets, who allowed the most long-yardage plays in the league last season. This is the pick the Jets need to make and is the first step in rebuilding a secondary that needs an overhaul.
Ty Butler (@TyDButler):
I can’t say it enough: the Jets shouldn’t take another quarterback in this draft. It would be the fifth time they’ve done so in the last six years.
This has to be an offseason where the front office makes a concerted effort to rebuild the defense. Gang Green hasn’t had a consistently dominant defense since Rex Ryan‘s first two seasons with last year being an aberration for various reasons.
Marshon Lattimore needs to be the priority with the sixth overall pick. In two seasons at Ohio St., he had 45 total tackles and four interceptions (one pick-six) in 16 games. I do think they’d lead toward taking him if he was still on the board.