The Jet Press
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Jets select Nathan Shepherd

By Luis Tirado Jr.

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 30: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces that Leonard Williams of the USC Trojans is picked #6 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 30, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 30: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces that Leonard Williams of the USC Trojans is picked #6 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 30, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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With the No. 72 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the New York Jets have selected defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd out of Fort Hays.

It’s no secret that one of the areas of need for the New York Jets was their defensive line. What was once a strength has turned into a weakness as they wanted to address it in the 2018 NFL Draft. With the No. 72 pick in Round 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Jets officially selected defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd out of Fort Hays.

At 6-5 and 300lbs., Shepherd is a beast of a defensive lineman who specializes mostly as a defensive tackle. Shoring up the middle of the defensive line is important for the Jets defense since it was an area they struggled in last season.

If you’ve never heard of Shepherd, for two straight years in college, he was an All-America selection due to everything he brought to the table. He was also the 2017 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year while making a name for himself at Fort Hays.

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The Jets are getting a defensive tackle that ended his three-year collegiate career with 168 tackles, 27 of which were for a loss, and 10 sacks.

Fort Hays isn’t the most popular college when it comes to the NFL Draft as they haven’t had a player drafted into the pros in over three decades. That is likely why most Jets fans were probably confused when this pick was made since nobody has really heard of Shepherd of Fort Hays until now.

Hopefully, general manager Mike Maccagnan found a sleeper of a pick here. Besides his decent stats in college, Shepherd might be another developmental player that needs a year or two before everything falls into place.

Either way, Shepherd at the very least brings depth to the Jets defensive line which is important as they continue to rebuild their defense for a brighter future. Shepherd looks to be the only selection of the Jets in the middle rounds of this year’s draft. He now joins Sam Darnold as two of the newest members of the Jets that are ready to make a name for themselves in the city that never sleeps.

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