In a game that millions of people have already forgotten, the New York Jets defeated the New England Patriots in week 17, earning them the tenth choice in the NFL draft. Considering that the Jets’ two biggest needs are a pass catcher to complement Garrett Wilson and an offensive tackle, we examine several options should they decide to hold onto their current selection.
Naturally, trading down is the best option because the team has to add as much capital as possible and doesn’t have any draft picks. Finding a partner to give up a ton of selections in order to move up to ten is quite doubtful, though, given the Bears and Patriots are expected to select the top two passers in the class. So where are the Jets supposed to look?
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia: The thought of Bowers will turn off those who don’t know what he offers to the table. He would, however, make great sense to those who had been following him in college over the previous few seasons. Look at what he contributes and forget that he is categorized as a tight end. Bowers would be ideal for the Jets since he is a superb pass catcher who can win both inside and outside and provide blocking akin to that of a borderline offensive lineman. He would strengthen Gang Green’s front-line blocking while providing Garrett Wilson with a reliable pass catcher.
OT JC Latham, Alabama: The Jets are also eliminated from contention for the two best tackles in the class, Olu Fashanu of Penn State and Joe Alt of Notre Dame, who are predicted to be among the top six picks in the NFL draft. The Jets will select their tenth pick. This would indicate that Latham is a candidate, but given the team’s luck with Mekhi Becton, one has to wonder if Joe Douglas would be put off by another 360-pound lineman.
Rome Odunze, Washington Water WR:If you speak with enough draft experts, you’ll undoubtedly hear a number of names for this class’s second-best receiver. While there is little doubt that Marvin Harrison Jr. is the finest receiver in the class, Odunze will rank higher on certain rankings. At 6′ 3″ and 215 pounds, Odunze is a large target who runs like a much smaller receiver and produces big plays after the catch. would provide the Jets with a top receiver to complement Garrett Wilson; SI.com presently projects him to the Jets.
Keon Coleman, a wide receiver for Florida State, is another explosive player with excellent hands and run after catch skills. Before transferring to Florida State, Coleman played just one season at Florida State, during which he managed just eleven touchdowns on 50 receptions for 658 yards.
OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State: Taliese Fuaga is presently predicted as a mid-first-round pick, which would make him a bit of a stretch at number ten. However, don’t be shocked if, in the upcoming months, he finds himself in the debate as a top 10 pick.
Fuaga does better in pass protection than most people seem to believe and is a brutal tone-setter in the run game. Fuaga is one of several tackles in a deep class in which the Jets should be interested when the NFL draft time comes around. He is a solid tackle.
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