With the 2020 NFL Draft less than a week away, CBS Sports released a new three-round mock.
In these projections, CBS Sports’ Dan Schneier has the Jets trading up to secure the offensive tackle of their choosing. After that, the Jets are able to acquire a starter at receiver and an edge rusher who has the potential to eventually be one.
Let’s take a look at who Schneier has the Jets taking in Rounds 1-3.
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Round 1 (via JAC):
9. Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia
The Jets move up two spots to ensure they’ll get Andrew Thomas. In this projected trade, the Jets part ways with picks Nos. 11 and 79 while adding pick No. 116 in the process.
Here’s CBS Sports’ explanation for the trade-up and selection:
The Jets don’t chance a team trading up ahead of the Giants to draft the third of the big-four OTs (before their cross-town rival snags the last one at No. 10). The Jets lose their best Day 2 pick in the process (but grab back an early Day 3 pick), but that’s a fine price to pay to lock in their choice of the final two OTs (an absolute must given the current depth chart). Thomas has played against some of the best competition in the SEC, but he is my OT4 in this class (only slightly behind the top three) due to issues I spot in pass protection. At times when you watch Thomas, it also feels like he was hidden by Georgia’s play-action heavy system. A case can be made that Thomas is OT1 and for some teams who just might be — the Jets come away thrilled with this pick.
New York had a private dinner with Andrew Thomas and worked him out the next morning before pre-draft visits were shut down, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. It’s clear that the Jets have done their homework on the Georgia tackle. The question that remains is will he make it out of the top-10? The Dolphins have shown interest and have the draft capital to trade up and grab him if need be.
Thomas didn’t have the best combine but his results at Georgia point to a model of consistency. A three-year starter, he got a crack at playing both tackle positions. Coming from a well-coached team, Thomas will be a Day 1 starter due to his technique and versatility on the line.