Possessing an opportunity to nab two instant starters in this draft, the Jets might not be in lockstep with their two top-10 picks. While the team’s wide receiver pursuit continues to be connected to the No. 10 choice, its No. 4 pick supplies more intrigue.
GM Joe Douglas “loves” North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu, according to SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano. Although Douglas could supersede any other staffer’s preference, Vacchiano’s mock draft features Robert Saleh winning a power struggle that concludes with defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux on his way to the Big Apple.
The Jets’ Thibodeaux visit last week involved a grilling on the motivation and personality issues that have affected the Oregon product’s draft stock, Vacchiano adds, noting that the Jets were impressed with the polarizing pass rusher. The Lions have also been connected to Thibodeaux, but the issues that have dinged his stock may be too much for Dan Campbell. The second-year Lions coach is not believed to be high on Thibodeaux, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Gang Green would then be in position, should the Texans pass at No. 3, to stop a potential Thibodeaux freefall.
George Fant‘s emergence lessens the Jets’ O-line need, but Mekhi Becton‘s reliability nosedive has the 2020 first-round pick on unstable ground. The Jets are prepared to try Becton on the right side, and Vacchiano adds Ekwonu may not be a Day 1 starter if selected by the Jets. That would be unusual for a top-five pick and would depend on Becton’s readiness, but this overlap — despite the Jets’ interest in adding an impact tackle — could push the team to spend its top pick on another position.
This could certainly go the other way as well, which would have the Jets using three first-round picks on O-linemen in three years. Hearing Ekwonu connected to the Jets more than anyone else, Breer mocks the tackle to New York. Ekwonu played both tackle and guard with the Wolfpack; this could solve the positional overlap with Becton. Some teams view guard as Ekwonu’s best position, Breer adds.
Carl Lawson‘s ACL tear wounded the Jets’ pass rush before last season started, and Saleh’s first Jets defense ranked last. Although Lawson is set to return, the Jets still have a need on the edge. The team has famously struggled to address its edge position since 2006’s John Abraham trade. No Jet edge defender registered more than two sacks last season.
I won’t be shocked if they go tackle, but I would prefer Thibodeaux or Gardner at four and a receiver at ten.
Charles Cross is probably the tackle with the most upside than anyone else including the Bama and NC State kid. He’s got huge upside. He’s really athletic, he was pass-blocking in the air-raid offense the whole time…. again 21 YEARS OLD, 5 star recruit coming out of HS, started 22 games at LT since he redshirted his first year, he’s played in every game he’s ever been apart of, he’s lean he’s and athletic, he’s only going to get better. These are the kind of guys where they’re not as popular in the mock but these are the names everyone is talking about behind the scenes.
How would moving Ekwonu to guard solve the problem when they just signed Laken Tomlinson to a lucrative contract to play guard? AVT’s the other guard. I think Thibodeaux will be the pick at #4. They could meet their quota of Jamisons (or approved homonyms) by going wide receiver with Jameson Williams at #10.
I stand corrected. I meant homophone instead of homonym.
I see them taking Sauce Gardner here.
It’s all smokescreen the Lions are taking Thibs
Why would the lions smoke screen? They really want hutch but they can’t get him. And the lions know it. So if the Jags aren’t listening then Thibs is theirs. Dumb lions fans…..they have no clue.
Why would the Jets care about what Saleh wants. He won’t be there in a couple of years anyway. Saleh blows a Super Bowl sure victory and the. Treated like he is the 2nd coming of Lombardi when upon reality he is the 2nd coming of Rich Kotite.
Second coming of Rich Kotite? I hope you didn’t injure yourself with that stretch
It only took Saleh one season to win as many games as Kotite won in two, so he’s got that going for him.
Trade down!!!! Accumulate picks! Too many needs and too much value middle to back of first round/early second. This is the draft to do it. Makes all the sense in the world.
It’s harder to do that this year without marquee name QBs. I don’t see teams jumping over themselves to trade into the top 5. The only reason I could see a team doing that is if it desperately wants a player the Giants have their eyes on. Unless one of the top WRs like Samuel or Brown suddenly become available on the trading block, I think the Jets are keeping #4 and #10.
With who? No one wants to trade up. In an ideal world, we trade with Carolina or Atlanta but I don’t think that will happen.
Trade that 4th pick to the 49ers for Samuel. Jets have the cap space.Wilson is still on his rookie contract.He would not be a cultural fit for my Lions.Say what u want,we do not need that contract drama right now with what we tryna establish.PERIOD!!!
I saw that Deebo requested a trade. The Jets should offer #10 for him. They should not overpay for someone who clearly wants out.
Read a report 9ers not even slightly interested in trading Samuel.Samuel may have to force his hand in wanting out of SF.
I want Gardner at #4 and J.Johnson at #10. Draft a WR at top of 2nd round