The 2019 NFL draft is over, but that doesn’t mean the rosters are set.
With only six selections, there was no way the Jets could fill all the holes on their team. The Jets made some good selections in the draft but failed to address some key positions with their picks. There are still plenty of needs across the board, and the Jets are nowhere near where they need to be to compete in the AFC East.
Here are the Jets four biggest needs after the draft.
Cornerback
The Jets failed to upgrade their cornerback depth in the draft – spending only one late-round pick on the position. Blessuan Austin out of Rutgers is a local product with good height, but he has major durability concerns after suffering two knee injuries.
As it stands today, the Jets still have little to no depth at the position behind Trumaine Johnson. Darryl Roberts is still poised to start and Brian Poole is a solid slot corner, but that’s not a great line-up for a secondary that was torched in 2018. There’s a chance the Jets bring back Morris Claiborne, but that wouldn’t do much to improve the position more than return it to its 2018 state.
There aren’t many good cornerbacks left in free agency, so it looks like the Jets will roll with what they have or try to trade for a veteran like Chris Harris Jr.
Center
If protecting Sam Darnold is the key to the 2019 season, the Jets didn’t do a good job of finding him a solid center. Jonotthan Harrison is still projected to start after the Jets didn’t sign a center in free agency or draft one this weekend. Yes, they upgraded the line with the addition of guard Kelechi Osemele, but otherwise, the unit remains almost identical to 2018.
There were plenty of solid offensive linemen capable of playing center in the draft and the Jets instead decided to fill other positions. Third-round draft pick Chuma Edoga could be a solid contributor on the offensive line, but he won’t play center. The Jets will have to hope Harrison can build on his eight-start 2018 campaign as the team’s only true center.
Wide receiver
This need is more about depth than anything. The Jets have three solid options at wide receiver – Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa and Jamison Crowder – but after that don’t have any real players to rely on. Josh Bellamy and Charone Peake will be tasked more with special teams and Deontay Burnett is still raw.
The Jets could have used a big-bodied wideout or a developmental player from the draft to add to the unit’s depth, especially in the later rounds. More weapons for Darnold is always positive, and the only offensive skill position the Jets drafted was tight end Trevon Wesco out of West Virginia (who was known more for his blocking ability than pass catching). There’s a chance Wesco becomes a diamond in the rough for the passing game, but it will take time for him to develop.
Edge rusher
Jachai Polite could easily be the steal of Day 2 of the draft and could quickly develop into a starter for the Jets. But, the Jets still need a more polished edge rusher in case Polite doesn’t pan out. If Polite doesn’t pan out, the Jets are back to square one and their defense will suffer for it.
There are still some great veteran edge rushers left in free agency, and the Jets could benefit from bringing in a veteran to help out their younger players on the outside. Polite, Jordan Jenkins and Brandon Copeland are all, young, inexperienced or both. Shoring up the edge in case their young players underperform would be a good contingency plan for the season.
