NY Jets: 7-round 2020 NFL Mock Draft, post-NFL Combine edition

With the NFL Combine over it’s time for another brand new seven-round 2020 NFL Mock Draft. Here are all the details and how it plays out.

We have now passed another milestone on the offseason calendar with the NFL Combine officially in the rearview mirror. This means it’s time for another full seven-round NY Jets mock draft!

Less than two months out from the 2020 NFL Draft, the NY Jets possess eight selections at this moment:

• 1st round pick (11th overall)
• 2nd round pick (48th overall)
• 3rd round pick (68th overall, originally the NY Giants)
• 3rd round pick (79th overall)
• 4th round pick (110th overall)
• 5th round (140th overall)
• 6th round (171st overall)
• 6th round (212th overall, originally the Kansas City Chiefs)

The Jets own all of its original picks (sans the seventh round) and thanks to some clarity own two additional picks in the third and sixth round respectively.

Gang Green made the first trade ever documented with the Giants in the trade for Leonard Williams and in exchange received a third-rounder in 2020 and a 2021 fifth-rounder (that can upgrade to a fourth-rounder if Big Blue re-signs Leo ahead of free agency).

Also, the Jets have an additional late-round pick in the sixth round. Shortly after general manager Mike Maccagnan was fired, Jets head coach Adam Gase traded away former first-round pick Darron Lee to the Chiefs for a sixth-round pick.

The team ended up packaging that pick and trading it to the Indianapolis Colts during the offseason for veteran cornerback Nate Hairston. Apparently, that pick was conditional and Hairston did not meet those conditions with the Jets and therefore the pick was returned to the green and white.

So with all that being said it’s time for a fresh seven-round mock draft for the Jets. We will consider what transpired at the NFL Combine over the weekend as we’re making these selections. Also, we’ll be utilizing the “Mock Draft Machine” from our friends over at the Draft Network to complete this exercise.

Next: 1st round

Andrew Thomas, PFF’s OT1, clocks in at 5.22⏱ pic.twitter.com/E9G1ul6w6S

— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) February 28, 2020

For whatever reason Andrew Thomas has witnessed his NFL Draft stock plummet in the court of public opinion over the last several weeks.

During the NFL Combine, he reminded everyone why he should be heralded in the same light as the other top offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft class.

Thomas measured in at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, 36 1/8 arms, and 10 1/4 hands.

Here are his NFL Combine results: 5.22 (40-yard dash), 21 reps (bench press), 30.5 (vertical jump), 109″ (broad jump), 7.58 (3 cone drill), and 4.66 (20-yard shuttle).

While the free agency period could certainly change the team’s needs in a few weeks, it won’t likely change their need for a blindside protector. There is an array of interesting options available in the trenches but none that’ll permanently fill the left tackle hole moving forward.

The NY Jets can address that need with the 11th overall pick, which would snap a 14 year drought since the last time the team selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft.

The only other realistic possibility with the team’s first-round pick is a wide receiver. It’ll certainly be tantalizing if Jerry Jeudy of Alabama or CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma is also available but think of positional value for a moment.

A potential franchise left tackle far outweighs a potential franchise No. 1 wide receiver. Also, it’s easier to find wide receivers than it is offensive tackles.

Next: 2nd round

What a fall from grace for the former Clemson Tigers star receiver. Tee Higgins was once thought of as one of the top wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft and after a weird NFL Combine, people have a lot more questions than answers.

Higgins went to Indianapolis but decided not to participate in any of the drills and his reasoning was just awkward. He decided to “rest” which is fine but from a PR perspective it just came off odd.

The NFL Combine was an opportunity for wide receivers in a very deep class to start to separate themselves. With Higgins choosing not to participate he has separated himself in a bad way. Also now he only has one opportunity to prove himself. If he runs a bad 40 at his Pro Day, then he won’t have another chance.

Other wide receivers who had stellar performances at the NFL Combine have surged up the board and with that, Higgins has fallen into the second round. Ultimately someone has to fall as others rise and the Jets are the beneficiary here.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound wide receiver offers a big body with a crazy wingspan. That would instantly help the Jets in the red zone and would create a mismatch nightmare in 50-50 ball situations. The lack of long speed is concerning, but perhaps a good 40-time at his Pro Day can quiet those doubts.

Next: 3rd round

The NY Jets have two third-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. The earlier third-round selection is courtesy of the NY Giants trade involving Leonard Williams. This has proven to be a very valuable commodity (top-70 selection) and in this case, the team cashes it in on another offensive lineman.

In the first round, the Jets plugged a gaping hole at left tackle and now they fill their hole at center. Everyone seemed high on Tyler Biaadasz at the end of the college football season, but his stock has been plummeting due to growing concerns about his short arms, lack of flexibility, and balance.

Those reasons are why he’s still on the board here in the third round. Although for as many issues as there are, there’s also plenty to like: toughness, experience, and pedigree (Wisconsin program).

There are a large fraction of Jets fans that are Jonotthan Harrison fanatics, but here’s the thing you can’t settle. Harrison has proven to be a versatile piece that should’ve started from the outset in 2019, but he hasn’t proven he can be relied upon as a consistent starter moving forward.

The #Jets Zone w/ @BoyGreen25 & @nyjets LB @Neville_Hewitt – Free agency & what he values most from a team.– Playing for Gregg Williams.– His perspective on the crazy 2019 season of injuries & getting his opportunity to shine. #TakeFlight #NFLCombinehttps://t.co/FpBUgTd1V2

— The Jets Zone (@TheJets_Zone) February 26, 2020

Get used to seeing this popular selection for the NY Jets. If you haven’t seen it yet, prepare to see it often.

Van Jefferson is a talented wide receiver out of Florida and is also the son of Shawn Jefferson who just so happens to be the NY Jets wide receivers coach.

Although if this transpires on draft day it won’t be simply because of familial relations, it’ll be because he’s a talented player and Van fits what the team is looking for.

The entire NY Jets receiving core needs to be revamped so if you’re a fan of the team fully expect them to use multiple picks at the receiver position in the 2020 NFL Draft.

In the second round, the team added a big-bodied wide receiver. Now in the third round, they add a phenomenal route runner who prides himself on creating separation.

A few weeks ago Van Jefferson was enjoying an NFL Draft stock surge, unfortunately, that has come to a screeching halt. He suffered a bone fracture in his foot and will be out of commission for the next two months, but the expectation is he’ll be ready for an NFL training camp late this summer.

In this scenario, the Jets keep the long term view in mind and make a selection that’ll look like a steal many months from now.

Next: 4th round

So far this has been an unprecedented 2020 NFL Mock Draft for the NY Jets. With the team’s first four selections they went all offense and believe me the team needed it, but let’s give some love to the defensive side of the ball.

In the fourth round, the Jets address one of their biggest areas of weakness on the edge. Regardless of what happens with Jordan Jenkins, the team still needs an upgrade across from him, let alone possibly replacing Jenkins himself.

Alton Robinson is having himself quite the offseason leading into the 2020 NFL Draft. He dominated in the Senior Bowl game registering a pair of sacks. Then Alton was invited to the NFL Combine and continued his upward trajectory.

Robinson recorded the third-fastest 40-yard dash time among defensive linemen (4.69), had the second-best vertical jump at his position (35.5″), and his 4.32 20-yard shuttle was the second-best among defensive linemen.

Robinson has collegiate production (19 sacks) and the intangibles that you can’t teach. Alton has the ability to be a double-digit sack artist in the NFL for a long time.

Next: 5th round

The other need for the NY Jets on the defensive side of the ball is at cornerback. This is potentially a need they could’ve addressed earlier, but the moral of this story is Rome wasn’t built in a day. The team won’t be able to fix all of its issues in a single offseason, but this would be a good start.

Stanford Samuels has solid size (6-foot-1, 187 pounds) and only ran the 40-yard dash (4.65) at the NFL Combine. His arrow is trending upward after a very solid 2019. Samuels has production (eight interceptions in three seasons), 145 total tackles, and 16 pass deflections.

For the Jets, there are a lot more question marks than answers currently on the depth chart. Trumaine Johnson will be released (it’s just a matter of when), Brian Poole is also a pending free agent with him potentially leaving the team would be left in some pretty dire circumstances.

There is some solid young talent on the NY Jets roster, but if we’re being candid it’s relatively unproven. While there were certainly some promising signs last year, that isn’t enough to be relied upon as full-time starters.

Samuels would be a solid investment relatively late in the draft and provides some nice potential upside as a future starter in this league.

Next: 6th round

This is another round that the NY Jets get to double-dip in. This first sixth-round draft choice is the Jets’ own and here they invest in a running back.

While general manager Joe Douglas confirmed that Le’Veon Bell is returning to the team in 2020, they still need a running back of the future.

AJ Dillon is a unicorn type running back coming out of Boston College. He is listed at 6-foot, 247 pounds and is an absolute bruiser. On the surface, he’s a pure power back that brings a punishing style to the next level.

Although if you dive deeper you’ll see a tailback that possesses vision and a little wiggle. He rarely goes down on first contact and was a Heisman candidate throughout his collegiate career with the Eagles.

Now if you’re looking for a versatile runner that can also catch the ball out of the backfield than AJ Dillon probably isn’t your guy. Throughout his three year career, he totaled 21 receptions and that’s it. Perhaps he’s a late bloomer? But likely not and that’s okay.

The Jets would draft AJ Dillon knowing he has a special set of skills that could immediately help this team. To land a sleeper this late in the draft with this kind of potential is worth the risk.

Thanks to a funny loophole the NY Jets own an additional sixth-round draft choice. The NY Jets originally acquired it in an offseason trade with the Kansas City Chiefs involving linebacker Darron Lee.

Gang Green then sent that pick to the Indianapolis Colts but the conditions were never met so the pick was returned to the team.

With this bonus selection, the NY Jets are going to throw crap at the wall and see if it sticks. A lot of coaches are of the philosophy that an NFL team should draft a quarterback every year because the position is so important.

It seems like Jets fans are in denial about this reality, but it’s factual.

The green and white desperately need a backup quarterback. The mentor thing is overrated, it doesn’t matter whether the player is young or old, they just need someone just in case the glass breaks.

Cole McDonald is a fascinating player out of Hawaii. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound passer put up video game numbers in his two years as a starter:

2018: 3,875 passing yards, 36:10 touchdown-to-interception-ratio, and a 59 percent completion percentage.

2019: 4,135 passing yards, 33:14 touchdown-to-interception-ratio, and a 64 percent completion percentage.

Obviously a player that’s available this late in the draft has a few warts: noodle arm, weird release, and needs to be more consistent. But Cole has ideal size and he’s a competitor and that’s exactly what the Jets need to add to the quarterback room as a developmental piece for the future.

Sam Darnold is the only experienced quarterback under contract for the Jets next season. They need a long-term backup in case of injury (or disease) and let’s be honest, Luke Falk won’t get the job done.