2018 Daily Norseman Community Mock Draft: New York Jets, Pick #3

We have moved on to the third pick of our 2018 Daily Norseman Community Mock Draft, and the New York Jets are now on the clock. The J-E-T-S have already made a trade to get to this spot in the first round, sending three second round picks (two in this year’s draft and one in 2019) to the Indianapolis Colts to move up three spots.

With only USC quarterback Sam Darnold and Penn State running back Saquon Barkley off the board, let’s take a look at the green team from New York.

New York Jets

2017 record: 5-11 (4th place, AFC East)

Offseason acquisitions

QB Teddy Bridgewater (free agent signing), S Terrence Brooks (free agent signing), CB Morris Claiborne (free agent signing), DT Xavier Cooper (free agent signing), LB Brandon Copeland (free agent signing), RB Isaiah Crowell (free agent signing), CB Trumaine Johnson (free agent signing), C Spencer Long (free agent signing), QB Josh McCown (free agent signing), DT Mike Pennel (free agent signing), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (free agent signing), WR Terrelle Pryor (free agent signing), WR Andre Roberts (free agent signing), K Cairo Santos (free agent signing), LB Avery Williamson (free agent signing)

Offseason losses

K Chandler Catanzaro (signed with Tampa Bay), LB Demario Davis (signed with New Orleans), RB Matt Forte (retired), TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (signed with Jacksonville), LB Julian Stanford (signed with Buffalo), DT Muhammad Wilkerson (contract terminated)

Team needs

Quarterback - The Jets brought back veteran Josh McCown on a one-year deal, and took a flyer on Teddy Bridgewater, but there’s no assurance that either one of them is the long-term answer at the position. McCown, obviously, because of his age, and Bridgewater because of the injury history that caused the Vikings to move on from him this offseason. I mean, I don’t want to say that the Jets made a move into the Top 3 a month before the NFL Draft to assure they got a quarterback they liked, but. . .well, that’s sort of the conclusion most experts have come to.

Defensive line - Wilkerson’s attitude managed to get him a ticket out of town, and outside of Leonard Williams, the rest of the Jets’ defensive front has been underwhelming. It’s hard to believe that, when Williams was drafted in 2015, the Jets had a front line of Williams, Wilkerson, and Sheldon Richardson. . .particularly when you look at where they are now. They could use some help on the defensive front, to be certain.

Offensive line - The trenches on the other side of the Jets’ roster are nothing to write home about, either. They have one good tackle in Kelvin Beachum and a pair of solid guards in Brian Winters and James Carpenter, but they’d probably like to move Beachum to right tackle, and they need an answer at center. There’s really only one offensive lineman worth drafting this high, though. . .would he fit in with the Jets?

Cornerback - Only one team in the NFL last season allowed more touchdown passes than the Jets did. . .the Giants, who have already made their first round pick. The Jets did lure Trumaine Johnson to town to be their #1 guy at the position, but the depth chart behind him is a bit of a mess. Unfortunately, there really isn’t a corner worth taking this high. This, and the offensive line, is where the Jets are probably going to regret giving up those two second round picks to move up.

Options

Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming - Allen has all of the physical attributes you want in an elite quarterback, but there are definitely some red flags. He played at a smaller school, and didn’t exactly light it up in his chances against higher competition. Some of that might have been the talent he was surrounded by, but his accuracy numbers from college definitely leave something to be desired. He might be the most “boom or bust” quarterback in this year’s class.

Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State - By far the best pass rusher in this year’s class, Chubb is the one player in this class that could likely step in right away. He’s the best overall defensive prospect in this class, and the Jets definitely need help up front on defense, as we’ve detailed. Does Chubb fit into their scheme?

Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama - Fitzpatrick is the top defensive back in this year’s class, and with the Jets’ secondary presenting a bit of a mess, Fitzpatrick could certainly make an impact right away. His best fit in the NFL is going to be at safety, but he’s versatile enough to come down and play slot corner, and he could probably even work as an outside corner as well.

Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - The Heisman Trophy winner from this past season seems to have more variance as far as people view him than any of the “Top 4” quarterbacks. He doesn’t have prototype size (measuring in at 6’), and does have some character red flags as well. Still, he is incredibly accurate, completing 68.5% of his passes in college, and his improvisational skills are outstanding. Comparisons to Johnny Manziel are inevitable for Mayfield, but that comparison is kind of lazy, in my opinion.

Quentin Nelson, G, Notre Dame - Speaking of bests, Nelson might be the best overall prospect in the draft class of 2018, regardless of position. The most dominant offensive lineman in college football in 2017, there has been some talk that Nelson could potentially be a tackle, but that’s crazy talk, in my opinion. Whichever team takes Nelson is going to have a plug-and-play dominant guard for the next decade. But, do you take an interior offensive lineman at #3 overall, particularly since the Jets already have a couple of pretty solid guards?

Josh Rosen, QB, California-Los Angeles - Rosen has the dreaded title of “most pro-ready” quarterback in this class, and played in more of a pro-style offense at UCLA. He checks all the boxes you want for a potential franchise guy in terms of size and arm strength. He doesn’t have quite the mobility that seems to be valued at the quarterback position today, but he’s definitely got what it takes to be a successful passer in the NFL.

That’s a brief look at the New York Jets. Coming up tomorrow, we’re headed back to Cleveland, as the Browns will make the second of their two first-round picks to go with quarterback Sam Darnold.