In the spirit of mock draft season, Rich Cimini, ESPN’s Jets’ beat reporter, has released his own mock draft.
In Cimini’s projections, he has the Jets opting for Lousiville OT Mekhi Becton with Jedrick Wills Jr. and Andrew Thomas off the board to the Cardinals and Browns, respectively. That leaves the Jets to pick between Becton, Tristan Wirfs and the draft’s top receivers in Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs III.
Here’s Cimini’s reason for pairing Gang Green with the Lousiville product:
This would be a good choice for the Jets. In my opinion, which is based on conversations with several talent evaluators, Wills and Becton are the only two tackles I’d take with the 11th pick. If they’re gone, I’d turn to wide receiver — either Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs III. I’m leery of CeeDee Lamb because, in the defensively challenged Big 12 Conference, he didn’t face many good cornerbacks or a lot of press coverage.
Tackle Tristan Wirfs is a freakish athlete, but he’s not as technically sound as the previous top linemen from Iowa. He will be a good player, but he’s not as pro-ready as Wills or Becton.
Wills and Becton are the only tackles that Cimini would take with the 11th pick. However, that may not align with Joe Douglas’ thinking. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Wirfs showed off his athleticism and positional versatility, both things Douglas has stressed in search of improving New York’s offensive line thus far.
Wirfs will be an option at No. 11, but Douglas would also have a hard time passing on Becton, who projects to be like former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl OT Bryant McKinnie.
Becton is big, long and athletic, standing at 6-foot-7, 370-pounds. He also has nimble feet, which is rare for someone his size. Not to mention he can play both tackle positions, which could give him the edge over Wirfs.