No. 2 is huge but 23 is just as big
The chatter surrounding the No. 2 overall pick has been the focal point of the offseason for Gang Green. It’s clear the Jets are leaning toward taking a quarterback. The team was present at the recent pro days for Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU Zach Wilson. The buzz has them selecting Wilson.
But what the Jets do with the No. 23 overall pick is just as important as they have needs up and down the roster. Their biggest needs are the offensive line, cornerback and running back. Here are five options based on who might be there.
TEVEN JENKINS OT, Oklahoma State
Jenkins is a mauler and plays with a nasty mean streak. The 6-6, 320-pound mammoth, played at right and left tackle this past season. Jenkins has good feet, strength, and is effective at sealing defenders from the play. He quickly adjusts to approaching defenders. Has an athletic ability to get to the second level and block linebackers and erase them from the play. Jenkins was FirstTeam All-Big 12 in 2020.
Here’s what an NFL scout texted me about Jenkins. “Talented. Good player. He’s a big man that can move.”
On ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s latest Big Board, Kiper has Jenkins ranked as the fourth best offensive tackle.
Here’s a play of Jenkins mauling Texas’
Joseph Ossai:
GREG NEWSOME CB, Northwestern
The 6-1,190-pound speedster — who was first-team All-Big 10 as a junior last season — has excellent technique as he’s able to get out of his backpedal with ease. Has good ball skills even though he only recorded one interception in his career. He never panics when he plays off coverage. He showcased his great speed by running an unofficial 4.38 at his pro day.
Newsome is a great fit for new Jets head coach Robert Saleh’s 4-3 scheme because of how well he plays in cover three. According to Pro Football Focus, the 49ers under Saleh ran cover three 32.3% and quarters coverage 24.2% in 2020.
GREGORY ROUSSEAU DE, Miami
Rousseau is an athletic specimen and an explosive college pass rusher. He has outstanding upside. He plays with exceptional agility and has good read-and-react skills. He’s 6-7, 266 pounds, and ran a 4.74 at his pro. He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.
But in 2019, Rousseau was a monster. He had 54 combined tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles in 13 games. He earned first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American.
Would be a great addition to an already talented defensive line featuring Carl Lawson, Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins. This would be a similar defensive formula that fueled the 49ers’ Super Bowl run.
ZAVEN COLLINS LB, Tulsa
Collins was the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. He is an explosive linebacker that constantly makes impact plays. In eight games he had 54 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and four interceptions while returning two for touchdowns.
Collins has good instincts and quickly locates the ball. The 6-4, 260-pound linebacker can shed blockers to make plays on the ball and consistently shoot through the gaps to infiltrate the line of scrimmage. He’s good in space because of his lateral agility and has excellent speed in pursuit.
TRAVIS ETIENNE RB, Clemson
Most people scoff at the thought of drafting a running back in the first round.
However, most of the running backs picked in the first round since 2015 have balled. Ezekiel Elliott, Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Todd Gurley
and Melvin Gordon. The only one that was a bust is Rashaad Penny.
Etienne is a home run hitter and once he gets in open space you can add six on the scoreboard. The 5-10, 215-pound running back had 70 career rushing touchdowns and 4,952 yards. His explosiveness is unmatched in this draft class. Etienne ran a 4.45 at his pro day.
Etienne was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
If the Jets drafted Etienne he would vastly improve their running game and be a staple of their offense.
MOCKING GANG GREEN
In Todd McShay’s NFL Mock Draft 4.0 for ESPN, McShay revealed what he thinks the Jets will do in the first two rounds of the draft.
With the No. 2 overall pick McShay has the Jets selecting Wilson. His reasoning: “He fits so well with the modern NFL, showing the ability to make plays on the run, the arm strength to drive the ball vertically and the instincts to tuck and run for big gains when necessary.”
With the No. 23 overall pick McShay goes with Etienne. His reasoning: “I’m going with Etienne, though. He has breakaway speed and can catch passes out of the backfield. The Jets need a true game-changer at running back, and he’s exactly that, scoring 78 touchdowns from scrimmage over his time at Clemson.”
In the second round, McShay has Notre Dame offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg going to Gang Green with the No. 34 pick: “The Jets also stick to building the offense around Zach Wilson. Eichenberg excels in pass protection and can play inside or outside. The Jets hit on Mekhi Becton in the first round last year and will try to do it again here in the second.”