With the rise of dominant interior defensive lineman, there’s an ever-growing desire to find the next Aaron Donald or Ndamukong Suh to beef up a team’s front seven. Armed with the No. 3 overall pick, the Jets have the opportunity to bring in a player of that caliber to start in Gregg Williams’ new defense.
Who that will be, though, is up for debate.
Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson are locked in as the Jets’ defensive ends in the 3-4 base scheme, but the starting defensive tackle is still unclear. The Jets don’t have any promising players behind aging veteran Steve McLendon, so they could look to bring in their future franchise defender at some point this summer. There are plenty of options in this draft, all of which have their pros and cons.
Here are the four best defensive tackle the Jets could draft.
Quinnen Williams, Alabama
Arguably the top prospect in the 2019 draft, Alabama’s Quinnen Williams posses a lot of the tools the Jets desire in a defensive tackle.
He consistently penetrated the line of scrimmage with 43 total quarterback pressures and 24 combined sacks and QB hits. Williams’ 18.5 tackles for a loss led the Crimson Tide and he finished with 70 total stops. Williams’ footwork and hand techniques looked tremendous as well, and many believe his versatility allows him to play in any defensive scheme. His 6-foot-3 size isn’t ideal, but smaller defensive tackles have proven to be just as effective.
If Williams is available at No. 3, it will be hard for the Jets to pass on him.
Ed Oliver, Houston
Everyone is looking for the next Aaron Donald, and Houston’s Ed Oliver garnered a lot of comparisons to the Ram’s star, and for good reason. Not only are they a similar size (Oliver is actually bigger at 6-foot-2, 287 pounds), but they also have comparable NFL combine stats.
Athletically, not many prospects at the position can hold a candle to Oliver. His raw talent alone makes him a top-10 pick, but he’s also proven to be effective all over the line despite his smaller frame. In three seasons at Houston, Oliver tallied 50 tackles for a loss in three seasons, including 13.5 sacks.
The issues with Oliver lie in his size, as there is a real concern he could get swallowed up in the middle of the defensive line. From the nose tackle position, Oliver’s pass rush grade dropped to 74.1 compared to his 82.8 grade from a non-NT position.
It would be a shock for the Jets to take Oliver if Williams and linebacker Josh Allen are on the board, but Gregg Williams may want a raw talent to mold into his version of Aaron Donald, who he coached for three seasons with the Rams.
Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
Simmons checks off a lot of boxes for an NFL defensive tackle. He’s strong, athletic and his 6-foot-4, 300-pound frame makes him an imposing force for offensive linemen.
If not for an ACL tear in February, Simmons would be in serious consideration for the third overall pick. Sadly, the low odds of Simmons even playing in 2019 make drafting him so early very unappealing. However, if the Jets trade back and are willing to wait on Simmons’ health, there aren’t many players in the draft that are as impressive an athlete as him.
Character concerns will also play a role in Simmons’ draftability. He was arrested in 2016 for assaulting a woman. He managed to stay out of trouble at Mississippi State after that, but it’s unlikely Mike Maccagnan goes for a player like that given the general manager’s connection to domestic violence.
Christian Wilkins, Clemson
Wilkins has the perfect blend of size, athleticism and intellect to make him a great addition to the Jets’ defensive line.
A four-year player in Clemson’s defense, Wilkins finished his career with 40.5 tackles for a loss, 16 sacks and even got two degrees out of his time with the Tigers. His 14 percent pressure rate ranked second in the nation behind only Quinnen Williams. At 6-foot-3, 314 pounds, Wilkins can penetrate the line as well from both the tackle and end position.
Drafting Wilkins third overall would be a bit of a reach for the Jets, but he could be a target if New York trades back into the middle or back-end of the first round.
