It’s safe to assume the Jets won’t be in the market for an edge rusher with the No. 11 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but that does not mean Joe Douglas and company will not look to address the position later on in the draft.
New York has lacked an elite pass rusher since the days of John Abraham. This year’s draft class is not exactly stacked with pass rushers as it has been in the past, but there are still plenty of solid players available for the taking.
So, who could the Jets target in the later rounds of the draft? Let’s take a look.
Curtis Weaver, Boise State
Curtis Weaver is the kind of player Joe Douglas would love to have on his team.
Billed as a high character workhorse with an endless motor, Weaver has all of the intangibles Douglas is looking for as he reshapes the Jets’ roster. Factor in his elite levels of production (52 tackles, 13.5 sacks) and you have a player New York could select as early as the third round.
Jabari Zuniga, Florida
If it weren’t a high ankle sprain that cost him a chunk of his senior season and a Florida coaching staff that did not play him out of position, odds are Jabari Zuniga’s draft stock would be a lot higher than it is right now.
Florida played Zuniga inside on sub packages — a head-scratching move considering his prowess for getting to opposing quarterbacks. Although he was thrust into an unfamiliar role, Zuniga made the most of the situation, showcasing his ability and natural pass rushing gifts when healthy.
If Zuniga’s medicals came back clean, there is no reason for Zuniga not to be a target for the Jets in the later rounds.
Tipa Galeai, Utah State
Galeai’s senior season at Utah State was a bit of a letdown, but there is no question he has the skillset to contribute at the next level for a team looking for a situational pass rusher.
At 6-foot-5, Galeai has the length to pose problems for offensive tackles coming off the edge. He is still a little bit raw, but coaching should do the trick for his development.
La’Darius Hamilton, North Texas
Hamilton was quiet in his first two years at North Texas, but came alive in his final two seasons, recording 15.5 sacks.
Hamilton is being billed as a potential sixth or seventh round pick. If the Jets are still in the market for a pass rusher that late in the draft, they should give him a hard look.
