New York Jets need a Syracuse football deep dive in 2020 NFL Draft; Part 2

The New York Jets should continue their deep dive into the Syracuse football program. Here are the top Orange defenders in the 2020 NFL Draft

In the first part of our series, we did a deep dive on the Syracuse football offensive and special teams products available in the 2020 NFL Draft here.

Up next the New York Jets should heavily invest their draft resources into the defensive side of the ball for the Orange. They have several players who could be plug and play starters for Syracuse, role players, and more!

Defense

• While the New York Jets defensive line is stacked with guys like Quinnen Williams, Henry Anderson, Foley Fatukasi, Steve McLendon, Kyle Phillips, and Nathan Shepherd, you can never have enough.
  • Alton Robinson has played defensive end primarily for the Orange, but there’s a strong belief he could transition to a 3-4 outside linebacker or he could be a 4-3 end at the next level. He’s considered the best product coming out of Syracuse in the 2020 NFL Draft. Robinson has all the traits to being a dominant pass rusher at the next level (19 career sacks, 32 career TFLs, and 115 career tackles.

• The New York Jets have four pending linebackers/outside linebackers/defensive ends, per Spotrac. They could use depth and some star power on the edge.
  • Kendall Coleman is super talented but has somehow fallen under the shadow of his teammate Alton Robinson. Coleman has a little less twitch than Alton, but he’s an incredibly hard worker and a motivated stud. Here are his career numbers: 15.5 sacks, 26.5 TFLs, and 137 tackles.

• The New York Jets have crazy depth at inside linebacker especially when Avery Williamson and CJ Mosley return from injury.
  • Despite that depth, the Jets should find a way to add linebacker Lakiem Williams to the fold. On top of his prowess as a linebacker, he also is a selfless special teams player. Lakiem is a talented individual who went the JUCO route and earned his way to a starting role as a senior this past season. Williams tied for the conference lead in tackles this past season.

• The New York Jets have needed corner help for years and that was no different in 2019. A position that was filled with disappointment is due for a facelift.
  • Fredrick is a boundary corner that has experience in zone and man concepts. He’s a smart cookie who is the first Syracuse football player to graduate with an engineering degree in the last 20 years. Plain and simple he’s a playmaker, here’s a look at his career numbers: eight interceptions, two forced fumbles, 16 pass deflections, and 172 tackles.

• Copy + paste the last statement on the current state of the New York Jets defensive backs room.
  • Cordy spent six years on the hill because he couldn’t avoid the freakish injury bug that cost him a few seasons in Orange. Antwan may be small in stature (5-foot-8, 189 pounds), but he’s got the heart of a lion.
    • Antwan can play anywhere in the defensive backfield, so his versatility is nice to have. Also, he’s just a straight-up baller when he’s on the field: three forced fumbles, 11 pass deflections, three interceptions, four sacks, 145 tackles (career numbers).

• Evan Foster is a safety and while the New York Jets have a dynamic duo in Marcus Maye and Jamal Adams, but they can always use depth.
  • Evan Foster basically invented the truck stick and can lay the lumber with the best of them. You won’t hear many Jamal Adams like speeches, Evan is a punch in and punch out kind of guy who quietly goes about his business.

• We’ve already mentioned how deep the trenches are for the green and white, but their tone may change when they watch the tape of KJ Ruff.
  • He’s an athletic marvel who started out as a linebacker transitioned to defensive end then transitioned to defensive tackle. With that, he’s got some unique traits that your common defensive tackle doesn’t possess and his 4.78 40-yard dash can’t hurt.