In the latest consensus mock draft, the New York Jets triple-dip into the SEC talent pool
The website NFL Mock Draft Database features a consensus mock draft that is formed using hundreds of mock drafts across the internet. It’s an interesting tool, giving us an idea of the football world’s collective opinion on how the draft will play out.
As of March 31, let’s take a look at who the New York Jets end up selecting in the consensus mock draft.
The consensus mock draft runs through the second round. Since the Jets currently own three picks across those two rounds – one in the first round (#13) and two in the second round (#42 and #43) – they will make three picks in this mock draft.
Of course, we know New York will likely part ways with at least one of those picks in the Aaron Rodgers, but nevertheless, this is still a fun exercise to simply get a gauge of which prospects the Jets might be able to select at each draft slot.
Here are the Jets’ picks in the consensus mock draft, along with the percentage of mock drafts that have the Jets selecting that particular prospect:
- #13: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia (43%)
- #42: S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M (20%)
- #43: EDGE B.J. Ojulari, LSU (9%)
The Jets go with three SEC players. In the first round, they fortify their offensive line with Georgia tackle Broderick Jones. With their back-to-back second-round picks, the Jets bolster their defense by selecting Texas A&M safety Antonio Johnson and LSU edge rusher B.J. Ojulari.
Jones is a popular pick for the Jets at No. 13 and for good reason. Not only is Jones an excellent prospect who could end up being the best player available in that slot, but he would address one of the Jets’ most pressing immediate needs.
Johnson is a fascinating selection. While the Jets have a need at safety right now, they are specifically looking for a free safety who can man the deep range. Johnson is known as a Swiss army knife secondary defender who might be best suited as a slot corner, so he wouldn’t address the Jets’ exact needs at safety. Still, he is a talented and versatile DB prospect with plenty of potential.
Ojulari is another pick that, if made, would likely be based on the prospect’s overall ranking on the Jets’ board rather than his ability to fill an immediate need. The EDGE position is already one of the deepest units on New York’s roster.
Other common selections for the Jets in round two include Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz and Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders.
Next Article: Ranking top 2023 OT prospects in 5 key stats
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It seems like there is some mystery/confusion over how Jets management feels about Brown and Becton at the tackles. If they think that Brown is good to go for this season as the starter at LT (last year they said that was the only position he’d ever played) then maybe they feel like they can ease Becton back in at RT, backed up by Mitchell, then go to Becton at LT next year when Brown retires or moves on. At any rate, this kind of thinking could be why they don’t draft an OT in the first round.
I would not be surprised to see them take a DT at 13, and the safety I like is Ji’Ayir Brown from Penn St. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see a trade back to add another late first/second and grab OL, DT, S. I’m not sure the top of this draft is as strong as others.