The New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings exchanged picks, allowed the former to select USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
The New York Jets have traded Sam Darnold but a USC alum will play a major role on their offense next season.
New York swapped first-round picks with the Minnesota Vikings (14th for 23rd), and also gained the 143rd overall selection on Saturday, in exchange for 66th and 86th choices.
With the primary choice at No. 14, the Jets took interior offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker out of Southern California. The former Trojan is the most recent winner of the Morris Trophy, annually bestowed to the Pac-12’s best lineman.
GOT A BIG TALENT UP FRONT 💪💪
Let's get it, @ALIJAHVT!! ✈️
📰 https://t.co/i0EJyyrPmh pic.twitter.com/rFTdVxElA5
— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 30, 2021
***Jets moved up 340 points, from 23 to 14, and dished out 420 points, with 66 and 86. But they also received 34.5 points from No. 143. So, one could say Douglas overpaid a tad, but I wouldn't say it. It's right there and worthwhile if he really loves AVT.
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) April 30, 2021
Jets offensive line:
LT: Mekhi Becton
LG: Alijah Vera-Tucker
C: Connor McGovern
RG: Greg Van Roten
RT: George Fant
—–
IOL: Dan Feeney
OT: Chuma Edoga
IOL: Alex Lewis
IOL: Cameron Clark
OT/IOL: Conor McDermott
IOL: Corey Levin— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) April 30, 2021
Jets receive: 14, 143
Vikings receive: 23, 66 and 88
Alijah Vera-Tucker. #TakeFlight— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) April 30, 2021
While the price for Vera-Tucker seems a bit high, with the Jets passing along a pair of day two picks to move up nine spots, he should make an instant impact in an interior role manned by Alex Lewis last season. The selection of Vera-Tucker was no doubt inspired by the Jets’ opening choice of BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with the second overall pick. His relatively short arms (32 1/8 inches) perhaps scared off teams in the top ten, but he boasts great versatility and an ability to play multiple positions.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah referred to Vera-Tucker as one of the “safest” picks in the 2021 draft.
“he’s one of my favorite players in the whole draft. He can play darned near anywhere,” Jeremiah said, per Kevin Hickey of ColtsWire. “I think he’s going to be an All-Pro guard. He can hold up at tackle if you wanted him to. But you want to get better along that offensive line, I think he’s just one of the cleanest, safest picks in the whole draft.”
After the blocking negligence of the Mike Maccagnan era, Jets general manager Joe Douglas has not hesitated to show just how much a strong offensive line means to him. This marks the second straight draft in which the Jets have chosen a blocker in the first round (following Mekhi Becton at No. 11 last year), the first time they’ve done so in consecutive seasons since 1977-78 (Marvin Powell/Chris Ward respectively).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
