New York Jets ‘are really intrigued’ by Alabama WRs in 2020 NFL Draft

The New York Jets ‘are really intrigued’ by the slew of Alabama wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here are all the details and what it all means.

One of the underrated needs for the New York Jets ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft is the wide receiver position.

How big that need will be depends on the team’s decisions in house and during free agency. The biggest decision facing the team is the future of veteran wide receiver Robby Anderson.

The 26-year old receiver is in the last year of his deal and will be looking for $10 to $12 million per year and ESPN’s Rich Cimini said on his Flight Deck Podcast that the team “doesn’t see him as that type of player.”

Cimini pointed to some of the flaws in his game and the Jets’ coaching staff’s frustration with Anderson’s refusal to make tough catches and lay out for catches consistently.

Although if the team lets him walk in free agency they’ll have to replace him. One of the ways Rich says the team will look to do that is through the 2020 NFL Draft:

“There are a lot of good receivers in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft and the New York Jets are really intrigued by those Alabama wide receivers led by Jerry Jeudy and all down the list. So I think they’ll rebuild their wide receiving core through the draft.”

In Matt Miller’s latest three-round mock draft via Bleacher Report, three Crimson Tide receivers went in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

• 6-foot-1, 192 pounds.
• 3rd overall pick to the Washington Redskins (Matt Miller mock draft).

The consensus No. 1 wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft is Jerry Jeudy. Matt Miller referenced him as an “electric route runner with next level burst.” It’s been a while since the Jets have taken a receiver in round one, but it may be hard to resist snagging the best of the best, from the best of the best.

• 6-foot, 190 pounds.
• 16th overall pick to the Oakland Raiders (Matt Miller mock draft).

Losing Robby Anderson would be tough for the Jets because he brought speed to the offense. Replacing him with the fastest wide receiver in college football would be a smart path to take. Henry Ruggs III pro player comparison is Tyreek Hill (minus the off the field issues says Matt Miller) imagine that dynamic weapon paired with Sam Darnold?

• 6-foot-1, 175 pounds.
• 25th overall pick to the Miami Dolphins (Matt Miller mock draft).

DeVonta Smith doesn’t possess the elite speed of Ruggs III or the innate route running ability of Jeudy, but Miller says he’s a combination of the two. Smith was a relative unknown heading into 2019 with his marginal career stats entering the year, but he’s exploded on the scene with a 65 reception 1,200-yard season with 13 touchdowns.