Throughout the lead-up to each NFL draft, fans become so accustomed to seeing mock drafts shake out a certain way that people will be labeled as “crazy” or “unrealistic” if they dare deviate from the status quo.
Well, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah just shook things up in a stunning way that is sure to excite New York Jets fans, even if they view Jeremiah’s prediction as a pipe dream.
Here are the top 16 selections from Jeremiah’s mock draft 1.0.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
- Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
- Tennessee Titans: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
- New York Giants: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
- Cleveland Browns: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
- Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- New Orleans Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
- Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
- Cincinnati Bengals: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
- Miami Dolphins: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
- Dallas Cowboys: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
- Los Angeles Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
- Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioana, OG, Penn State
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
- New York Jets: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
In Jeremiah’s projection, the Jets come out of the first round with the Ohio State duo of Arvell Reese and Carnell Tate.
“The Jets have needs all over their defense,” Jeremiah wrote of the Reese pick. “Reese is versatile and athletic. I think he’ll benefit from working off the edge full-time after also seeing time at off-ball linebacker during his Buckeyes career.”
Of Tate, Jeremiah wrote, “This would be a value pick, but we see talented receivers go in this area of the draft year after year (Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Emeka Egbuka, Justin Jefferson). The Jets pair former Ohio State star Garrett Wilson with a fellow Buckeye.”
This would be a dream scenario for the Jets.
Grabbing Reese at No. 2 is no surprise. He is the consensus No. 2 overall prospect in the draft and is currently viewed as the consensus favorite to be selected by New York with the second overall selection.
Nabbing Tate at No. 16, though, is a major shock compared to what we see in most mock drafts.
Tate is the consensus WR1 and No. 4 overall prospect. It is extremely rare to see him mocked outside of the top 10, let alone down at No. 16 as the second wide receiver off the board, behind USC’s Makai Lemon. The consensus mock draft has Tate going to the Giants at No. 5; some people even have him going to the Jets at No. 2.
Boasting fantastic film and a tremendous analytical profile, Tate projects as the next star receiver in the NFL. It would be shocking if he were still available at No. 16; there is a reason few mock drafts have him going outside the top five.
What could January mock drafts possibly know, though? Maybe Tate will end up being taken at No. 16, after all. Maybe he will go in the seventh round. Maybe pigs will fly, or Sam Darnold will be the first quarterback from the 2018 draft class to reach a Super Bowl.
Who’s to say? This league is entertainment, after all. Predicting what will happen and being dead wrong is part of the fun.
