While the Jets have made offensive line a point of emphasis and they aren’t quite yet done improving their unit, it’s become increasingly likely that wide receiver will also be an option with the 11th pick.
That’s exactly what Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar has the Jets doing, selecting Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in his latest mock draft.
There may be concerns that George Fant can’t maintain a starting spot on the offensive line, but the Jets’ wide receiver corps is awfully thin. Beyond Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder, there’s Quincy Enunwa, Vyncint Smith, Josh Doctson and Braxton Berrios. That’s too many what if’s to gamble on, especially with the need for Sam Darnold’s continued development. While this draft is plentiful with talented receivers, the Jets may decide against waiting for Day 2 and Day 3, not wanting to pass up on the cream of the crop of the position like Lamb.
Here’s Farrar’s explanation for the pick:
Jets general manager Joe Douglas did a lot with a little in free agency to improve an offensive line that was sprouting needs just about everywhere. There are still concerns about the abilities of guys like George Fant to hold up to a starting right or left tackle spot, but if Douglas and his team believes they’ve done enough to make the line at least league-average, the next step may be to get Sam Darnold a No. 1 receiver — especially after Robby Anderson signed with the Panthers. Darnold would be absolutely ecstatic if the Jets’ first-round pick turned out to be Lamb, because his combination of quickness, route understanding, and strength for his size (six-foot-two, 198 pounds) make him a plug-and-play “X” or “Z” receiver in just about any offense.
At the end of the day, Lamb is as good a No. 1 wide receiver the Jets are going to get Sam Darnold without mortgaging several draft picks or having to pay a high price-tag.
At Oklahoma, Lamb was named a first-team Associated Press All-American and a Biletnikoff Award finalist. He also earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. In 13 starts, he led the Sooners with 62 receptions for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Lamb has the flashiness, explosiveness and playmaking ability to give the Jets passing attack something it’s so greatly missed. Adding Lamb to a starting rotation of Perriman and Crowder opens endless possibilities for Adam Gase and the Jets offensively.