As New York Jets fans wait for official announcements on the team’s new head coach and general manager, it’s time for a little mock draft fun to keep ourselves distracted.
Legendary ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has unveiled his first mock draft ahead of the 2025 proceedings, and it features a Jets selection that is sure to turn some heads.
On the clock at No. 7 in Kiper’s mock, the Jets are unable to select either of the top quarterback prospects, Miami’s Cam Ward (No. 1 to Titans) or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (No. 3 to Giants). However, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe is available.
Kiper, though, has the Jets passing on the quarterback position. In fact, he has them forgoing offense entirely. Mel sees the Jets nabbing a defensive star from the SEC: 20-year-old Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams.
In Kiper’s mock, Williams is the fourth defensive player off the board (if you count Travis Hunter), the second edge rusher, and the first SEC player.
Here is the top 10 of Kiper’s first 2025 NFL mock draft:
- Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
- New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
- New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
- Las Vegas Raiders: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
- New York Jets: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
- Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
- New Orleans Saints: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Chicago Bears: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Williams, who will not turn 21 until June, is a projection-type prospect. Elite-level collegiate production isn’t there, as he only recorded 14.0 sacks across three college seasons (40 games) with a career-high of 5.0 in 2024. However, he is considered a tremendous run defender, while his athletic tools and versatility (he lined up both inside and outside) give him the potential to develop into a similarly productive pass rusher.
Selecting another edge rusher in the first round would likely ruffle the feathers of many Jets fans, as New York already has a potent one-two punch in Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson. Each player was chosen in the first round over the last three drafts.
However, the Jets are unsure what they will get from Johnson as he returns from an Achilles injury. McDonald is a great pass rusher, but his run defense is suspect, and Williams would cover for that. Perhaps most importantly, New York has essentially zero depth on the edge behind those two players. Maximizing the depth of a unit that relies heavily on rotation would not be a bad idea.
It will be easier to mock players to the Jets once we know more about their offensive/defensive schemes and the overarching visions of their head coach and general manager. For now, everything is on the table. In a short time, though, we may finally have an idea of what type of players the Jets may target throughout the 2025 offseason.
