Offensive line is the New York Jets’ No. 1 position of need
Trying to run a New York Jets mock draft in January is likely an exercise in futility. The NFL Combine hasn’t even happened yet, let alone the endless workouts and changing speculation that accompanies draft season.
Still, that won’t stop anyone from trying. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who has his ear to the ground around the league, is generally as good a voice as any when it comes to mock draft season. He has additional insight when it comes to the Jets, as he is friends with general manager Joe Douglas from their days together in Baltimore’s scouting department.
In Jeremiah’s first mock draft, the Jets choose an unsurprising position — but perhaps a somewhat surprising name.
Jeremiah has the Jets selecting offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga from Oregon State. While Fuaga’s name has been circulating somewhat in Jets circles, he is not generally considered a top-10 prospect. Most consider him behind Notre Dame’s Joe Alt and Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, but Jeremiah has Fashanu going at No. 13 to the Raiders.
Jets X-Factor film analyst Joe Blewett agrees with Jeremiah’s lower assessment of Fashanu, although he has yet to issue a final verdict on Fuaga.
Fuaga stands at 6-foot-6 and 334 pounds. He allowed pressure on 3.4% of his pass-blocking snaps in college, which ranks worse than Alt (1.4%), Fashanu (2.6%), and J.C. Latham (3.2%). He may profile better as a guard in the NFL, much as Alijah Vera-Tucker does. Furthermore, Fuaga played only right tackle in his two years at Oregon State. Though the Jets have needs on both sides of the line, the left side is generally considered more valuable.
Is that worth the No. 10 overall pick? There’s still a long way to go, but expect to hear Fuaga’s name linked to the Jets more often as this draft cycle progresses.
