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

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1. NY Jets draft target: Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest

Carlos Basham Jr. is one of the more complete edge rushers in this class and he should waste little time making an impact during his rookie season.

The name might sound a little familiar as Basham is the cousin of former Jets’ outside linebacker Tarell Basham. Another cousin of his, Al Holland, was a pitcher in the MLB for a decade from 1977 to 1987 providing that athleticism clearly runs in the family.

At 6-foot-3, 274 pounds, Basham is one of the larger defensive end prospects in this year’s class. As such, he has experience playing both inside and outside and could be seen hovering over the B-gap on passing downs quite frequently at Wake Forest.

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Basham is a well-balanced pass-rusher who uses his motor and powerful hands to create havoc. But the strength of his game is probably his run defense where’s he a stout presence in the run game.

From 2018 to 2020, Basham recorded a tackle for loss in 23 straight games which was the longest streak in the nation during that time. He’s long, powerful, and technically sound which should allow him to make an instant impact in the NFL.

However, Basham’s lack of standout athletic traits may keep him from being a top-tier pass-rusher at the next level. He’s a little stiff out of his stance and his pass-rush traits remain a work in progress.

Basham is similar to a guy like Charles Omenihu — a mid-round pick of the Houston Texans in the 2019 NFL Draft. He’s a high-upside run defender who’s still developing as a pass-rusher.

Next. NY Jets make surprising 1st-round pick in 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft

The Jets may have gotten rid of one Basham cousin this offseason. But they could add another one in the middle rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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