NY Jets: 4 mid-round pass-rushers to target in the 2021 NFL Draft

2. NY Jets draft target: Patrick Jones II, EDGE, Pittsburgh

If there ever was a player who seemed tailor-made for Robert Saleh’s defense it would be Pittsburgh’s Patrick Jones II.

Jones played alongside teammate Rashad Weaver to form one of college football’s most feared pass-rush duos over the last two years. Both players are expected to be late Day 2/early Day 3 picks, and could be in play for the Jets.

At 6-foot-4, 261 pounds, Jones has prototypical size for a 4-3 defensive end. With 17.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss over his last two years, Jones was a productive player at Pittsburgh earning first-team All-ACC honors in his senior season.

Much like the aforementioned Turner, Jones is a classic high-effort pass-rusher who plays with unrelenting energy. In fact, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler even described him as an “all gas, no brakes” type of player.

Sound familiar?

Jones has impressive burst and the ideal size/length you look for at the position. He could stand to become a bit more patient as a rusher and develop his pass-rush arsenal a little more.

Too often Jones finds himself rushing without a plan and it’s that disorganization that’s holding him back from reaching his potential.

But Jones has the traits and energy you look for in a Day 2 edge-rush target. He’d be a perfect fit in Saleh’s defense and someone who could contribute to the defensive line rotation from day one.

Next: 1. Carlos Basham Jr.