With the college football season over after Monday’s championship, mock draft season is in full swing. With the order set for 28 of 32 NFL teams, USA Today released a post-College Football Playoff mock draft.
Fans of NFL teams that are deprived of talent can view the draft as a measure to improve their team’s homegrown talent as well as providing hope for the future. As for Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas, his work is cut out for him when it comes to improving Gang Green’s roster.
Douglas gets to make his first draft choice as the head honcho of the Jets’ scouting department come late April. With the No. 11 overall pick, USA Today has the Jets taking Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Here’s the explanation for the pick:
With the top three offensive tackles off the board at this point, Gang Green might need to take an alternate route to provide relief for Sam Darnold. Getting a true No. 1 target in the savvy and reliable Jeudy might allow Darnold to make quicker —and better—decisions.
With few linemen suitable at No. 11, the Jets get a potential top wideout. In this mock, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr., Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs are all off the board before the Jets make their selection.
Instead of pressing the panic button and reaching for an offensive tackle like Louisville’s Mekhi Becton or Houston’s Josh Jones, Douglas stays put and takes the best player remaining on the Jets’ draft board.
Jeudy would immediately become the No. 1 WR that the Jets have been lacking. At No. 11, New York would be getting one of the best prospects in the country.
The Alabama product is a route running technician. Jeduy is one of the quickest players in the nation and has elite footwork and an innate ability to create separation at the point of attack. In Alabama’s spread offense, Jeudy lined up as both an outside WR and in the slot.
In Jeudy, the Jets would be getting a unique talent who can aid Sam Darnold’s development right away. Every time he touches the ball, he’s a touchdown waiting to happen. Between his ball tracking skills, breakaway speed and catch awareness, the Jets would be getting the full package at wide receiver.