New York Jets: Top 3 options in round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft

The New York Jets hold the No. 48 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here are the top three options for the team to consider in round two.

The New York Jets don’t own a great track record in selecting good players in the second round of the NFL Draft historically:

• Christian Hackenberg, quarterback, Penn State (51st overall in 2016)
• Devin Smith, wide receiver, Ohio State (37th overall in 2015)
• Jace Amaro, tight end, Texas Tech (49th overall in 2014)
• Geno Smith, quarterback, West Virginia (39th overall in 2013)
• Stephen Hill, wide receiver, Georgia Tech (43rd overall in 2012)
• Vlad Ducasse, offensive tackle, Massachusets (61st overall in 2010)

The good news is Marcus Maye (who was drafted 39th overall in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft) looks like a keeper. They’ll be hoping to change the overall narrative in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 48th overall pick.

Over the next several weeks we’ll be providing the top three options for the New York Jets to consider in each round of the 2020 NFL Draft that they hold picks in.

We evaluated the top three options for the team to consider in round one of the 2020 NFL Draft here. Now we’ll evaluate the top three options for the green and white to consider in the second round.

Next: 3. Non-power 5 option

With the New York Jets sitting at 11 overall in the first round, they won’t seriously be in the EDGE market. After Chase Young of Ohio State gets taken second overall, the EDGE class completely drops off in the 2020 NFL Draft.

If the green and white draft an EDGE guy 11th overall this year it’ll be a major reach. So with that being said, there’s much better value in the second round of the class.

Here’s a name you probably haven’t heard of: Curtis Weaver of Boise State.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound EDGE player has a knack for getting to the quarterback. In two of his three college football seasons, he reached the double-digit sack mark (2017, 11 sacks; 2019, 13.5 sacks) and the only year he didn’t he missed it by half a sack (9.5).

With the Jets, he could be an ideal fit as an 3-4 outside linebacker. Whether that be replacing Jordan Jenkins (a pending free agent) or heck even adding to it because frankly, New York needs help on the edge regardless of what happens with Jenkins.

Gang Green defensive coordinator Gregg Williams likes to run a multitude of fronts so he needs versatile guys. While Weaver is an ideal fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker, he also can put his hand in the dirt as well.

Next: 2. Talented big-bodied WR

You’re going to hear this throughout the offseason leading into the 2020 NFL Draft: this wide receiver class is ridiculously stacked. Sure Jerry Jeudy of Alabama or CeeDee Lamb would certainly be worthy of the 11th overall pick in the first round, but the Jets could plug another need there and still get a really good receiver in the second round.

One of the names that should be up for consideration is Laviska Shenault Jr.

He’s a 6-foot-2, 220-pound beast who is thick. Laviska is a stocky dude who can literally play all across the offensive formation. On one side of the coin that’s an amazing quality because his versatility would be a welcomed addition.

Although from a negative standpoint because he’s a jack of all trades, he’s almost a master of none. Other parts of his game have seemingly suffered because he couldn’t focus on doing any one thing.

With that, his technique needs some work, his production won’t wow you and the stats he produced came on some simple stuff (screens, verticals, and some simple drags).

Although there’s plenty to like when you put on the tape. Despite the erratic quarterback play at Colorado, Shenault made some wow plays. When he’s at the line of scrimmage in a press situation, he can body the opposing defender and work past him quickly.

Frankenstein like frame with intriguing traits, he just needs to be refined a bit, but he can make an instant impact at the next level.

Next: 1. Time to fix OL

If Tyler Biadasz is on the board it’ll be a superb day for the New York Jets. In general interior offensive linemen aren’t valued in the same way that tackles are or heck even other positions. The team will have a chance to snag the No. 1 center in the class in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The overall offensive line class has been hurt with some surprising players deciding to return to school: Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Alex Leatherwood to name a few. That could increase Tyler’s stock and thus he might not be available with the 48th overall pick.

The bigger need for the Jets is at tackle (both Kelvin Beachum and Brandon Shell are pending free agents), but the team can get better value at this point in the draft by going after an interior offensive lineman.

This big Wisconsin boy (6-foot-3, 321 pounds) is a physical beast that can handle his own in the trenches. Although this dude combines the brawn with the brainpower to call out protection calls. Quite simply he’s a dude who could bring some country strength to the Jets and plug a hole on the offensive line for the next decade.

While there’s a strong contingent of New York Jets fans that want the team to stick with Jonotthan Harrison, the team can’t settle. Harrison has played in 84 games but has only started 42 in his career and only 19 with the Jets.

During that time he hasn’t proven to be a difference-maker, but he’s been solid. The Jets should swing for Tyler Biadasz and if they can’t get him in the draft (or a similar option in free agency), Jonotthan Harrison wouldn’t be a bad backup plan.