Who will the New York Jets draft at No. 42 overall?
After selecting Missouri’s Armand Membou with the No. 7 overall pick Thursday night, fans have turned their attention to the organization’s plans for the second round, particularly at No. 42.
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller released a Round 2 mock draft, projecting the Jets to select South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori at No. 42 overall.
“Safety might not rank as the biggest Round 2 need for the Jets, but the ability to add a top-20 player here should be too tempting for Aaron Glenn—a coach with a background as an NFL defensive back himself,” wrote Miller. “Emmanwori has special potential if he can speed up his diagnostic skills.”
A former three-star prospect out of Irmo High School in Columbia, SC, Emmanwori remained in-state for college, playing three seasons with the Gamecocks. He appeared in 37 career games, racking up 244 tackles (four for loss), six interceptions, and 11 passes defended.
In 2024, he delivered his most productive campaign yet. The junior played in all 13 games, finishing with 88 tackles (three for loss), four interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns), and a pair of pass breakups. His four picks and 88 tackles were both career highs.
Pro Football Focus graded Emmanwori at 79.6 overall with an 86.8 coverage grade. He also posted a 73.3 run-defense mark and missed just 7.2% of tackle attempts, well below the NFL average for defensive backs (10.7%).
Emmanwori further boosted his stock at the NFL Scouting Combine, showcasing elite athleticism.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound defensive back ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash with a 1.49-second 10-yard split. He added a 43-inch vertical and a 138-inch broad jump, finishing with a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score—the highest ever recorded among safeties since the metric began in 1987.
New York tendered Tony Adams and added Andre Cisco in free agency, but the depth chart still lacks a long-term solution at strong safety.
Emmanwori’s physical style, downhill ability, and positional flexibility make him a compelling option for Gang Green at No. 42 if he remains available.
