The New York Jets don’t own a second round pick but hold ammunition. Here are 10 players they should trade up for on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
On Day 1, the New York Jets came away with arguably the best player in the 2019 NFL Draft (stop me if you’ve heard this before). Mike Maccagnan and the front office boys selected Quinnen Williams with the third overall pick.
But there’s still much work left to be done on Day 2 and Day 3 of the NFL Draft. The Jets still have five more picks left (unless the team acquires more or packages up picks to move up). Here’s what they have left:
- Round 3, No. 68 overall
- Round 3, No. 93 overall (via NO)
- Round 4, No. 105 overall
- Round 6, No. 196 overall (via CHI through OAK)
- Round 7, No. 217 overall
As is the case every year as we enter Day 2 of the draft, there are a ton of talented players who are left over sitting there to be taken. While the Jets don’t own a second-round pick in 2019, due to the Sam Darnold deal last year, that doesn’t mean the team can’t trade up.
Maccagnan revealed at his post-draft presser after Day 1 that the team would “explore moving into the second round.”
GM Mike Maccagnan speaks to the media after the selection of Quinnen Williams
? ESPN/ABC/NFLN | #NFLDraft https://t.co/FmDllo3nDc
— #TakeFlight (@nyjets) April 26, 2019
The top-10 players the Jets should trade up to select:
Jachai Polite, OLB/DE, Florida
The Jets may not have to move up for Jachai Polite. His draft stock has been all over the place. When you look at the tape you see the instincts and natural talent, but he only experienced one year of major production. Also, he apparently had terrible interviews with teams, had one of the worst NFL Combine performances of all-time, and looked out of shape at his Pro Day.
While there is a lot of major red flags with his maturity and character, the Jets need edge help and Polite would solve that problem.
- 6-foot-3
- 258 pounds
- One of the bigger boom-or-bust candidates in this entire class. This is a new team with Adam Gase at the helm and he has to be mindful of the locker room and the culture of his team. If he believes it is strong enough, then I’m sure Polite would be a great fit.
Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
This may not be a great fit for the team. They have plenty of interior defensive linemen, but he’s uber-talented.
- 6-foot-4
- 281 pounds
- 112-inch broad jump
Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
The New York Jets wide receiving corps is fine. Very good, maybe. But it’s not great because the team lacks a “true” No. 1 wide receiver. Maybe Robby Anderson can be that, but he hasn’t proven it yet.
While wide receiver isn’t the number one need for the green and white, if the opportunity presented itself to grab a weapon of this caliber, the Jets would be crazy not to consider it.
- 6-foot-5
- 227 pounds
- 4.48 40-yard dash
- Great 50-50 catch guy and he’s a body-type the Jets don’t have on the roster when you look at his combination of size and speed.
Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State
Both starting tackles for the Jets (Kelvin Beachum, Brandon Shell) are entering the last year of their respective deals. Right now, the Jets don’t have any future options at tackle. With round one in the books, the Jets still haven’t drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since 2006 (D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold).
- 6-foot-5
- 312 pounds
- Lance Zierlein of NFL.com calls Risner “an instant NFL starter.” In his career, he has played both center and right tackle. The Jets at least have options at tackle, not great but serviceable choices, at the center spot they need an upgrade.
The Jets Zone w/ @BoyGreen25:
– @GeoffMags5490 of @EliteSportsNY joins to break down the 2019 New York Jets schedule!
– Emory Hunt (@FBallGameplan) gives us a final #NFLDraft analysis for the #Jets & what they should do in every round!#TakeFlight #JetUp https://t.co/rbV1ffbcMZ— The Jets Zone (@TheJets_Zone) April 17, 2019
Jaylon Ferguson, OLB/DE, Louisana Tech
The New York Jets bypassed edge with the third pick (completely agree with taking Quinnen Williams), so now they can fill that hole on Day 2.
- 6-foot-5
- 271 pounds
- FBS record-holder in sacks with 45.
- Great production and has really improved as a run defender. NFL scouts say he has “average athletic traits but benefits from an instinctive pass-rush approach.” Also, had a somewhat disappointing Pro Day, but beyond any of the football intangibles, the Jets love having good character guys. There may not be one greater than Ferguson.
- “Ferguson is currently helping others in the community with the recovery process in Ruston, LA., after a tornado touched down earlier Thursday. The tornado, which was categorized as an EF3, resulted in two deaths, according to the Times-Picayune. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency,” per Herbie Teope of NFL.com.
D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
Ridiculously explosive, impressive combine numbers—so why is he still available? He’s never had more than 700 yards in a season. Did he not get enough love in that offense? Why did he dominate the drills but not the field consistently?
- 6-foot-3
- 228 pounds
- 4.33 40-yard dash
- 27 bench reps of 225-pounds
- 40.5-inch vertical
Cody Ford, G/OT, Oklahoma
We can’t put enough offensive linemen on this list. Championship teams are built in the trenches. The Jets invested the third overall pick and 3 second-round picks last year in Sam Darnold with the draft trade with the Indianapolis Colts. It’s time to protect their franchise quarterback.
- 6-foot-4
- 329 pounds
- Ford is versatile as hell. He has played nearly every position on the offensive line throughout his collegiate career. We always use the fancy word “upside,” but there are leaps and bounds of it with Cody Ford. It may be safest to keep him at guard, but he can play tackle.
Byron Murphy, CB Washington
This is the most underrated need for the Jets. Trumaine Johnson (hopefully) will have one side locked down, but what about the other? Darryl Roberts? No disrespect Roberts way, but that doesn’t instill much confidence. Some consider Byron Murphy the top corner in this class. To get that in a second round would be a huge steal.
- 5-foot-11
- 190 pounds
- “In a rare feat, Murphy was an All-American high school receiver (88-1,733, 21 TDs) at Saguaro High in the Phoenix area, and also a finalist for an award for the top defensive back in high school football (seven INTs) (…) Ball-hawking man corner who makes up for a lack of physical tools with outstanding instincts, toughness, and short-area quickness. Murphy’s ball production per target is as good as you will find thanks to an innate ability to process the quarterback and route development simultaneously,” via Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Value is the name of the game and Jawaan Taylor is arguably the top tackle in the entire class. Yet he didn’t go in the first round. Although six other offensive linemen did over him, why is that? A lot of teams have issues with his knees and didn’t want to risk it in the first round, but the second round is another story says, NFL Insider Greg Gabriel.
- 6-foot-5
- 312 pounds
- He has played at both tackle spots, but most people assume he’s plug and play on the right side. There are a few concerns with the medical and possible weight issues to keep an eye out for.
Greedy Williams, CB LSU
How the top-two corners in the entire 2019 NFL Draft are still available is beyond me. But the Jets should leap at the opportunity to get the aforementioned Byron Murphy or Greedy Williams.
- 6-foot-2
- 185 pounds
- 4.37 40-yard dash
- A very lanky corner who has ideal measurables. His instincts and tools in the box are out of this world. Needs to be better in run support and I want to see him get a bit stronger as well.
