Joe Douglas should be very happy with his first draft as Jets general manager. He manipulated the draft board to finish with nine players, all of which have the potential to play significant roles for the Jets in 2020.
The Jets filled positions of need early with the selections of offensive tackle Mekhi Becton and wide receiver Denzel Mims but added great depth at positions like guard, cornerback, running back and quarterback. This draft featured the most players taken by the Jets since 2017 when they also took nine players. Only two players from that draft still play for the Jets, so Douglas is looking for better results.
Only time will tell, but for now, here are JetsWire’s grades for all nine of the Jets’ 2020 draft picks.
OT Mekhi Becton – No. 11 overall
The Jets got the biggest player in the draft in the 6-foot-7, 364-pound Becton, who’ll become a run-blocking force for New York. Becton can open up lanes for Le’Veon Bell and keep Sam Darnold upright by pancaking any defender in his way.
Becton might have the most potential of any of the top linemen in the draft but he’s also an incredibly raw pass-protector. He’s a bully on the field but that could be to his detriment against smarter and more experienced pass rushers. Becton fits the bill as a dominating lineman who should be a stabilizing presence at the tackle position for the Jets’ offensive line.
Grade: B-
WR Denzel Mims – No. 59 overall
Douglas gambled and won when he traded back 11 picks and still landed Mims in the middle of the second round. He gets an ultra-productive, big-bodied receiver who loves to win 50-50 balls and catch touchdowns.
There are concerns about Mims’ route tree, ability after the catch and hands. He’s really great at one-cut or straight-line routes, but averaged only three yards after the catch per reception and dropped 12.9 percent of his targets the past two seasons. Even still, his speed and frame will make him a fantastic target for Sam Darnold in Adam Gase’s offense.
Grade: A-
DB Ashtyn Davis – No. 68 overall
This was a pick for Gregg Williams. Davis can play all over the defense – safety, cornerback, linebacker – and is even adept at returning punts. His versatility makes his role hard to gauge, but he should be a fantastic depth player for Williams in the secondary as a hard-hitter.
Davis is another raw player who shows potential and will need to be coached up to clean up some of his bad habits – namely, his over-aggressiveness, which at times takes him out of plays.
Grade: C+
EDGE Jabari Zuniga – No. 79 overall
The Jets needed pass rush help, and Zuniga will provide that from anywhere along the defensive front. He only played five games in 2019 but still managed to put up three sacks and tallied 18.5 during his career at Florida. Zuniga is incredibly fast off the snap and proved it with the highest athleticism score – 93 – of all edge rushers at the NFL combine.
Zuniga likely won’t be an every-down rusher for the Jets early on but could turn into a nice player for Williams in sub-packages where he’ll be mismatched against tight ends or inferior linemen.
Grade: B-
RB La’Michal Perine – No. 120 overall
Perine figures to become the Jets’ third-down running back and should replace Bilal Powell as the backup for Le’Veon Bell. He’s a powerful runner at 5-foot-11 and 218 pounds who can catch passes out of the backfield.
He was never a workhorse back at Florida but the Jets don’t need him to be one yet. Perine will spell Bell when needed, step in on pass-blocking situations and force miss tackles with his massive frame. He’ll need to learn patience and decision-making as a runner, though, but that could come with time.
Grade: C-
QB James Morgan – No. 125 overall
The Jets get a young backup for Sam Darnold in FIU quarterback James Morgan who needs to prove he can be a quarterback in the NFL by beating out incumbent QB2 David Fales.
The fourth-round is a bit early for the Jets to go for a quarterback, especially with so many other needs remaining on the roster – hence the low grade – but Morgan offers ideal size and arm strength. He does need to work on decision-making and pocket presence, though.
Grade: F
OL Cameron Clark – No. 129 overall
Douglas beefed up the offensive line with another versatile run-blocker. Cameron Clark played left tackle at Charlotte but says he can play all across the line.
Clark has big hands, good technique and proved to compete at a high level against NFL competition when he faced Clemson in 2019. He needs to work on discipline – he committed six penalities as a senior – and hand placement but will be a serviceable backup lineman for the Jets in 2020.
Grade: B-
CB Bryce Hall – No. 158 overall
Hall has the best opportunity to be an immediate starter for the Jets after Mekhi Becton and Denzel Mims. The rangy 6-foot-1 cornerback from Virginia is coming off a major ankle injury but was one of the best coverage corners in college when he was healthy. He broke up 37 passes over the past two seasons and allowed only 0.63 yards per cover snap.
This was one of the best Day 3 values on the board, and now the Jets can let Hall learn and heal before thrusting him into Gregg Williams’ defense.
Grade: A+
P Braden Mann – No. 191 overall
This isn’t a sexy pick but a necessary one. The Jets needed a punter and Mann was one of the best in college football the past two seasons. He won the Ray Guy Award for the best punter in 2018 when averaged over 50 yards per punt and broke multiple NCAA records for his long punts.
Mann should be the Jets’ starting punter and kickoff specialist in 2020.
Grade: B+
Overall
Douglas said he wanted to bring in high-character, highly productive players and he didn’t disappoint. More than half of the Jets’ picks were team captains in college and all proved to be playmakers at their respective positions. Douglas did a great job filling positions of need as well, especially on offense where he grabbed two linemen, and one wide receiver, running back and quarterback as well as two defensive backs to upgrade Gregg Williams’ secondary.
After years of horrible draft classes, the Jets need Douglas’ first one to hit on every pick. Time will tell if these players will pan out, but the initial blend of talent, character and need looks promising as the Jets head into the 2020 season.
