Tag: Jedrick Wills Jr.

2020 NFL Draft order finalized following Super Bowl

The New York Jets will pick 11th in the 2020 NFL Draft as the league’s first-round order is finalized following the Chiefs Super Bowl win.

With the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl on Sunday night, they officially locked up the 32nd pick and finalized the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

While there is a hiatus of football until spring OTAs, now is the time to closely follow mock drafts. The scouting combine will start at the end of this month and it will create a clearer picture as to what teams are planning to do with their picks.

After finishing 7-9, the Jets will pick just outside the top-10 at No. 11. While it’s known league-wide that the Jets want to fix the offensive line in the first round, it all depends on whether or not any of the top-heavy prospects in the renches will be there by the time New York makes its selection.

Players like Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr. will be intriguing options for the Jets at No. 11.

Other options for the Jets include wide receivers Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb from Alabama and Oklahoma, respectively, or LSU pass-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. New York could move back, as it needs all the draft capital it can possibly get.

Here is a look at the finalized draft order as the NFL heads into the offseason:

1. Bengals

2. Redskins

3. Lions

4. Giants

5. Dolphins

6. Chargers

7. Panthers

8. Cardinals

9. Jaguars

10. Browns

11. Jets

12. Raiders

13. Colts

14. Buccaneers 

15. Broncos

16. Falcons

17. Cowboys

18. Dolphins (via Steelers)

19. Raiders (via Bears)

20. Jaguars (via Rams)

21. Eagles

22. Bills

23. Patriots

24. Saints

25. Vikings

26. Dolphins (via Texans)

27. Seahawks

28. Ravens

29. Titans

30. Packers

31. 49ers

32. Chiefs

Giants select Jedrick Wills Jr. in latest USA TODAY mock draft

The New York Giants select Alabama OT Jedrick Wills Jr. in latest USA TODAY mock draft.

In USA TODAY’s latest 2020 NFL mock draft, it’s no surprise who the first two players off the board were.

The Cincinnati Bengals, barring something out of the ordinary, will take LSU quarterback Joe Burrow and the Washington Redskins, at No. 2 are said to be stitching Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young’s jersey as we speak.

After those two formalities are out of the way, the Detroit Lions could do a number of things. According to USAT’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, the Lions will select another Buckeye, Jeff Okudah, widely considered to be the top cornerback in this draft class.

So, where does that leave the Giants? Naturally, they would have loved Young, but even if Washington passed on him, or somehow traded out for a team looking for a quarterback, it’s hard to think Detroit would pass on him.

Middlehurst-Schwartz believes the Giants will do something logical with this pick and finally take an offensive lineman — Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., a 6-foot-5, 320-pound junior who seems to fit general manager Dave Gettleman’s ‘hog mollie’ mantra.

“New coach Joe Judge seemed to be channeling general manager Dave Gettleman when he vowed the Giants would employ an “old-school, physical mentality.” That mentality might push them toward Wills, a surprisingly fleet-footed protector who erases opponents in the run game.”

The Giants had trouble getting Saquon Barkley sprung this year and Wills could go a long way in doing that. He would be the team’s left tackle, displacing veteran Nate Solder, and make left guard Will Hernandez that much better.

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2020 NFL draft: Why Jets will have tough time addressing biggest need in Round 1

The Jets find themselves in an undesirable situation with the No. 11 pick and needing offensive line help in April’s draft.

While a 6-2 finish to the Jets’ season shows the franchise is headed in the right direction, the hot streak came with consequences.

Gang Green has the 11th overall pick in April’s draft. With the Jets needing to undergo a full rebuild on the offensive line, picking outside of the top-10 is less than ideal when it comes to this draft class.

Finding a franchise tackle remains a top priority for the Jets. With that said, there seems to be a consensus that three tackles will be selected in front of the Jets. Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr. seem destined to go in front of New York.

Wirfs has yet to declare for the draft, while first-round prospect Alex Leatherwood announced his attention to return to the University of Alabama.

The Giants, Dolphins, Chargers, Cardinals and Browns all need considerable help on the offensive line. The Jets have to cross their fingers and hope that there is a run on talented receivers and potential franchise quarterbacks before the team’s pick.

Potential players available for the Jets picking at No. 11 could be Iowa edge rusher A.J. Epenesa, Penn State edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos, Stanford CB Paulson Adebo, Alabama CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III and Clemson WR Tee Higgins.

In a pipe dream scenario the two most dynamic wide receivers in the class, Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy or Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, could fall to the Jets, but neither option seems plausible at this point in time. Even if that were the case, while the Jets need receiver help, the line is still the biggest issue.

The Jets may not be able to address the tackle position in the first round and they have to accept that. However, that should not prevent New York from attempting to fix the interior of the offensive line.

Wisconsin IOL Tyler Biadasz, Washington IOL Nick Harris and Oklahoma IOL Creed Humphrey all could be had in the latter portion of the first round if the Jets decide to trade back.

This draft is deep with wide receivers and cornerbacks and the Jets desperately need to add more talent on both sides of the football, especially on Joe Douglas’ first go around.

Whether it’s staying put or trading back, the Jets have to come away with offensive line help on Day 1 of the 2020 NFL draft. They have their work cut out for them this offseason and everyone in the organization knows that New York will only go as far as its play in the trenches.

Actually addressing those holes will be easier said than done, though. Especially in the draft.

2020 NFL draft: Jets take OL with first pick in Matt Miller’s latest mock

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report has released his post-regular season mock draft, check out to see who Miller has the Jets picking throughout.

With the regular season coming to a close on Sunday, mock draft season has already begun. With the order for non-playoff teams set, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller released his post-regular season mock draft on Monday.

The Jets are locked into the 11th pick with the top-20 of the draft order officially set in stone.

In the first round, Miller has the Jets addressing their glaring hole on the offensive line. From there, they fill out their roster with playmakers that would have a chance to contribute right away.

Let’s take a look and see who Miller has the Jets taking in his three-round, post-regular season mock draft.

First Round: Jedrick Willis Jr. | OT | Alabama

(Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports)

Fixing the offensive line must be a priority this offseason.

With Joe Douglas’ first draft pick as the team’s general manager, Matt Miller has Douglas seeking immediate help in the trenches by taking Jedrick Willis Jr., an offensive tackle out of Alabama.

Here’s Miller’s explanation for the pick:

The New York Jets should be smiling all the way to the podium when the card is sent in with my top-ranked offensive tackle coming off the board to protect Sam Darnold.

Darnold, when protected well this year, showed all the tools to be a very good starting NFL quarterback. The trouble was that he was rarely well-protected as the Jets’ offensive line was ravaged by injury.

Drafting Wills, who was tasked with protecting Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side as the Alabama right tackle, gives the Jets a Week 1 answer at left tackle. His movement skills are the best of any tackle in the 2020 class, and his technique is pro-ready.

Receiver is a huge need, as is edge-rusher, but protecting Darnold has to be the top priority for general manager Joe Douglas in his first draft.

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