Joe Douglas didn’t lie when he said he wanted to build through the draft.
After the dust settled from the 2020 season — as well as his two biggest trades — Gang Green heads into the 2021 draft with a whopping 10 picks. That’s the most since 2014, when the Jets drafted 14 players in John Idzik’s final draft as general manager. Douglas hopes to produce better output than his predecessors, though, and he started out well last year when seven of his nine picks played at least eight games – highlighted by first- and second-round picks Mekhi Becton and Denzel Mims.
This year’s draft could be even more lucrative for the Jets’ long-term future. The Jets have five picks in the first 87 selections thanks to the Jamal Adams trade, including two first-rounders (Nos. 2 and 23) and the second pick of the second round. The Adams trade added a first- and third-rounder this year, while the Sam Darnold trade to the Panthers added a sixth-rounder. Next year, the Jets will have an even better selection with four picks in the first two rounds, both thanks to the Adams and Darnold trades.
The Jets have a lot of holes to fill, though, and Douglas will need to find some starters at a few key positions that include cornerback and offensive line. Many expect New York to draft a quarterback second overall, which leaves the rest of the draft to bolstering the offense and fortifying the defense.
Here are all 10 of the Jets’ selections:
- Round 1, pick 2 (No. 2 overall)
- Round 1, pick 23 (No. 23 overall) *from Seahawks for Jamal Adams*
- Round 2, pick 2 (No. 34 overall)
- Round 3, pick 2 (No. 66 overall)
- Round 3, pick 23 (No. 87 overall) *from Seahawks for Jamal Adams*
- Round 4, pick 2 (No. 108 overall)
- Round 5, pick 2 (No. 147 overall)
- Round 5, pick 10 (No. 155 overall)
- Round 6, pick 2 (No. 187 overall)
- Round 6, pick 41 (No. 226 overall) *from Panthers for Sam Darnold*
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