Tag: Mel Kiper Mock Draft Jets

2021 NFL draft: Mel Kiper Jr. pairs Jets with Devonta Smith, Jaycee Horn in first mock

In his latest mock draft, draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has the Jets selecting Devonta Smith and Jaycee Horn with their first-round picks.

Mel Kiper Jr. has the Jets making a bit of a surprise pick in his first mock draft.

The longtime ESPN NFL draft analyst hasn’t been shy about his opinion on New York’s quarterback position. Kiper believes that the Jets should run it back with Sam Darnold under center.

The draft essentially begins with the Jets selection at No. 2, as Trevor Lawrence is a foregone conclusion to go to the Jaguars at No. 1. With that, Kiper elects to spurn the quarterback position altogether and sends Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith to Gang Green.

Here’s Kiper’s explanation for the selection:

This is where the intrigue in the draft begins. Will the Jets stick with quarterback Sam Darnold for another year, or will they take either Zach Wilson or Justin Fields? (Or maybe even trade for Deshaun Watson?) The good news for general manager Joe Douglas and new coach Robert Saleh is that they have three months to figure it out. This is a huge decision, and Douglas and Saleh have to be 100% sure that Wilson or Fields is an upgrade over Darnold. My feeling right now is that yes, Darnold’s stats are ugly, but he’s only 23 and he has had no offensive talent around him for three years. Do the Jets really want to move on from him and watch him thrive elsewhere? That’s why they could give him a one-year audition under Saleh, pick the Heisman Trophy winner at No. 2, and give Darnold one more shot to put all of his talent together. Smith is the true No. 1 target that Darnold hasn’t had.

If New York does elect to keep Darnold as its quarterback going forward, Smith projects as the true No. 1 wide receiver the Jets have been lacking since Brandon Marshall’s 2015 season.

Smith put up record numbers on his way to being named the Heisman this past season. The Alabama wideout recorded 117 receptions for 1,865 yards with 23 touchdowns. If there were any doubts about his Heisman victory, Smith put those to rest with a record-setting performance in Alabama’s National Championship win. He caught 12 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns en route to winning the game’s Offensive MVP.

As for New York’s second first-rounder, the one it acquired in the Jamal Adams trade, Kiper has the Jets taking South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn.

Here’s his explanation for New York’s second first-round selection:

The Jets have needs all over. After I gave them wideout DeVonta Smith at No. 2, they really have to go with the best available prospect here to build up their talent base. I think they will likely bring back free-agent safety Marcus Maye, but we know Robert Saleh’s defense is built around big defensive backs. The 6-foot-1 Horn — yes, his father is former NFL wide receiver Joe Horn — is a fit. He had two interceptions (both in the win over Auburn) in seven games last season before he opted out, but he has great instincts in coverage and should pick off more passes in the NFL. This is also a spot to watch for edge rushers — New York needs to improve there.

Jaycee is a physical, imposing cornerback, standing at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. Despite finishing his collegiate career with just two interceptions, he improved across every season at South Carolina and projects to be a starting outside cornerback at the next level.

The Jets could certainly use such a defensive back.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper pairs Jets with Louisville OT Mekhi Becton in final mock draft

The Jets select Louisville OT Mekhi Becton in ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper’s final projections.

In Mel Kiper’s final mock draft, the ESPN draft analyst has the Jets selecting Louisville offensive lineman Mekhi Becton.

Here is Kiper’s explanation for the selection:

With the wide receiver class so deep, the Jets could grab a starter in Round 2. They can’t afford to miss on the top-tier of this tackle class, though, and Becton is an athletic player with outstanding feet.”

Kiper doesn’t stray far from the consensus with his pick. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, NBC Sports’ Peter King and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and Charlie Casserly each recently had the Jets taking Becton with the 11th pick.

The Jets can’t afford to miss out on a top-tier offensive lineman in the first round. Other options besides Becton include Trsitan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills Jr. and Andrew Thomas, but there is no guaranteed any will be on the board in time for the 11th pick.

Becton is a mauler in the run game. He has the arm length and leverage to go with the power that his 6-foot-7, 364-pound frame possesses. Becton would be a great fit for the outside zone running scheme that the Jets want to establish with Le’Veon Bell and he would take care of the edge on the left side of the offensive line.

Becton would be a plug-and-play starter for New York who can come in and protect Sam Darnold’s blindside immediately. If this is New York’s pick at No. 11, it will be good a one.

2020 NFL Draft: Jets take Jedrick Wills Jr., Chase Claypool in new Mel Kiper mock

Mel Kiper has the Jets picking Jedrick Wills Jr. and Chase Claypool in his latest mock draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft is less than 10 days away and Mel Kiper has released his latest two-round mock draft.

Kiper is staying very consistent with his selections, at least for the Jets. In Kiper’s third mock draft, he had the Jets taking Alabama OT Jedrick Wills Jr. with the 11th pick. That pick doesn’t change in his fourth mock.

Here’s Kiper’s explanation for the pick:

I thought about CeeDee Lamb here, but ultimately this class is much deeper with wide receivers than it is with offensive tackles. And if the Jets can get a starting tackle with Wills and address the receiver position in Round 2 (No. 48), that’s better than the inverse. They could get two immediate starters in the top 50 picks. According to my friends at ESPN Stats & Info, the Crimson Tide averaged 7.7 yards per rush outside the right tackle in 2019, which ranked third in the FBS. Wills would help get Le’Veon Bell going.

Kiper nailed it right on the head with his rationale for taking Wills Jr. This year’s wide receiver class is so loaded that the Jets can get a potential No. 1 wideout in the second round. That’s better than the Jets taking the best wide receiver in the draft in the first round and then snagging the sixth-best offensive lineman in the second round.

As for Wills Jr., he is possibly the most polished offensive lineman in this year’s draft. The numbers Kiper provides speak for themselves. He will be a day one starter and make an instant impact in both the running game and in pass protection.

Moving onto the second round, Kiper has the Jets picking Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool with the 48th pick.

Here’s his reasoning for this pick:

Robby Anderson is gone, and Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder sit atop the Jets’ wide receiver depth chart. Let’s give Sam Darnold more weapons so Adam Gase can fully evaluate the third-year quarterback. The 6-foot-4, 238- pound Claypool lit up the combine with a 4.42 40 and 40.5-inch vertical, and he has a high ceiling if he can get in the right situation. He’d get early reps in New York.

If the Jets are going to take an offensive tackle in the first round, then they have to wide receiver in the second round. However, Claypool might not be the right guy. He’s an athletic freak at 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds while also running a 4.42 second 40-yard dash at the combine. However, he’s not the greatest route runner and does come with some injury concerns.

Kiper got the position right, but the Jets may want to think about a different name for their second pick.

2020 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper pairs Jets with Alabama OT Jedrick Wills in new mock

The Jets take Alabama OT Jedrick Wills in ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft, which was released before Robby Anderson left for Carolina.

Even though the Jets have splurged on the offensive line position during free agency, they still have big question marks at both tackle positions.

This offseason, Joe Douglas has re-signed Alex Lewis and added free agents Connor McGovern, Greg Van Roten, Josh Andrews and George Fant. As of now, Fant and Chuma Edoga are the Jets’ projected starters at left and right tackle, respectively. Neither has much starting experience.

That’s why ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Jets taking Alabama OT Jedrick Wills with the 11th pick in his latest mock draft.

Here’s his explanation for the pick:

The Jets made an effort to fix their porous offensive line in free agency, bringing back guard Alex Lewis and adding tackle George Fant and interior linemen Connor McGovern, Greg Van Roten and Josh Andrews. But that’s not enough. They need another infusion of talent, particularly at right tackle, where Chuma Edoga played last season. Wills was a two-year starter at right tackle for the Crimson Tide, and he could step in on day one and be New York’s most talented lineman. Wide receiver is a position to watch here, though free agent Robby Anderson could still return. I also thought about pass-rusher, but this is a little too high for second-ranked edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson.

Kiper released his mock draft before Robby Anderson elected to reunite with his college coach, Matt Rhule, in Carolina. Anderson joined the Panthers on a two-year, $20 million deal on Tuesday.

Interestingly enough, Kiper’s projection comes with the thinking that Anderson was going to return, which was the belief around the league with his market cooling. Without Anderson returning, the Jets could take a receiver with the 11th pick. While two tackles, Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton, off the board when the Jets picked in this scenario, receivers Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs III were all still available.

Joe Douglas still has over a month to decide what his next move is at wide receiver. He’s already tried to make up for losing Anderson by replacing him with Breshad Perriman, who the Jets signed to a one-year deal on Tuesday night.

Obviously, a tackle like Wills is still very much in play with the 11th pick. Wills fits the bill of the typical offensive lineman Douglas and his front office are looking for: versatile and athletic. Wills could be a plug-and-play option at either tackle position, but he seems more comfortable on the right side. Wills playing right tackle, with the Jets adding a veteran OT like Kelvin Beachum or Jason Peters on a one-year deal, would ensure that the Jets have a perfect combination of youth and experience.

Wills is viewed as a potential top-five pick in the draft and arguably the best offensive lineman in this year’s draft. It would be a surprise if Wills makes his way out of the top-10 due to his sheer athleticism and testing at the combine.

Wills also recorded a 90.1 Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade in the SEC this past season, a remarkable number for an underclassman. Those figures make the Jets’ decision with the 11th pick that much harder. Wills is the safer bet and the Jets can’t go wrong with upgrading their o-line again.

Jets pick Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft

With three offensive linemen already off the board, the Jets opt for Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft.

In Mel Kiper’s latest mock, the ESPN draft analyst has the Jets taking a potential No. 1 wide receiver for Sam Darnold.

By picking Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, Kiper has the Jets spurning the need of an offensive tackle and opting to get their young quarterback an outside weapon with the 11th pick. This comes after Alabama’s Jedrick Willis Jr., Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton are already off the board. So, in this scenario, Joe Douglas takes Lamb over Georgia’s Andrew Thomas.

Instead of taking a plug-and-play tackle, Kiper opts for the wideout. Here’s his explanation for the pick:

Can Sam Darnold get some help, please? With Robby Anderson potentially departing in free agency and Quincy Enunwa’s future up in the air, Darnold’s top receivers are Jamison Crowder and … Le’Veon Bell? That’s not an ideal situation for a third-year quarterback who stagnated in Year 2. Lamb can be the Jets’ top wideout — he is stellar after the catch and can run every route in the tree. Jets quarterbacks averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt last season (27th in the NFL), but that would rise with Lamb on the field. This team is likely to see massive turnover along the offensive line this offseason, so it could target a tackle here, too, depending on what happens in free agency.

Yes, the Jets have needed a No. 1 wide receiver since Brandon Marshall’s 2015 season, but the team still needs help in the trenches. This selection becomes more plausible if Douglas can find his tackle in free agency.

Lamb projects as a top-shelf prospect that can make an immediate impact from Day 1. His ball skills and explosiveness with the ball in his hands should allow Adam Gase to have a true No. 1, especially if Robby Anderson leaves New York. Not that Anderson ever was one to begin with.

Lamb played in a fast-pace offense at Oklahoma that allowed him to light the college football world on fire. In 2019, Lamb was named a first-team Associated Press All-American and a Biletnikoff Award finalist and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. In 13 starts, he led the Sooners with 62 receptions for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns.