With the 2019 NFL draft about a month away, Draft Wire released its latest mock draft, this one being four rounds with trades.
In the first round, Luke Easterling has the Jets trading back with the Giants and selecting a pass rusher. From there, they fill out their roster with depth and potential playmakers after adding a second-round pick.
Let’s take a look and see who Easterling matched with the Jets in his four-round, mid-combine mock draft.
First Round (via NYG): DE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
Mike Maccagnan has not made it a secret that the Jets are interested in trading back, nor has he ruled doing so with the team New York shares its stadium with.
In this scenario, the Jets trade back with the Giants, who come up to get their quarterback, Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins. The Jets are able to get a pass-rusher while adding back a second-round pick.
Here’s Easterling’s explanation for the pick:
This is an ideal scenario for the Jets, who move back just three spots while getting an additional pair of premium picks and still have top prospects available at all their biggest positions of need. They could go wide receiver or offensive tackle, but pass rushers with Sweat’s combination of athleticism and SEC production don’t last long.
Sweat ran an impressive 40-time at the combine, coming in at 4.41 seconds. Sweat is an impressive athlete with speed off the edge, but he lacks flexible mobility. He is better suited for a 4-3 defensive scheme, but a pass-rusher of his stature could be intriguing in Gregg Williams’ defensive front.
Second Round (via NYG): WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
With the extra pick the Jets acquired from the Giants, they finally get a wide receiver with No. 1 potential.
Brown is a bully in the slot that compares to JuJu Smith-Schuster, which could be a win-win for the Jets. Even with signing Jamison Crowder, Brown can play both inside and outside.
In a wide receiver room with Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa, Brown’s premium route-running ability mixed with his speed and strength will let him blossom into a top wideout.
Third Round: OL Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State
Staying within the state of Mississippi, the Jets address the center position by taking one of the better center prospects in this draft.
Jenkins is not an eye-opening prospect, but his strength and frame, standing at 6-foot-4, make him an enticing option in the middle. His ability alone against SEC defenses makes him stand out in this class.
Jenkins can easily start from Day 1 and give the Jets the missing puzzle piece in the middle. That being said, New York can’t become complacent at the position and should bring in another veteran other than Jonotthan Harrison to compete with Jenkins
Third Round (via NO): CB Michael Jackson, Miami (FL)
To complete the Teddy Bridgewater trade, the Jets take a potential starter to add to their cornerback room.
Michael Jackson is a big and strong corner that relies on his length and strength to get by. His cover skills leave a lot to be desired and teams may view him more as a safety.
With cornerback being a pressing need, the Jets may need to hone in on a true cover corner.
Fourth Round: CB Kris Boyd, Texas
To start Day 3, the Jets double dip on cornerbacks as their depth there just isn’t good enough at the moment.
Kris Boyd comes in as a physical cornerback with a lot of playing experience at the University of Texas.
Boyd’s lack of athleticism is a huge question mark and draft evaluators are unsure if he even has the instincts to transition over to safety.
The Jets are going to have to draft true cornerbacks with athleticism and physicality to play in Gregg Williams’ defense.
