Imagining the Jets’ perfect draft week
The Jets have a lot riding on this upcoming week.
New York owns five top-70 draft picks, with four in the top-40 and two in the top-10. With lots of holes to fill, this is a pivotal draft for Joe Douglas and his team.
The offseason has been all about Zach Wilson’s development thus far, and the draft should be no different. But how the Jets use their picks will be very telling and completely dependent on what the other 31 teams do.
While the world is nowhere near perfect, we’ve envisioned the most ideal scenario for the Jets this week. That includes some eye-opening trades and drafting at major positions of need.
Here’s what a perfect draft week would look like for the Jets.
Trade for 49ers WR Deebo Samuel
(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
The Jets have been all over the wide receiver trade market without success thus far. But acquiring Deebo Samuel would be the most ideal option and the Jets have a lot to offer in a trade. If the Jets give up both their second-round picks and their third-rounder for Samuel – like what they offered the Chiefs for Tyreek Hill – that would be an absolute steal for New York.
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Draft Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 4
(Andy Nelson-AP)
The best realistic scenario for the Jets’ fourth overall pick is that edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux falls to them. He’s a Day 1 starter and a great fit for a defense that doesn’t have much depth behind Carl Lawson and John Franklin-Myers.
Trade back from No. 10
(Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
This would be the first draft in which Douglas trades back instead of up in the first round. In this scenario, the Jets land Samuel without giving up the 10th pick, so they trade it back to accrue more picks. New York finds a trade partner with the QB-needy Steelers and deals the 10th and 117th picks for Pittsburgh’s 20th and 84th picks and a 2023 first-rounder. The Steelers use the selection on Liberty QB Malik Willis.
Draft C Tyler Linderbaum at No. 20
(Julio Cortez-AP)
This pick feels like the epitome of what Douglas preached all offseason. Linderbaum would be the best player available at this point in the draft, he’s a great fit, and he gives the Jets some flexibility with their offensive line. Connor McGovern is in the final year of his contract and would be a cap casualty if Linderbaum impresses enough in training camp.
Find depth at CB, LB, RB and OL
(Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)
The rest of the Jets’ draft picks should be used on depth pieces – players who fit the schemes and locker room but aren’t expected to be immediate contributors. The priorities would be cornerback, linebacker, running back and offensive line and would be entirely dependent on who’s available. Players like Chattanooga OG Cole Strange, BYU RB Tyler Allgeier, LSU LB Damone Clark and Clemson CB Mario Goodrich would all be ideal mid- and late-round picks for the Jets.
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