NY Jets: 4 boom-or-bust targets in the 2021 NFL Draft

NY Jets

NY Jets‘ general manager Joe Douglas opted for upside in his first draft with the organization last year. Rather than target safer, more refined prospects, Douglas swung for the fences drafting high-upside players.

Just look at his first three picks for proof of that.

Mekhi Becton, Denzel Mims, and Ashtyn Davis — the first three draft picks of the Joe Douglas era — were all projection-based picks of players with elite physical traits, but guys who were still in need of technical refinement.

Becton was seen as the biggest boom-or-bust player of the top four offensive tackle prospects. Mims had the size/speed blend to be a future No. 1 wideout, but scouts had concerns about his refinement.

And Davis was an athletic freak who needed time to learn the nuances of the safety position and harness his athleticism.

Douglas made it clear in year one that he shoots for upside with his premium draft picks. If that same trend continues this offseason, which players could we see the Jets target?

The 2021 NFL Draft is chock full of boom-or-bust prospects, just as every draft class is. Be it because of injury concerns or on-field drawbacks, the prospects we’re about to take a look at are typical high ceiling/low-floor players.

They have the traits needed to become future stars at their positions, but it also wouldn’t be shocking to see them out of the NFL within three or four years.

Let’s take a look at four boom-or-bust prospects the Jets could target in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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4. NY Jets draft target: Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia

Tyson Campbell looks like someone who should be a future All-Pro cornerback. He has prototypical size for the position — at 6-foot-1, 193 pounds — and he combines that with elite physical traits.

Campbell is long, physical, and can turn and run with any opposing wideout. He has the size and length needed to match up physically and the deep speed necessary to match up athletically.

So what’s missing? Simply put, Campbell lacks consistency and refinement.

The 21-year-old was inconsistent at the catch point showing poor ball-tracking skills that resulted in him giving up his fair share of big plays. He oftentimes found himself in the right position but was ultimately unable to make the play.

Campbell’s physical traits earned him a starting job as a true freshman at Georgia, a job he would hold on to for three years. But his tape over those three years is an absolute roller coaster.

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When he puts it all together, Campbell can look like one of the best cornerbacks in the country. But too often his lack of body control, patience, and awareness makes him look lost.

For that reason, he’s likely a Day 2 prospect who could develop into a future starter. Whatever team drafts him will have to bet on his ability to continue growing as a player.

If he does, that team could land the steal of the draft and a future All-Pro, lockdown cornerback. If not, he likely won’t remain in the NFL past his rookie contract.

Either way, patience will be required with Tyson Campbell. That goes for the Jets or any other team that drafts him.

3. NY Jets draft target: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue

Rondale Moore is one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. Moore burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2018  breaking school records with a dominant season that saw him finish with 114 catches for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His 2,048 all-purpose yards were second-most in school history and it was enough to earn him Consensus All-American honors (as a true freshman) and Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year.

Moore was on the verge of stardom. Unfortunately, since that season, he’s played in just seven games.

A hamstring injury forced him to miss eight games in 2019 while he missed three more this past season. When on the field, Moore is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country, but health has been a major concern.

There are also valid concerns about his size. Moore isn’t your typical wide receiver standing at just 5-foot-7, 181 pounds.

Some view him as the next dominant offensive playmaker with the ability to contribute as a receiver, runner, and returner. Others view him as Tavon Austin with injury concerns.

A large portion of his production came on quick-hitter routes that allowed him to make plays after the catch. His YAC ability is one of his greatest strengths, but it also has teams questioning whether he can be effective in the intermediate and deep passing game.

Moore has the natural ability to be a game-changing wide receiver in any offense. But he’ll need to stay healthy and prove that he’s more than just a gadget player to fully reach his potential.

2. NY Jets draft target: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

It wasn’t long ago that Caleb Farley was neck-and-neck with Patrick Surtain II in the battle for CB1 in this draft class. Now, after more injury concerns have arisen, there’s a decent chance he falls out of Round 1 entirely.

Farley originally committed to Virginia Tech as a wide receiver, but tore his ACL and missed his entire freshman season. The following spring, he was moved to cornerback, and he instantly became one of the most impressive cornerbacks in the country.

Farley picked off two passes in his first career collegiate game and just one year later was named first-team All-ACC leading his team with four interceptions and leading the ACC with 16 passes defended despite missing a pair of games.

At nearly 6-foot-2, 197 pounds, Farley is a physical freak who combines incredible size with unmatched athleticism and burst. Take everything that was said about Tyson Campbell two slides ago and double it here.

However, Farley comes with major injury concerns. On top of the torn ACL he suffered in 2017, the 22-year-old suffered a back injury in 2019 that required offseason surgery. He also underwent a microdiscectomy (spinal surgery) last month and could miss training camp.

On top of that, there are a few concerns about Farley’s game. He’s only been playing the position for two years meaning that he remains unpolished when it comes to leverage and positioning.

Farley’s natural instincts and raw talent mean that he could comfortably be projected as a future star, but his durability concerns coupled with inexperience give him serious bust potential.

The ceiling is sky-high, but his low floor could push him outside the first 32 picks.

1. NY Jets draft target: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami

Jaelan Phillips is the most talented pass-rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft class — and one of my personal favorite prospects. If tape and traits were the only thing prospects were drafted on, Phillips probably wouldn’t make it outside the top-10.

But for as many great things as there are to love about Phillips’ game, there are just as many red flags.

Phillips was a five-star defensive end recruit and the No. 1 ranked player at his position coming out of high school. Unfortunately, a string of awful injury luck forced him to be a complete bust at UCLA and nearly cost him his football career.

The California native missed six games in his freshman season due to a high-ankle sprain, suffered a major wrist injury in his sophomore season after an automobile accident, and was diagnosed with three concussions in two years at UCLA.

In fact, UCLA doctors advised him to retire from football following the 2018 season citing concussions as the primary reason. But after finally being medically clear, Phillips transferred to Miami where he went on to dominate in 2020.

Phillips flashed the potential he once showed as a five-star recruit earning second-team All ACC honors while leading the team in tackles and tackles or loss.

The 21-year-old blends raw power with twitchy athleticism that gives him the highest upside of any edge rusher in this class. And despite missing considerable time in college, he’s a technically sound pass-rusher whose relentless motor gives him high upside as a run defender as well.

If the medicals check out, Phillips could develop into a perennial All-Pro at his position. But with so many injury concerns, it’s hard to see a team taking a chance on him in the top-20 picks — especially when you’re dealing with concussions.

No player in this class has as large of a gap between their potential ceiling and floor as Jaelan Phillips. He’s the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect.