The New York Jets picked up a lot of strategic intelligence by being one of the coaching staffs that worked the Senior Bowl for NFL prospects earlier this month. The next step in that information-gathering process will occur this week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, which returns after a one-year hiatus for Covid-19.
The measurement of official heights, weights and 40-yard dash times will be key here, as will interviews with players. Of course, the players have been coached on how to answer the questions, which is why the face time the Jets got at the Senior Bowl will be so important.
With that in mind, here are areas of need for the Jets, and how they play into how they do their due diligence in Indianapolis. The Jets currently own the fourth and 10th overall picks, but that is subject to change, of course.
Offense
Offensive line
This unit performed much better as the season went on after a very shaky start, and, truth be told, part of the problem was that then-rookie quarterback Zach Wilson often held onto the ball a little too long. But general manager Joe Douglas is committed to doing all he can to protect Wilson.
And there are question marks, including 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton’s weight. It remains to be seen if he will ever be a fit in the new Shanahan-style offensive system, which favors smaller, quicker tackles. With Morgan Moses set to hit free agency, the Jets may need help here sooner rather than later. Expect Douglas to be taking a close look at North Carolina State left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and Mississippi State’s Charlie Cross.
The Jets have a hole at right guard. Boston College guard Zion Johnson played for the American squad in the Senior Bowl, the team the Jets didn’t coach. Still, they got to spend some time with him and Johnson was named best practice player while he was there. He could continue to rise up draft boards based on what he does in Indy.
Wide receiver
Corey Davis, who had an uneven 2021 season, is the only frontline Jets wideout already under contract for 2022. Again, given Douglas’ commitment to helping Wilson, he will be scrutinizing this position. USC’s Drake London is considered a can’t miss prospect but suffered a season-ending ankle injury. The medical reports on him will be important. That kind of information was tougher to glean last year because of circumstances.
Tight end
The Jets have a solid No. 2 tight end in Ryan Griffin, but nobody with star power. Colorado State’s Trey McBride, who was at the Senior Bowl has that potential. This is another chance to get information about McBride.
Running back
The Jets seem to have hit it out of the park by finding home-run threat Michael Carter in the fourth round last season. Douglas and his staff again could be on the lookout for a Day 3, or perhaps late Day 2, steal as a complementary back.
Defense
Defensive line
The Jets still need help here, especially if ace run-stuffer Folorunso Fatukasi leaves free agency. But this is a lower-priority and one they likely wouldn’t look at until the later rounds.
Edge rusher
Here is where I cut and paste the sentence about how the Jets haven’t had a fearsome pass rusher, one that truly changes opponents’ game plans, since John Abraham was traded away prior to the 2006 draft.
The Jets will need to evaluate such prospects as Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, Michigan’s David Ojabo and Florida State’s Jermaine Jones. Of course, they won’t neglect Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, although it seems unlikely he will be on the board at No. 4.
Secondary
Yes, head coach Robert Saleh professed how happy he is with the young cornerbacks. And the philosophy in San Francisco, where he came from, was to draft corners in later rounds and develop them. Still, the Jets need to improve in this area, and the odds at finding a big-time corner are usually better with a first- or second-round pick than trying to find a sleeper later on.
Cincinnati's Sauce Gardner is intriguing, and the Jets should do a deep dive into the medicals on LSU’s talented but injury-prone Derek Stingley Jr.
Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton is considered by most experts to be a generational talent at the position, which is why he is expected by many to go in the top 10. The Jets do have a major need at the position. But would they go that way after the Jamal Adams drama? Adams, selected sixth overall by New York in 2017, is the only safety to be picked in the top 10 in the past 11 drafts. And, of course, he is the reason they own, the 10th overall pick, acquired in the 2020 trade that sent him to Seattle.
