2021 NFL Draft: New York Jets 7-round mock (Vol. 1)

Targeting premium positions early on from both sides of the ball, Sam Crnic reveals his first 7-round mock draft for the 2021 New York Jets. As the winless New York Jets continue to implode within the locker room and on the field, fans are left looking forward to the offseason to escape a disastrous 0-11 start. After sending Jamal Adams to the Seahawks for a variety of draft picks before the season began, the focus at 1 Jets Drive was already shifted towards the 2021 offseason. Whether that be because of the perceived lack of talent heading into the 2020 season or the current COVID-19 climate, the Jets are building towards the future, not the present. Looking towards the 2021 NFL Draft, Joe Douglas has nine picks to work with - six within the first 100 picks (the final of those six will not land in the top-100 once compensatory picks are awarded). In a potential Sam Darnold trade, Douglas could add another top-100 pick. Regardless of the number of picks the Jets have on April 29, the team has an abundance of positions to fill on both offense and defense. Not including compensatory picks or trades, I will be exploring one of the many routes the Jets may take in the draft. All-22 film from both the 2020 and 2019 seasons will be utilized to give a glimpse of each prospect's skill-set. This mock uses the Jets' current projected draft position as of Dec. 3, 2020. Let's dive in. Round 1, Pick 1: Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence The most talented quarterback in years and the best prospect in this draft, Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 overall has become the consensus around the league. Hometown: Cartersville, Georgia High School: Cartersville High School (GA) Position: QB School: Clemson Height: 6-foot-6 Weight: 220-pounds Despite the pre-season confidence in a year-3 Sam Darnold leap, nothing came to fruition. As a result, the Jets must attract a new head coach with the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck. At the same time, a new rookie contract for the QB position would give Joe Douglas ample flexibility to not only build around Lawrence but also the team as a whole. Looking at Lawrence's first game of the 2020 season on film, we see the same brilliance highlighted in his 2019 film review. Not only does he squeeze balls in locations other QBs cannot, but Trevor also does it with anticipation as well. In this clip, Lawrence puts the ball in a perfect spot; over the flat defender's wingspan, yet right in his wide receiver's catch radius. On the top of the screen, the targeted wide receiver runs an out to the right sideline, taking advantage of the cornerback's inside leverage. Right before the play snaps, the CB cushions off the line of scrimmage (LOS), gaining Lawrence's attention to throw the pass. Showcasing rhythm and desired timing with WR, Trevor launches the pass as soon as the WR breaks outside. With these two actions happening simultaneously, the flat defender still has his back to the ball, while the CB's hips are pointed inside. If this pass is thrown any later, the CB has the chance to flip his hips and close down on the ball. Since the ball is thrown with ideal timing, the CB doesn't hit the WR until his feet are already down, ensuring the catch. Lawrence does a great job at locating the advantageous WR leverage while fitting the ball between a flat defender gaining depth and an incoming CB. In an even more impressive display of ball placement, Lawrence throws a low ball between the curl/flat and middle hook defender. Off the snap, Wake Forest runs a Tampa 2 coverage, a 2-high coverage Lawrence recognizes pre-snap. On the strong side of the formation, Clemson runs a levels concept; routes of different depths. On the weak side, the single WR runs a corner, a common 2-high beater; splitting the curl/flat defender and deep half safety. Despite this, limited space along the boundary forces precise ball placement and timing to complete the pass. Recognizing a potential throwing lane between the curl/flat and middle hook defender, Lawrence zips the ball to his WR with anticipation, before the WR even breaks outside. The WR runs a sharp enough break off his route to leave the deep half safety flat-footed, buying himself more space over the curl/flat defender. Regardless, the accurate pass splits the two defenders, low enough for the WR to avoid a hit from the safety. Taking the Clemson QB at No. 1 overall quickly becomes a no-brainer when watching the tape. A prospect built with intangible qualities and the persona to fit the New York market, Lawrence would be the first QB selected at No. 1 overall by the Jets since Joe Namath in 1965. Round 1, Pick 26: Ohio State OG Wyatt Davis Stuck between Wyatt Davis and Michigan tackle Jalen Mayfield, I had to go with the better talent and larger position of need. Although George Fant isn't a long-term answer at right tackle for the Jets, their interior line is in greater need of an immediate upgrade from Greg Van Roten and Alex Lewis. Hometown: Bellflower, California High School: St. John Bosco High School (CA) Position: OG School: Ohio State Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 315 pounds Ohio State guard Wyatt Davis would be a steal at No. 26 if selected. A mauler at the point of impact, Davis is a force to reckon with in the run and pass game. From any angle, Wyatt offers substantial power, often creating lanes for the ball carrier with combination, trap, and pull blocks. He has the ability to quickly climb up to the second level, locking on to a linebacker in the process. In the passing game, Davis generates strength and an anchor from his lower body, quickly moving out of his stance off the snap. With the ability to contain power or stunt rushers, Davis is adept at maintaining balance in doing so to prevent interior pocket collapse. He's always looking for work in the process, helping other linemen finish their blocks. Davis has shown to be one of the more complete interior offensive linemen in the 2021 draft class. On Halloween of this year, Davis enjoyed an impressive game against Penn State in the run game and in pass protection. In this clip, Davis does a perfect job of sealing off his defender from the rushing lane, forcing him away from the play. Off the snap, Wyatt’s man looks to attack the A-gap, turning his hips towards that location. This works well for Davis, as he attacks the defensive lineman’s left shoulder, preventing him from cutting back towards the running back. With one arm along the DL’s waist and another over his shoulder to prevent a rip move, Davis displays perfect placement to push his man out of the play. In addition, I like how low Wyatt attacks the DL as well. Demonstrating ideal knee bend and leg drive, Davis wins leverage easily, giving his RB a chance to break free if better blocking from the rest of the offensive line was apparent. Davis shows off some excellent pass protection skills on this play, not letting his man anywhere near Justin Fields and preserving the pocket on the right side. With 5-out (no extra blockers), pass protection from the offensive line becomes much more important. Off the snap, Davis shoots out of his stance, anchoring his feet into the ground to use as support. Because of this anchor, he’s able to stay balanced and push back on the DL, rendering his rush ineffective. Once winning the battle at the point-of-impact, Davis maintains correct hand placement, keeping his hands inside of his defender’s. Continually jabbing his man further away from the QB, Davis prevents the DL from affecting the play at all. Drafting Wyatt at No. 26 also gives the Jets flexibility at guard thanks to his experience on both sides. If Cameron Clark can slowly develop himself into an NFL-caliber guard at the LG spot, Davis can easily switch over to RG. One of the more talented interior offensive lineman in the 2021 class, Davis would be an immediate upgrade to the Jets' OL unit. Round 2, Pick 1: Wake Forest EDGE Carlos Basham Jr. Instead of taking a WR here, Joe Douglas will attack the premium positions first. Lacking a constant edge threat for the past 15 years, Carlos Basham Jr. would be an intriguing piece to plug alongside rising star Quinnen Williams. Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia High School: Northside High School (VA) Position: EDGE School: Wake Forest Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 284 pounds The younger cousin of current Jets outside linebacker Tarell Basham, Carlos enters the NFL with scheme and alignment versatility. Lining up from the 3-tech to the 7-tech, Basham can force pressure with the utilization of length and hand/arm technique. In addition to wreaking havoc in the passing game, Carlos is effective in the run game as well. Against Clemson in his first game of the 2020 season, Basham showed off his mental processing and high motor, picking up a sack and deflecting a pass in the process. With Trevor Lawrence scrambling out of the pocket, Basham disengages from the RT, attacking the QB and sacking him for a substantial loss. Operating from the 4i-tech in a 4-point stance, Basham initially attacks the interior guard, only to work up to the tackle. He keeps his eyes up when noticing Lawrence drift left, realizing pressure will force him back right. Although he bull rushes the tackle at too high of an angle, he disengages immediately following Lawrence's scramble to the right, displaying quick feet to wrap up Trevor before he can throw the ball away. Although he fails to overpower the tackle, Basham can swiftly disengage from his blocker, which allows him to still impact the play in a major way. Able to read a slip screen before the pass comes out, Basham stops rushing the QB, but instead gets in the way of the throw, preventing a potential gain on the play. Pre-snap, Basham sees a tight end in front, someone who will most likely block him off the snap. Once the play begins, he quickly swims through the TE's poor attempt at a block, knowing something is up. Reading the play from there, he stops his approach towards Lawrence but instead gets in the way of the pass. Basham trusts his eyes and is rewarded with the pass deflection in the stat book. Because of his ability to get in front of the throwing lane to the TE, he prevents the short-yardage first down. An easy approach to the draft would be to solely focus on the offense given a QB selection in the first round. While offensive skill positions still need to be drafted at some point, targeting premium positions in the early rounds can result in a well-rounded team on both sides of the ball. While Basham would not be the most popular pick given the collection of talented WRs available, the best edge remaining on the board has to be the pick here. Round 3, Pick 1: Stanford CB Paulson Adebo While time will tell if the opt-out corner will drop to the third round, Stanford CB Paulson Adebo fits the Joe Douglas archetype for a corner: length, aggressiveness, and good ball skills. Hometown: Mansfield, Texas High School: Mansfield High School (TX) Position: CB School: Stanford Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 190 pounds An outside corner for the Cardinals, Adebo attacks the run and pass game as aggressively as other previous drafted corners for the Jets, such as Bryce Hall. Even with work to do in terms of filling out his frame, Adebo is an exceptional tackler in the open field. He may struggle against some of the bigger backs in the NFL but has shown to be a consistent tackler on the outside. With fluent hip mobility, Paulson has the opportunity to either maintain coverage on a WR or quickly attack the ball. Against Arizona in 2019, Adebo had two interceptions in the second half, something we will explore. On his first interception, the combination of Adebo undercutting a corner route and the QB throwing to the wrong WR based on the defensive coverage gives the corner an easy play at the ball. Pre-snap, Arizona motions a WR across the formation, leaving Adebo one-versus-one with his matchup on the top of the screen. Working with outside leverage, Adebo has his hips pointed inside to allow the middle safety to cover any inside break. The WR runs a corner, which with anticipation from the QB - and a quick enough break - can be completed. What happens instead is a quick break, but the QB sits on the route. Without any anticipation on the throw, he gives Adebo a chance to flip his hips and undercut the route by the time he throws the ball, resulting in a potential interception. Showcasing impressive closedown speed, Adebo does just that. Originally looking like he bites on the double move, Adebo catches up to the WR, turning his head in the process to locate and intercept the ball. Giving the WR a 7-yard cushion off the LOS, he plays the route with inside leverage. Off the snap, Adebo turns his hips towards the sidelines as a result of the inside leverage, preparing himself for an inside break. That doesn't happen, as the WR uses a double move to catch Adebo off-guard, only to work upfield for the hitch and go. Maintaining balance throughout his coverage, Adebo speeds up to the WR, turning his head as soon as the ball goes up in the air. As a result, he uses his length to his advantage to catch the ball above his head. A team deprived of quality outside corners, the Jets need to attack the CB position before Day 3 of the draft. While it's not certain Paulson can drop to the third round, his decision to opt-out of the 2020 season may do the trick. With other corners raising their draft stock so far in the 2020 season, Douglas may luck himself into a highly aggressive, lengthly corner from Stanford in the top of the 3rd round. Round 3, Pick 26: Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt With Denzel Mims solidifying himself as a top WR for the Jets entering 2021, Douglas will have the chance to pair him up with another highly physical WR towards the end of Day 2. Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt could be another talented 2020 opt-out who could last until the late 3rd round for the Jets. Hometown: Denver, North Carolina High School: East Lincoln High School (NC) Position: WR School: Wake Forest Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 216 pounds A natural at creating separation through size and strength, Surratt is an immediate red zone threat at the next level. He knows how to respond to physicality as well as he exerts it. While he is not the fastest WR, he will find a way to stack on top of corners to create opportunities down the field. He comes out of the 2019 season with a limited route tree - similar to Mims - but he's a smooth route runner with enough shoulder/hip dip at the breakpoint. A former basketball player, Surratt is adept at boxing out defenders to position himself for the catch, only to show off his impressive catch radius and body control. Similar to Mims once again, he's physical as a blocker, always looking for work along the perimeter. One of my favorite WRs projected towards the end of Day 2, Sage can be an immediate impact player for Lawrence and the Jets' offense. As shown below, not only is he impressive in the red zone but can separate from his defender downfield. Trusting his star WR, quarterback Jamie Newman throws the ball up to Surratt, where he grabs it despite his right arm getting held down. Located at the bottom of the screen, Surratt is given a one-versus-one opportunity against the CB. Off the snap, he jabs with his right foot, only to stem outside off his left foot. From there, he pushes the CB off his spot, maintaining physicality. The CB maintains his inside leverage, preventing any break inside from Sage. This is just a fade route, although, which gives the big-body WR a perfect shot at the ball. Once the ball gets thrown up, Surratt turns his body, boxes out his man, and jumps up for the catch. In the process, the CB holds his right arm down, which makes the one-armed catch even more impressive. Despite Surratt's lack of blazing speed compared to other WRs in his class, his smooth route running on vertical routes presents itself here. Using a double move, Sage stacks on top of his defender to lay in the catch for the touchdown. Positioned at the bottom of the screen, Surratt is once again pressed at the LOS. With no contact off the snap, Sage stems to the outside. Once he is about five yards into his route, he stutter-steps and turns his head back to the ball to make the CB hesitate. The CB does this, and as a result, becomes unbalanced and has to catch up to Surratt. The CB tries to grab Surratt's inside arm, only for him to swipe it away, gain more separation and come down with the ball down the field. Once in possession, he drags the trailing defender's tackle attempt to the endzone, capitalizing on a phenomenal play. If selected at this spot, the Jets would be getting a steal at WR for how natural the game comes to Surratt. Not only would he be the big-bodied WR for red zone situations to pair up with Mims, but has shown on many occasions his deep threat ability. Round 4, Pick 1: Arizona State ILB Merlin Robertson A versatile linebacker from Arizona State, Merlin Robertson can fill any role at the second level, even edge. Not including C.J. Mosley, the Jets have had a serious lack of talent at ILB for two years now. Whether Mosley plays at a high level in 2021 or not, the position has to be further addressed in the draft or free agency. Neville Hewitt will not get the job done at the starting Mike role. Hometown: Carson, California High School: Junipero Serro (CA) Position: ILB School: Arizona State Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 250 pounds In addition to Robertson's versatility, he is physically gifted at linebacker as well. The leader of Arizona State's defense, Robertson has ideal size for his position and is a good tackler in space. This size allows him to blow up plays if in the right positioning. As well as size, the LB is also quick. Able to drop back in coverage or play man, Merlin can be used in a variety of roles. Showcasing his versatility against Oregon State, Robertson had a couple tackles for loss (TFL), shedding blockers to bring the RB down behind the LOS. From the edge role, Robertson bursts through the RT, attacking the RB for a loss. Despite being listed as an inside linebacker, you'll sometimes see Robertson taking snaps at the edge. From a 2-point stance on the right side of the line, Merlin squeezes through the B-gap as the tackle misses him completely on the block. An explosive athlete when positioned on the LOS, Robertson uses pure speed off the snap to beat the RT, ripping through with his inside arm to beat his man and make the play. From there, he attacks the RB and forces him to cut back to the middle of the field. Despite this, Robertson still brings the backdown, ending the play in the backfield before it could begin. Positioned in the A-gap this time, Robertson overpowers and disengages from his blocker to bring the RB down for a loss. Before the snap, Robertson is originally aligned at the right edge, only to bring himself towards the middle of the formation when the play begins. Off the snap, Oregon State runs a dive right up the middle. Robertson takes on the center and disengages once the center moves off to pick up the 2i-tech, making the play in the backfield for a loss. While Mosley is still tied to the Jets, it makes sense to bring in a younger talent that can be groomed to replace him down the line. Robertson fits the bill. This is the last defensive pick of our mock draft. With these selections, Douglas would be upgrading the most pressing needs on this side of the ball while also adding versatility. Round 5, Pick 1: Ole Miss TE Kenny Yeboah A deep TE class with many good options heading into the draft, Ole Miss TE Kenny Yeboah could be a potential option to bolster one of the many struggling units on the Jets. Hometown: Allentown, Pennsylvania High School: Parkland High School (PA) Position: TE School: Ole Miss Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 240 pounds A lengthy TE with big, strong hands, Yeboah has been spectacular for Ole Miss ever since transferring from Temple leading up to the 2020 season. Another prospect with a large frame on this mock draft, Yeboah has been a dynamic red zone threat for Ole Miss since transferring. While he's not the most elite athletically, he has some speed and elusiveness to work with and can run smooth routes across the field. Like his potential counterpart in Chris Herndon, I like Yeboah's blocking ability in the pass and run game. Recently, Kenny bursted onto the scene with seven catches for 181 yards (25.9 per reception) and two touchdowns against Alabama. Here is one of his most impressive plays of that game. With a WR motioning in the backfield as the play begins, most defenders bring their eyes to a potential screen, not seeing Yeboah run up the middle of the field. The QB notices this, hitting Kenny in stride with really no one around him. From there, he jukes by the single-high safety, beginning a foot race with him and the rest of Alabama's secondary. They eventually catch up to him and bring him down, but not until he reaches the 5-yard line. In addition to his speed, defenders have trouble bringing him down as a result of his massive frame. Although the Jets may easily go offensive line here, specifically a tackle, if Yeboah can drop to the 5th round, the Jets should definitely look his way. With a deep and talented 2021 TE class, the Jets would be smart to dip into it and find another athletic TE to pair up with the struggling Chris Herndon, preferably one who can pass catch and block such as Yeboah. If the new head coach decides to run a lot of 12 personnel come 2021 (hello, Arthur Smith), an additional TE who can both block and catch would nicely complement the run game. Round 5, Pick 19: Louisville RB Javian Hawkins Known for his meteoric speed and explosive acceleration, Louisville RB Javian Hawkins has all of the skills to fit the modern NFL game. Hometown: Titusville, Florida High School: Cocoa High School (FL) Position: RB School: Louisville Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 182 pounds If the Jets transfer to a wide-zone offense with the next head coach, Hawkins would be the perfect pick here. A rare athletic talent with quick feet, Javian exceeds in off-tackle situations to showcase his speed on the outside. What's more impressive - given his limited size - is his ability to effectively block in the passing game. While larger defenders will get the best of Hawkins in pass protection, he's learned over time how to cut block to buy his QB more time. Similar to La'Mical Perine, Hawkins is an effective downhill runner, someone who doesn't waste any time in the backfield. Javian's last touchdown in 2020 before opting out showcases how quickly he attacks holes and reaches the endzone. In the pistol formation, Hawkins (No. 10) is positioned behind the QB pre-snap. Off the snap, the QB hands it off to Hawkins, where he's designed to attack the mid-zone B-gap. The center and RG do a great job at combination blocking the 2-tech, sealing him off in addition to the Will (weakside linebacker). The RT deserves the same amount of praise, as he attacks the 7-tech's chest off the snap, displaying correct hand placement to win leverage. Hawkins begins the run by pressing outside of the tackle to move the edge defender out of the B-gap. He then quickly cuts through the B-gap before anyone can touch him, outpacing every DB on the field for the easy touchdown. While any attempt to draft a RB will fully depend on the new scheme put in place, Javian is a great fit for the increasingly-popular wide zone offensive scheme, a design that's worked so well in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan and Los Angeles with Sean McVay. Hawkins fits the modern RB archetype perfectly with his blazing speed and slippery smaller frame. If the Jets attack the RB position in the later rounds, Javian would be my pick. Round 6, Pick 1: Clemson WR Amari Rodgers Working alongside Lawrence at Clemson and useful on special teams, Amari Rodgers would be an excellent late addition to a thin Jets WR core. Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee High School: Knoxville Catholic High School (TN) Position: WR School: Clemson Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 210 pounds As Clemson's season progresses, I doubt Rodgers' draft stock will land anywhere near the sixth round, but for now, there's a chance he could drop. Featured in a complementary role in 2019 with Clemson, Rodgers has been impressing many as the leading playmaker WR in 2020. With Justyn Ross sidelined due to injury and Tee Higgins moving on to the NFL, Rodgers has become a key part of Clemson's success this year. A projected slot receiver in the NFL who is built like a RB, Rodgers has steadily improved upon his route running from years before. Useful in screens or short passes, Amari is adept at fighting for extra yards given his strong upper-body strength. Amari's catch radius isn't the best but has learned how to naturally extend for the ball. So far in 2020, Rodger's hands have been consistent, only dropping a few passes here and there. On special teams, Rodgers can be used to return punts, as he's been doing it in college with 67 career punt returns for a 7.9 average and one touchdown. In his first game of 2020, Amari had an impressive diving grab, showing off his natural ability to extend for the ball given his limited size and catch radius. Positioned at the slot on the strong side of the formation, he runs a crosser to the left sideline, gaining depth as he goes. Off the snap, Lawrence sees a single-high safety with man-to-man matchups along the perimeter of the field. With Rodgers running the crosser, there's no help on the left sideline, giving Amari the perfect opportunity to outpace his defender to create separation. Rodgers avoids contact during the route, helping him run right by the DB off his inside break. Lawrence reads this, warranting a throw in Rodgers' direction. The pass leads him a little too far given his size, but Amari makes a great play on the ball, bringing it down in the process. Locating the ball in the air, he extends his arms just enough to fit the ball in his hands, pulling it to his body as he falls to the ground. An impressive catch from Lawrence's go-to WR. Once you get to the sixth round, teams start looking for depth over starting roles. Not only would Amari be a potentially great depth piece to develop behind Jamison Crowder as a slot WR, but he could be a good special teams addition given the Jets' history of developing efficient returners. As a bonus, Rodgers already has chemistry with Lawrence, the newly-drafted franchise QB. Mock Draft Recap As a recap, the New York Jets selected: Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (No. 1) Ohio State OG Wyatt Davis (No. 26) Wake Forest EDGE Carlos Basham Jr. (No. 33) Stanford CB Paulson Adebo (No. 65) Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt (No. 90) Arizona State ILB Merlin Robertson (No. 97) Ole Miss TE Kenny Yeboah (No. 129) Louisville RB Javian Hawkins (No. 147) Clemson WR Amari Rodgers (No. 161) With the No. 1 pick in the draft, Douglas and the Jets draft their longly awaited QB, emphasizing a new era within the franchise. Since 2018, Lawrence at No. 1 in 2020 was destined. Whoever gets the pick will take him. At No. 26, the Jets emphasize the offensive line in the first round for the second straight year, this time looking to the interior. Wyatt Davis not only brings consistency to the offensive line in terms of pass protection and run blocking but also continues the brand of tenacious power Mekhi Becton has become known for. At the beginning of the second and third rounds, the Jets attack the most important positions on defense. At No. 33, Carlos Basham Jr. brings a mixture of size and versatility to pair up with Quinnen Williams. At No. 65, Paulson Adebo not only fits the Joe Douglas-archetype for a CB with ideal length and physicality but is also aggressive in all aspects of his game. Towards the end of the third round and start of the fourth, the Jets alternate between offense and defense. Picking their first WR of the draft at No. 90, Sage Surratt is a highly physical WR with a large frame who also excels at vertical route running. At No. 97, Merlin Robertson gives the Jets youth and talent at a linebacker position lacking both. In the fifth and sixth rounds, the Jets put a focus on offensive skill positions, bolstering their depth at RB, WR, and TE. Taking Kenny Yeboah at No. 129, Douglas brings into another highly athletic, pass blocking TE that was worked so well in other offenses. With pick No. 147, Javian Hawkins brings explosive outside speed to a RB unit currently led by 37-year-old Frank Gore. Lastly, at No. 161, Amari Rodgers is paired up with his college QB while given a chance to compete for a punt returner role in addition to being Jamison Crowder's backup. While the WR position will be attractive in the early rounds, Douglas' focus is on building from the inside-out, solidifying the trenches first and focusing on the outside weapons later. This mentality appears to be what defines him as a general manager. If that mindset is maintained in the 2020 draft, this mock matches up with Douglas' philosophies quite well.