Third Round (via NYG): John Hightower | WR | Bosie State
In the third round, the Jets elect to overdraft a wideout with the third-round pick they received from the Giants in the Leonard Williams trade.
With interior linemen such as Matt Hennessey, Jonah Jackson and Cesar Ruiz still on the board when the Jets make their pick at No. 68, New York probably should have taken a wide receiver with its second-round pick rather than Lloyd Cushneberry III. Wide receivers such as K.J. Hamler, Jalen Reagor and Chase Claypool were on the board when the Jets made their pick at No. 48.
However, picking John Hightower would mean that Robby Anderson’s days in New York are finished. Speed is Hightower’s calling card; he ran an unofficial 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Hightower was a second-team All-Mountain West pick in 2019, leading Bosie State in receiving yards. He caught 51 passes for 953 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games. Hightower also contributed as the primary kick returner, returning 26 kicks for an average of 24.6 yards and returning one for a touchdown.
While Hightower can get down the field and take off the top of defenses, he lacks size and strength, which could be a continuing issue against press-coverage and with contested catches. If this is Joe Douglas’ choice at wide receiver, the Jets will yet again whiff on another historic receiver class.