The Jets will likely target an offensive lineman or wide receiver with their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, but that didn’t stop them from doing their due diligence on one of the draft’s elite defenders last week at the combine.
Per Sports Illustrated, New York met with Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, who many consider the best overall prospect in this year’s draft class. Young is all but a lock to go in the Top 5, which puts the Jets out of range with the No. 11 pick.
Gang Green’s meeting with Young was an informal one. He also met with the Giants in a formal manner. Young did not work out at the combine, opting to pass on drills in Indianapolis in favor of positional drills at his pro day at Ohio State on March 25.
Young was one of college football’s elite pass rushers in 2019, registering 46 tackles and 16.5 sacks. In December, he was named the Chuck Bednarik Award winner by the Maxwell Football Club as the nation’s top defensive player.
The Jets are in a market for a pass rusher and the Ohio State product would be the ideal player to fill that void. However, barring a trade into the Top 5, it is extremely unlikely Joe Douglas and company will have the opportunity to bring Young to the Big Apple.
With Young seemingly out of reach, Douglas will likely stick to what seems to be his original plan of going after an offensive lineman to protect Sam Darnold or a wideout for Darnold to work with. Cornerback is also in play at No. 11, as the Jets are currently paper-thin at the position.