While the Jets have made it a point of emphasis to improve the interior offensive line, there is still much work to be done.
Joe Douglas has made it his priority to add versatile offensive linemen this offseason, but an injection of youth is still expected next month. That’s exactly why Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar has New York selecting Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs in his post-free agency mock draft.
Here’s Farrar’s explanation for the pick:
The Jets and new general manager Joe Douglas have done a lot to retool an offensive line that was responsible for 24 sacks and 188 pressures in 2019, per Pro Football Focus. The additions of tackle George Fant, center Connor McGovern and guards Josh Andrews and Greg Van Roten show the extent to which Douglas realizes the need for improvement. But none of those guys are top-tier starters, which still leaves an opening for someone like Wirfs, the weightlifting monster of a tackle who was the first true freshman to start at offensive tackle for Kirk Ferentz at Iowa. Some believe that Wirfs projects better as a guard at the next level, given his combination of strength and athleticism. But based on the tape, I think he could be a rock star over time at either guard position, right tackle, or protecting Sam Darnold’s blind side.
Adding George Fant isn’t enough to move the needle at the tackle position. While Fant was the first offensive lineman the Jets signed to a long-term contract, he’s best suited as a swing tackle with the functional athleticism to be used as an extra tight end like he was in Seattle.
Wirfs makes sense for the Jets. He displayed at the combine why he is the most athletic offensive lineman in this draft. Wirfs has the athleticism to play either tackle position or be moved inside if need be, but that shouldn’t be of particular issue for New York, which did nothing but add to its interior offensive line so far this offseason.
Wirfs started 10 games at right tackle and three games at left tackle for the Hawkeyes in 2019. The 6-foot-5, 322-pounder would be a homerun first pick for Joe Douglas in his first draft at the helm of the Jets’ war room.