NY Jets add a new franchise QB in 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft

The NY Jets are now just two months out from the start of the 2021 NFL Draft — a draft that promises to be one of the most significant and impactful in franchise history.

With the overwhelming possibility that the Jets move on from the incumbent Sam Darnold in favor of a new quarterback in the draft, this offseason is shaping up to be an eventful one.

And it will all come to a head in late April when the draft arrives.

With perhaps up to 10 draft picks (or nine depending on who you ask), the Jets will have plenty of draft capital to reshape their roster this offseason. Especially given that five of those picks are slated to fall within the top-90 selections.

We’ve been doing these mocks drafts pretty much weekly since the first week of October. We’ve come a long way, and in those two months, a lot has changed. But one thing that hasn’t is the position the team will target with their first pick.

Yes, the Jets will be drafting a new quarterback in this mock.

That means that Darnold will be traded to the highest bidder, although the compensation received in the hypothetical exchange will not be included in this scenario. Moreover, given that free agency still hasn’t happened yet, the roster will surely look very different in a month’s time.

As per usual, we employed the use of The Draft Network’s Mock Machine to help us run through one possible scenario. Let’s take a look at our latest seven-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft.

Next: 1. A new QB and a top-tier OL prospect

Round 1, 2nd Overall, NY Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

If you were to place a wager on who the Jets’ Week 1 starting quarterback in 2021 was going to be right now, your best bet would be to put money on Zach Wilson.

Wilson is a top-tier quarterback prospect who’d have as good of a chance as any at being QB1 in a normal year. And the competition between him, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance for QB2 has been a fascinating one.

Possessing the accuracy, arm talent, mobility, and moxie to be a franchise quarterback at the next level, Wilson would be a fantastic replacement for Darnold. Drafting Wilson resets the clock at the QB position and gives the Jets a high-upside signal-caller to build around.

Concerns about his prior injury history and lack of top-tier competition in college are valid, but no prospect is perfect. And provided he stays healthy, Wilson has all the tools needed to overcome his weaknesses in the pros.

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Round 1, 23rd Overall, NY Jets: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC

The Jets draft their new quarterback and immediately provide him with some help on the offensive line in the form of USC lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Vera-Tucker played left tackle at USC but projects a lot better as a guard at the NFL level. And his incredible athleticism and pass-block traits make him a perfect fit in Mike LaFleur’s zone-blocking system.

After the likes of Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater, Vera-Tucker will probably be the next offensive lineman taken off the board. In fact, we’re pretty fortunate that he fell all the way to pick No. 23 here.

Vera-Tucker would immediately slot in as a day-one starter at left guard giving the Jets a promising young duo of Vera-Tucker and Mekhi Becton on the left side of the offensive line.

Next: 2. A promising CB and a third-round steal

Round 2, 34th Overall, NY Jets: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

The Jets need cornerback help this offseason, and given the overall weak crop of free agents, it would make sense to target the position early in the draft. We did so here selecting Georgia’s Eric Stokes with the second pick in the second round.

Stokes is a tall, physical cornerback who stands at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. While he lacks elite deep speed, Stokes has fantastic vision and instincts at the position that he finally parlayed into ball skills in 2020.

In nine games, Stokes recorded four interceptions — the first four interceptions of his college career. He has a tendency to get a little grabby which must be cleaned up, but Stokes projects as a starting cornerback in a primarily zone coverage defense.

The 21-year-old would be a perfect fit opposite Bryce Hall in Robert Saleh’s defense giving the Jets two young, high-instinct zone corners to develop.

Round 3, 66th Overall, NY Jets: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina

This one was a shocker. The plan was never to address running back this early, but when a player like Javonte Williams falls into your laps at the beginning of Round 3, you have to pounce on the opportunity.

Williams is one of the best running back prospects in this class and could realistically stand a chance at being drafted on Day 1. He’s the complete package as a physical between-the-tackles runner, electric/elusive tackle-breaker, and reliable pass-catcher all in one.

In a league drifting away from three-down ball-carriers, Williams is one of the few true bell-cow running backs who could transform an offense with the right supporting cast. His talent was too much to pass up at this spot.

The Jets could roll into 2021 with Williams as the lead back with a combination of Ty Johnson, La’Mical Perine, Josh Adams, and potentially a veteran competing for playing time.

The Jets land a top-flight running back prospect without having to use a premium draft pick.

Next: 3. Two Day 1 defensive starters

Round 3, 86th Overall, NY Jets: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU

This is the exact same pick that we made at this spot a week ago. And we have no complaints about that.

One of the most underrated weaknesses on the Jets’ roster is at linebacker. With the switch to a 4-3 defense, the Jets realistically need to add two starting-caliber linebackers this offseason to play alongside the returning C.J. Mosley (assuming Neville Hewitt doesn’t return).

LSU’s Jabril Cox would be an excellent addition.

One of the best coverage linebackers in this class, Cox thrives in open space where he gets to show off his athleticism and range. He’s a true three-down linebacker and someone who could start next to Mosley in the nickel package from day one.

The former North Dakota State star is still a little inconsistent in run defense and he needs to do a better job of staying disciplined in his gap assignments. But Cox is a plug-and-play starter whose coverage ability gives him All-Pro potential.

Round 4, 107th Overall, NY Jets: Victor Dimukeje, EDGE, Duke

The Jets need to bolster their pass-rush in a big way this offseason and find guys who could play that five-technique defensive end role in Saleh’s system. Duke’s Victor Dimukeje fits the bill of the type of player they’re looking for.

At 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, Dimukeje has prototypical size for the position and brings a well-rounded skill set to the table. While his lack of elite traits will prevent him from going off the board earlier, he has a high floor in the NFL.

Dimukeje is technically-refined as both a pass-rusher and run-stopper and racked up 21.5 sacks over four years as a starter at Duke. He isn’t the most impressive athlete, but he has the versatility to shift inside on passing downs.

Ultimately, Dimukeje projects as a solid rotational end with the potential to be a starter if he could become a more consistent playmaker. Not a bad selection here in Round 4.

Next: 4. Two talented wide receivers

Round 5, 147th Overall, NY Jets: Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn

Ideally, we would have liked to address the wide receiver position earlier. But seeing as though the Jets are likely to do so in free agency, the positional need probably won’t seem as dire come April.

Nonetheless, Auburn’s Anthony Schwartz makes a ton of sense at this spot and regular readers of our mocks should be very familiar with the speedy wideout by now.

Dubbed “the fastest player in college football,” Schwartz excelled as a track star in high school and that speed translates to the football field. He’s one of the best pure deep threats in this class and he blends his track speed with underrated physicality.

Schwartz might be a better fit as a slot receiver in the NFL, but he could also fill that Z-receiver role left vacant by the departed Breshad Perriman. The Jets need speed and that’s something that Schwartz can provide in droves.

Round 5, 155th Overall, NY Jets: Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina

We waited this long to address wide receiver, so why not double-up at the position? Although North Carolina’s Dazz Newsome is a very different type of player than Schwartz.

Newsome is your prototypical slot receiver and one of the more underrated receivers in this class. The 21-year-old is a superb route-runner who runs quick, concise routes and could separate with the best of them.

He’s fearless over the middle of the field and provides plenty of YAC ability. In fact, he excelled as a punt returner at North Carolina, a trait that should serve him well at the next level.

Newsome is someone who could come in and contribute from day one before being groomed to take over for Jamison Crowder as the primary slot guy in 2022. Think of him as the replacement for Braxton Berrios, only with a much higher upside.

Next: 5. Late-round projects

Round 6, 199th Overall, NY Jets: Jaylon Moore, OT, Western Michigan

When it gets to this part of the draft, you look to take as many high-upside swings as possible or find guys who could fill specific roles. Western Michigan’s Jaylon Moore fits the mold of the former.

At 6-foot-4, 311 pounds, Moore is one of the more athletic offensive linemen in this class. He’s an experienced prospect having started 32 games over four years at Western Michigan, but he comes with his fair share of flaws.

He tends to get a bit overzealous in pass-protection opting to lunge as opposed to shifting his weight to pivot backward — a very similar issue that Mekhi Becton had in college.

Moore is a perfect late-round developmental project who fits like a glove in Mike LaFleur’s zone-blocking system. In a perfect world, he develops enough to take over for George Fant at right tackle by 2022 or 2023.

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Round 7, 245th Overall, NY Jets: Dicaprio Bootle, CB, Nebraska

Perhaps the owner of the best name in the 2021 draft class, Nebraska’s Dicaprio Bootle is a scrappy defender who projects well as a special-teamer at the NFL level.

Bootle is a willing tackler who has experience playing both cornerback and safety. Nebraska moved him all around on defense playing everywhere from outside cornerback to safety to in the slot.

He lacks elite athleticism or length, but has impressed in zone coverage in the past giving him the potential to develop into a sub-package defender in Robert Saleh’s system.

Ultimately, however, his best bet would be to find a home on special teams where he could show off his toughness and ferocity.

Bootle is someone who could stick around on the back of the roster or practice squad as additional secondary depth and his versatility could be very intriguing to general manager Joe Douglas.