Jachai Polite is boom-or-bust pick for Jets in 3rd round

The New York Jets added another piece to their defense during the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft in Jachai Polite. The Jets selected Polite with the 68th overall pick on Friday night. The University of Florida edge defender is a high risk, high reward pick for the Jets. Will it pay off and have the Jets finally found a consistent edge defender?

The New York Jets continued to add pieces to an already solid defense on Friday night, selecting University of Florida edge defender Jachai Polite in the third round with the 68th overall pick. The Jets were looking for an edge rusher and they think they found a good one in Polite. This is a high risk, high reward pick for the Jets as Polite has an excellent tape but does come with some baggage off the field.

Let’s examine the newest member of the New York Jets.

In 2018, led the Gators with 17.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and led the nation with six forced fumbles. Draft analysts describe Polite as an “instinctive rusher with a natural feel of attacking the pocket”. Polite also has frightening speed as an edge defender and that is something the Jets have been looking for over the last decade.

Jets with an emphasis on defense in the early rounds

NY goes with Florida EDGE Jachai Polite pic.twitter.com/vMLyOhnA9r

— Bleacher Report NFL (@BR_NFL) April 27, 2019

However, Polite comes in with plenty of baggage that he and the Jets need to address on day one. Polite had a terrible pre-draft process with a poor showing at the combine (4.84 40 yard dash) and rubbed teams the wrong way during the interviews portion of the pre-draft process. Polite also battled a hamstring pull during the combine and Florida’s pro day that limited his effectiveness. According to ESPN NFL Nation reporter Rich Cimini’s conversation with a scout about Polite, the scout stated that Polite “doesn’t have issues, he is the issue”. Those are strong words by a scout that most other scouts somewhat agreed with.

With consistent locker room leaders in Jamal Adams and C.J. Mosley, Polite should be able to learn and get his head on straight because of these guys. Also Polite better develop a thick skin because his new defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, won’t put up with any of his nonsense. The Jets are giving Polite his chance in the NFL, he needs to make the most of it.