With the NFL Combine just two weeks away, Draft Wire released its latest mock draft, this one being four rounds with trades.
In the first round, Luke Easterling has the Jets staying put and selecting a pass rusher. From there, they fill out their roster with depth and potential playmakers despite not having a second-round pick.
Let’s take a look and see who Easterling matched with the Jets in his four-round, pre-combine mock draft.
First Round: Josh Allen | EDGE | Kentucky
“The Jets either need to get someone to get after the quarterback with this pick or someone to protect their own,” Easterling writes. “In this scenario, the better value is on defense, where new coach Adam Gase lands a versatile, productive edge defender in Allen.”
Allen is a safe bet to be a top-five pick. He had 17 sacks and five forced fumbles for Kentucky this past season and totaled 31.5 for his career with the Wildcats.
The statistics speak for themselves, Allen has done an excellent job of getting after the quarterback, especially against NFL-grade tackles in the SEC.
Allen’s motor and explosiveness off the edge make him a prime candidate for Greg Williams’ 4-3 defense. The only problem is, he’s drawn comparisons to Vernon Gholston as a prospect.
Third Round: Max Scharping | OT | Northern Illinois
Max Scharping was a four-year starter at Northern Illinois University, having experience starting at both right and left tackle. His best NFL fit might come inside at guard.
Scharping’s lack of foot coordination and mobility prevent him from being an immediate starter out of college. It does not seem that he would be an heir to Kelvin Beachum or Brandon Shell. He projects as more of a depth piece at guard.
While the Jets need all the help they can get on the offensive line, they should shy away from reaching for an offensive lineman with their first pick on Day 2.
Third Round (via NO): Miles Sanders | RB | Penn State
To complete the Teddy Bridgewater trade, the Jets take Miles Sanders out of Penn State.
The former Nittany Lion had no easy task filling the shoes of Saquon Barkley, but he did so by running for 1,274 yards on 220 carries and nine touchdowns. Not Heisman numbers, but nonetheless, he was still a trustworthy option out of the backfield.
Sanders would benefit from learning behind a veteran running back like Le’Veon Bell or Tevin Coleman while being mixed in with Elijah McGuire and Trenton Cannon.
His decision making and vision are definitely major concerns, but his explosive cuts, which are reminiscent of Barkley’s, make him a risk worth taking.
Fourth Round: Anthony Johnson | WR | Buffalo
With the Jets’ first pick of Day 3, they add Anthony Johnson to their wide receiver depth chart.
Johnson can play inside and outside right away and is a more than capable blocker. He has solid hands and is a decent enough route-runner, but the problem is, he may be nothing more than a possession receiver.
There are no qualities in Johnson’s game that will wow anyone, but he checks off all the boxes for the prototypical wide receiver. As a senior, Johnson is older than others in his class; the Jets may be better off finding a younger player with a similar skill set.
