The blockbuster trade between the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks sent All-Pro safety Jamal Adams from the Big Apple to the Emerald City, and it also had a big impact on future draft considerations for both teams.
The Jets got a pair of first-round picks from the Seahawks in the deal, as well as a third-rounder in next year’s draft.
The latest 2021 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report reflects what this could do for the Jets in the first round next year, as they now have a pair of first-round picks in the upcoming draft to keep building around quarterback Sam Darnold.
With their original pick, this projection has the Jets landing an elite wide receiver prospect to help Darnold, LSU’s J’Marr Chase. Later in the first round, this mock has the Jets bolstering Darnold’s offensive line with Ohio State guard Wyatt Davis. While there are certainly big needs on defense for the Jets (corner, pass rusher), giving Darnold the supporting cast he needs to succeed should be the Jets’ top priority.
The rest of this mock starts out predictably enough, with the Jacksonville Jaguars taking Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick. But a big surprise comes at the No. 3 pick, where the Carolina Panthers opt for North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance over Ohio State’s Justin Fields, who falls to the Detroit Lions at No. 8 overall.
The only other quarterback to crack this top-32 projection is Georgia’s Jamie Newman, who will have to battle fellow transfer JT Daniels for the starting spot this fall if he wants to build himself into a first-round pick next April.
Next year’s running back class will be headlined by a trio of seniors who could have been early picks in the 2020 draft. This mock sends Clemson’s Travis Etienne to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 overall, and Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 29 overall, while Alabama’s Najee’ Harris falls out of the first round.
To check out the full first-round mock at Bleacher Report, click here.
