It’s going to be a busy Saturday afternoon for Jets general manager Joe Douglas.
The Jets now have six selections on day three of the draft after trading their final pick of the third round to the New England Patriots in exchange for two fourth-round selections (picks Nos. 125 and 129). New York also holds a pick in the fifth (No. 158), sixth (No. 191) and seventh (No. 211) rounds.
Fortunately for Douglas and the Jets, there is a boatload of talented prospects still on the board. Who should New York focus on in the final day of the draft? Let’s take a look.
Jacob Eason, Washington
Seeing a quarterback on this list might come as somewhat of a surprise due to Sam Darnold’s presence, but the Jets are in need of a competent backup.
David Fales might be familiar with Adam Gase’s offense, but that does not mean he is the best option to relieve Darnold in the event of an injury. Eason has a good arm and a high football I.Q., making him an attractive backup quarterback option for New York if it chooses to target one on day three.
Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame
Ashtyn Davis can play cornerback, but it’s looking like the Jets could wind up using him as a Swiss army knife more than anything else. That leaves the door open for New York to target a true cornerback on day three.
Pride Jr. is 5-foot-11 but plays with physicality. He loves mixing it up at the line of scrimmage and is adept at playing in man coverage. His technique could use a little work, as he sometimes gets caught looking in the backfield. That should not be too difficult for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to fix, though.
Bryce Hall, Virginia
Like Pride Jr., Hall is a physical outside cornerback who is not afraid to mix it up at the line of scrimmage and run with receivers in man coverage.
Hall (6-foot-1, 202 pounds) is a bit bigger than Pride Jr., which could make him a more preferable target for the Jets. It is relatively surprising that Hall lasted this long, but if things break in New York’s favor, Gregg Williams could have himself a new starting cornerback ready to make an impact from day one.
Netane Muti, Fresno State
If Joe Douglas is looking for a nasty presence in the trenches early on day three of the draft, Fresno State’s Netane Muti is his guy.
Muti is a mauler at guard. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound interior offensive lineman is tough to move at the point of attack. He is also a former defensive lineman himself, making him familiar with the assortment of moves interior defensive linemen attempt at the point of attack.
Remember, Alex Lewis and Greg Van Roten are essentially on one-year deals with the way their contracts are structured. If one struggles in 2020, Muti could be waiting in the wings to take over at either guard spot.
Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
The Jets got their guy in Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims in the second round. Could they add another weapon for Sam Darnold to throw to on day three?
If Joe Douglas is interested in doing so, Johnson should be his guy as long as he is still on the board. The Minnesota product shredded Big 10 defenses all of last season. There are concerns about his lack of speed and ability to separate from defensive backs at the next level, but no receiver left on the board at this point in the draft can match Johnson’s elite production against some of the better secondaries in the country.
Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
As one of the best centers in college football last season, Biadasz is certainly an intriguing option this late in the draft.
If the Jets go after the Wisconsin product and he performs well throughout training camp, there is a real possibility that Biadasz begins the season as New York’s starting center, kicking Connor McGovern over to guard.
Biadasz has what it takes to be a starting center at the next level. If he’s on the board when it is their turn to pick, the Jets should take a long look at him.
