Making the case for the Jets to draft Jonah Williams

The New York Jets need to protect quarterback Sam Darnold and shore up their offensive line. Lombardi Award finalist Jonah Williams looks like the man to do so.

Holding the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the New York Jets have a good chance of trading down come April. The Jets need help on both the defensive and offensive side of the football and Jonah Williams can be instant assistance on a lackluster offensive line.

Many experts are skeptical of drafting Williams, the standout offensive tackle from Alabama, due to his limited arm length. The Jets should have no fear in drafting the man who was hands down the best offensive lineman in college football in 2018. Williams gave up zero sacks on an Alabama Crismon Tide team that saw a quarterback pass for over 3,800 yards and a trio of running backs who ran for more than 600 yards each.

The last time the Jets picked a solid offensive lineman in the first round of a draft may date all the way back to the 2006 draft where both D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold were selected in the first round.

A recent mock draft done by CBS Sports has the green and white selecting Alabama’s defensive stud Quinnen Williams in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Jets should decide to trade back, which may result with not only a top offensive lineman being selected but a possible second-round pick, which they do not own this year.

Want your voice heard? Join the The Jet Press team!

Write for us!

“If we end up picking a player at No. 3, we’ll feel very good. But if there’s an opportunity for us to move back and acquire more picks, that’s definitely something we’d be potentially interested in if it’s the right kind of deal,” Jets general manager Mike Maccangan, told reporters on the first day of the NFL Combine per Eric Allen, senior reporter for the Jets.

But how far down should the Jets go if they do decide to trade away the No. 3 pick?

Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News believes that the Jets do not have to move down far in the draft in order to receive a high impact player. The New York Giants have the No. 6 pick in the draft and with many needs of their own, the two teams may consider swapping picks, allowing the Jets to have a possible second-round pick on top of a top-10 pick.

More from The Jet Press

Big Blue would be in a great position to snag their quarterback of the future after drafting Saquon Barkley in last year’s draft. Rumors are that Kyler Murray may be the No. 1 pick after a grand performance at the NFL Combine. If Murray is still on the board at three, the Giants can bring in young talent to replace Eli Manning or secure a dominant pass rusher, something they desperately need.

Williams will not only help protect Sam Darnold for years to come in the NFL, but he will also create opportunities for whoever is running the ball in the Jets backfield next season and far beyond.

Rumors soaring around the NFL have soon-to-be former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell as a possible target for the Jets in free agency. Connor Hughes of The Athletic reported rumors that the Jets are ‘undeniably the favorites’ to sign Bell in free agency. Many Jets fans really hope that these rumors are true as Bell is an electrifying playmaker that would make a tremendous difference in the backfield as a runner and receiver.

As talented as Bell would be in the backfield for the green and white, the team needs somebody to block for him, despite how crafty Bell is at creating his own rushing opportunities. Jonah Williams, regardless of arm length, is the answer.

Next. The Jets should consider drafting D.K. Metcalf after combine performance

It’s time for the New York Jets to protect their future.

Home/Draft