The NY Jets’ biggest goal in the 2020 NFL Draft should be adding depth

With the 2020 NFL Draft fast approaching, one of the NY Jets’ top goals throughout the draft should be to add depth across the roster.

With the 2020 NFL Draft now just a few weeks away, the most popular topic of discussion surrounding the NY Jets‘ seems to be centered on which position the team should target in the first round: offensive line or wide receiver.

As of this moment, it’s unclear which direction general manager Joe Douglas and company will go. After all, the team’s offensive line was downright brutal last season. Improving the unit up front has been a top priority all offseason long and will likely continue to be one.

In addition, the team is also in need of a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver and this year’s draft class happens to be loaded with talented pass catchers.

Ultimately, which position the Jets use the No. 11 overall pick on will likely come down to who’s available.

If, for example, each of the top four offensive linemen — Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills, Mekhi Becton, Andrew Thomas — are gone, the Jets may go with a wide receiver. If one or more of those four aforementioned linemen remain on the board, however, the Jets may go in that direction.

But regardless of which direction the Jets go in the first round, it seems as if the team should have a larger goal overall when it comes to the draft.

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Rather than focusing solely on adding a top-flight offensive lineman or a top wide receiver, the Jets need to put an emphasis on adding depth at many different positions across the roster.

After all, a lack of depth was one of the Jets’ biggest issues last year. And to make matters worse, this issue was only highlighted by the fact that the team was forced to deal with a tremendous amount of injuries.

And when starters went down, the Jets rarely had suitable replacements, which is something that needs to be addressed in the draft.

When it comes to the offensive line, for example, the Jets could certainly benefit from drafting a lineman in the first round. The team has already added a few new pieces in free agency and adding a player like Wirfs, Wills, Becton or Thomas would only bolster the unit.

However, the team can’t stop there.

Last year, Adam Gase was forced to use a plethora of different combinations up front after multiple starters went down to injury. The result was a dumpster fire, as the Jets had one of the worst offensive lines in football on a weekly basis.

With that being said, the team should look to target multiple linemen in the draft regardless of who the team drafts in the first round. Douglas needs to rebuild the unit from the ground up. And he needs to do so with depth and options.

The wide receiver position should likely be address in a similar way. There’s no denying that young quarterback Sam Darnold needs an elite level weapon.

And the Jets could certainly acquire him one in the first round. But the team’s wide receiving corps needs to be addressed overall as well, as it doesn’t appear to be too impressive at the moment.

Aside from Jamison Crowder, who plays primarily in the slot, the top receiver on the team is Breshad Perriman, who the Jets recently signed. Prior to the final few weeks of last season, however, Perriman’s production wasn’t all that spectacular.

Aside from Crowder and Perriman, Quincy Enunwa would be next in line, though he’s dealing with his neck injury and his future is currently unclear.

Ultimately, the Jets could choose to draft a wide receiver in the first round. But the team should also be looking to address the position in the middle rounds in order to improve a unit that is seriously lacking.

Aside from offensive line and wide receiver, the Jets also have areas to fill at cornerback, edge rusher and running back. All three of these positions can and likely should be targeted throughout the draft, as the draft is where strong teams are built.

After all, poor drafting is what has gotten the Jets to where they are today. Very few players drafted by former general manager Mike Maccagnan remain on the team and it was his lack of skill in drafting players that led the Jets to have so few answers to injuries last year.

Because of that, Douglas needs to be on his game come draft night.

NY Jets: 3 positions that definitely don’t need to be addressed in the 2020 NFL Draft. Next

Sure, the team will be looking to make a big splash in Round 1, but it’s who Douglas drafts throughout the entire draft that will determine the team’s depth and make or break its future.

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