Joining the Giants in the historically exclusive club of holding two top-10 picks in a draft, the Jets appear to be targeting the same position as their Big Apple rivals. The Giants have done extensive work on this year’s tackle crop; the Jets are interested in bolstering that position as well.
Despite the Jets having chosen Mekhi Becton in the 2020 first round, Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork.com reports they are zeroing in on this position entering this draft. Jets brass has informed several players the plan is to select a tackle early. Although it is not certain the Jets will use one of their first-rounders (Nos. 4 and 10) on the position, Joe Douglas is a fan of a tackle who figures to be on the board at No. 10.
Douglas has been high on Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning since the Senior Bowl, Pauline adds. The 6-foot-7 Division I-FCS product slots behind Ikem Ekwonu, Evan Neal and Charles Cross on most tackle prospect rankings. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Penning 25th, while NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah slots him 22nd. It is unlikely Penning drops that far.
The Ravens are also interested in Penning, per Pauline, who adds they scheduled a visit and are aiming to exit this draft with a potential future tackle starter. Baltimore’s No. 14 overall pick should represent Penning’s floor, Pauline notes. Baltimore has Ronnie Stanley coming off another significant injury and signed ex-Jet Morgan Moses in March. Moses’ three-year, $15MM deal includes $5.5MM in guarantees, giving the Ravens flexibility after 2022.
This is not the first report to indicate the Jets using one of their first-round picks on a tackle is in play. New York is eyeing an extension with George Fant, who moved to left tackle to replace the injured Becton last year. The 363-pound lineman’s stock has nosedived since his promising rookie year. Becton’s weight has been a consistent problem, and he reported to camp out of shape last year. Becton suffered a knee injury in Week 1 and did not play again in 2021. While the Jets may try the mammoth blocker at right tackle, their patience is wearing thin. A first- or second-round tackle would crowd this position group.
Ravens should trade up with the Texans to #3 to get their choice at tackle if Neal Cross Ekwonu are all available.
That doesn’t sound like Baltimore. Letting the board come to them and only maybe trading up slightly if they think someone has fallen way too far sounds more like them.
Well they could have addressed this last season and taken Penei Sewell like I and most ‘smart’-a$$ commentors on here suggested.
Or traded back to 12, taken Slater, and obtained Jimmy G. Would have been a lot further along toward competing. But Zach Wilson is a sure thing….
Even with hindsight, you’re wrong. This team isn’t winning much with Jimmy. You have to swing for a star at QB. Sewell is great, but Becton looked like a good answer going into the year, and Moses and Fant were both perfectly good. Heck, if this team was going to take a non QB high in last draft, a receiver would have been the way to go. But even now, I’d rather gamble on Wilson. O-line is not their biggest problem.
Zach Wilson wasn’t isnt and wont be a star QB. You had the guy in SF drooling over him tho. He’s probably headed the same route as Darnold.
I’d rather gamble on Wilson taking a big leap when he isn’t a rookie with a huge jump in competition, an offensive system no QB masters their first year, no veteran QB nearby, and a dead QB coach. Jimmy G would do what for this team exactly?
Not just Jimmy G they would have additional draft capital. And could have been in a very prime position to take a QB in next years draft when Jimmys contract is up. I would have taken the extra 1st + additional picks and Jimmy G. They still could have taken a QB too. Shanahan was drooling over Wilson and was willing to over pay as much as he did for Lance? Idk how you don’t take advantage. Compared to this years draft no one wants to trade up.
It’s not like Jimmy G was available for a song. He would have cost the Jets a 2nd (Elijah Moore!) or 3rd round pick.
Can’t say Wilson is lost cause at all yet, that team had no OLine at all last year and not a lot of playmakers on offense, could tell he was trying to do too much.
Jets #1, #2 & #3 WR and #1 TE (as bad as he was) were injured the 2nd half of season, when Wilson showed progress. I think the kid has this year AND next year to shine or hit the unemployment line.
RELAX,.take the OT at pick 4 and comeback with Stingley at pick ten. Next year will have better options at QB if Wilson isn’t the answer. You don’t know if Chargers and Bengals will be able to pay 350M plus guaranteed contracts to there QB. Also the draft will have better QB options…
I would rather have Neal at 4 and come back with Sauce or Karlafalas (Purdue de) at 10.