NY Jets: 5 positions the team could target with the 23rd pick

NY Jets Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2. NY Jets could address cornerback

The Jets’ cornerback situation is pretty bleak right now. Other than late-round and unproven youngsters, there is nothing at the position.

This unproven and amateur play from the Jets cornerbacks in 2020 was best shown in the infamous last play against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Jets inexplicably played no deep safety against a Hail Mary situation and undrafted rookie Lamar Jackson blew the coverage, allowing a game-winning touchdown.

The position was already in a bad state heading into the offseason but is now even worse with star slot cornerback Brian Poole still a free agent.

Last offseason, the Jets also needed a cornerback. Douglas tried to fix the position by adding, Pierre Desir who had a horrific season, making the signing potentially Douglas’ biggest blunder as the Jets’ GM.

This year’s cornerback class is on the top-heavy side. After Patrick Surtain II, Jaycee Horn, and Caleb Farley, it’s rather slim pickings at the position. While Surtain and Horn are expected to go top-15 in the draft, Farley could fall to the Jets at 23.

Farley was at one point heralded as potentially the top cornerback in the draft. Injury concerns, however, have lowered his draft stock, perhaps to the point that he falls to the end of the first round.

Drafting Farley at 23 would be a coup for Gang Green. He is a phenomenal athlete with excellent size and coverage ability. The Virginia Tech cornerback has had issues with his back though which has made him a bit of a risk to draft early.

Even if Farley does not make it to 23, however, Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is still a solid option, as is Northwestern’s Greg Newsome II.

Like offensive line, cornerback is another position on the roster that has to be addressed by Douglas in a big way in the draft. If not at pick 23, Douglas must draft a cornerback with picks 34 or 66.