The New York Jets started their offseason workout program this week as the team gets set to putting the finishing touches on the roster.
With most of the higher-end free agents already signed during the first week of free agency, all eyes now turn to the NFL draft later this month. The Jets have no shortage of roster holes on their team on both sides of the ball, but I thought it would be fun to see what the draft would look like if they focused all their attention squarely on each side of the ball in the draft. Yesterday, I posted my “all offense” mock draft, and here is my “all defense” version.
As it currently stands, the following picks are where the Jets are set to pick in the draft:
- Round 1, No. 7 overall
- Round 2, No. 42 overall
- Round 3, No. 73 overall
- Round 4, No. 110 overall
- Round 5, No. 145 overall
- Round 5, No. 162 overall
- Round 6, No. 186 overall
- Round 6, No. 207 overall
Round 1, No 7 overall: Mason Graham, DT Michigan
Graham is one of my favorite players in this year’s class. He is a rare blend of unrelenting motor and boundless skill. What’s even more exciting about him is that I believe his game is better suited for the NFL than it is for college. He’s a pocket-pushing disrupter in the middle of a defense. I think he will walk in day one and be one of the Jets best run defenders and will only develop more of a pass rush from the inside as he goes.
The Jets need someone to play next to Quinnen Williams who can take some of the pressure off. Quinnen is one of the best defensive tackles in the league and has none of the stats to show for it because he is constantly seeing double and even triple-teams. Putting Mason Graham with Quinnen will unleash both players to reach their full potential.
I expect Graham will likely go a pick or two before the Jets get the chance to select him, but in a world where the Jets are taking all defensive players, you never know what can happen.
Round 2, No 42 overall: Malaki Starks, S Georgia
Starks is a three-year starter who had 197 tackles, 23 passes defended and six interceptions at Georgia. He does a little bit of everything on the back end. He can step up into the box and stop the run. He can drop over the slot in coverage. And he can patrol center field with his closing speed.
The Jets have a bare cupboard at the safety position and getting a player of Starks’ caliber in the second round is a home run. Starks was likely a top 10-15 pick at the end of the year, but his stock has been falling lately. Much like the Graham pick, I think Starks likely goes a few picks before the Jets are on the board, but here’s to hoping.
Round 3, No 73 overall: Deone Walker DT Texas
Deone Walker is simply a massive individual with the length, size, and power that makes him a hassle to block 1-on-1. If you’re an opposing offensive lineman and fail to block him with proper technique, he’s going to out-physical you every time.
The Jets had a lot of trouble stopping the run game last year and adding both Walker and Graham would be an immediate upgrade. Walker needs to improve his fundamentals in order to use his physical tools better, but that may come with good coaching.
Round 4, No. 110 overall: Jack Sawyer, Edge Ohio State
Sawyer is a high floor pick for the Jets, who at worst will give them some meaningful snaps in a rotational role. He is an early down edge player that will play the run with ferocity and hopefully get off the field on third down for a guy like Will McDonald to do what he does best on third down.
While he won’t be the best pass rusher at the pro level, one thing that won’t be questioned with Sawyer is his relentless motor. He is a fantastic locker-room presence, and the Jets could find uses for him early while developing him to be a more versatile player later.
Round 5, No. 145 overall: Nohl Williams, CB Cal
This might be one of my favorite picks of this mock draft. Williams is severely undervalued in this draft class because of tackling issues early in his career. He does need a little work in that department, but he is a press-man coverage corner and a ball-hawk.
There are only so many possessions in a game, and Williams is the top of player who can take one away from the opposing offense quickly. He also undercuts throws with good coverage and showcased an ability to flip his eyes back to the quarterback downfield on the stem before running down footballs. In my opinion, Williams could press to be a starter opposite Sauce Gardner with a good training camp, especially with Brandon Stephens as his main competition.
Round 5, No. 162 overall: Cody Lindenberg, LB Minnesota
Lindenberg dealt with a lot of injuries as a stack linebacker at Minnesota and has hurt his draft stock. He is a high motor, intelligent football player who loves to tackle. He is an ideal size and build as a linebacker but needs to work on his ability to get sideline to sideline. His play diagnosis and angles he takes to the ball are fantastic.
At worst, this will be a champion on special teams. While there is no replacing Jamien Sherwood’s athleticism in the middle of the Jets defense, the Jets would replace one sure tackler with another if Lindenberg needed to play for an extended period.
Round 6, No, 186 overall: Fadil Diggs, Edge Syracuse
Diggs is a former four-star recruit who spent his first few seasons in college at Texas A&M before transferring to Syracuse. He has raw, foundational skills that could allow him to make a leap and be a productive NFL pass rusher.
He is definitely more of a pass rusher than a run stopper, but he has the qualities to improve in both areas. I could see Diggs being a newer version of Bryce Huff for the Jets if given the time and coaching to develop.
Round 6, No. 207 overall: Malachi Moore, S Alabama
Getting an Alabama defender this late in the game is never a bad thing, right? Moore is former corner that moved to the safety spot after Nick Saban departed the Crimson Tide and found a lot more success than he did on the perimeter. Moore found ball production, consistent tackling from depth, and illustrated his sound fundamentals for the position — but does so with what appears to be a sufficient level of athleticism that could put a potential cap and limit on his ability to make impact plays. Moore would also be a welcome addition to the special teams.
