The New York Jets are reportedly considering defensive tackle Ed Oliver in the 2019 NFL Draft if they fail to trade down.
Nick Bosa, Josh Allen and Quinnen Williams make up the trio of names rumored to represent the No. 3 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Then came the wild card.
Long-time NFL scout Greg Gabriel suggested that Houston product Ed Oliver is the player Gregg Williams covets most and could be the New York Jets choice if the team fails to trade down.
The hot name at number 3 to the Jets right now if they can’t trade down is Ed Oliver. That’s a mistake! Been told that’s the guy Greg Williams wants on the DLine
— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) April 19, 2019
It’s been widely reported that Mike Maccagnan is most interested in trading down. Collecting assets (especially squeezing into the second round) is what the team’s 53-man depth chart needs most at the moment.
Oliver, however, is surging late.
Oliver, 21, rivals Quinnen Williams as the arguable “most talented player in the pool.” Questions surrounding certain off-the-field issues have limited his stock up to this point in the game.
In 32 total games over three years at Houston (declared after his junior season), Oliver racked up 13.5 sacks and 192 total tackles with an incredible 53 for loss. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 292 pounds, Oliver’s prototype brings the same interesting question Quinnen does: how would he fit?
Oliver is a 3-technique player, identical to Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson. Within the 3-4, the trio of players (if drafted) wouldn’t all start. A bigger 310-plus pound interior player would be ideal as the nose tackle.
More problematic is the fact only two interior linemen can play in the sub-package at once. This is the main issue when thinking about either Oliver or (Quinnen) Williams.
The first round of the 2019 NFL Draft comes your way this Thursday, April 25 from Nashville, Tennessee.
