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

The NY Jets have seemingly found a new identity on defense following a free-agency period where the team bolstered their pass-rush in a number of ways.

That, along with the addition of famed defensive guru Robert Saleh, could help provide the Jets with the best pass-rush they’ve had in years.

But as they say, you could never have too many pass-rushers.

The Jets entered free agency looking to overhaul their edge-rush group with the expected switch to a base 4-3 defense. And they did so in a big way signing arguably the best edge rusher on the market in Carl Lawson.

Lawson was inked to a hefty three-year, $45 million contract and is likely the best pass-rusher the team has had since the days of John Abraham. But they didn’t stop there, adding veteran Vinny Curry to provide additional depth.

They even shored up their interior signing former first-round pick Sheldon Rankins away from the New Orleans Saints. Those new additions will join an already stout Jets defensive line featuring the likes of Quinnen Williams, Folorunso Fatukasi, and John Franklin-Myers.

Suddenly, the Jets could have one of the best defensive lines in football. But that doesn’t mean they can’t still look to strengthen an already-existing strength.

The 2021 NFL Draft class will offer the Jets yet another opportunity to add to their edge-rush rotation. Expect them to target at least one player at the position over the course of the three-day event.

Today, we take a look at four mid-round options the Jets could target.

Next: 4. Jordan Smith

4. NY Jets draft target: Jordan Smith, EDGE, UAB

If you’re looking for upside and natural gifts in the middle of the draft, look no further than former UAB star Jordan Smith.

A four-star recruit out of high school, Smith originally committed to play at Florida before being dismissed from the program following the 2017 season after using a stolen credit card to pay for school and rent supplies.

Smith spent a year at Butler Community College in Kansas before transferring to UAB in 2019. And in two years at UAB, he managed to lead the team in both sacks and tackles for loss in each season.

At 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, Smith has excellent size and length for the position. He’s a naturally twitched-up athlete with a quick first step and long strides that allow him to turn the corner with ease.

He played predominantly a stand-up SAM role at UAB, but has the size (and also moderate experience) to play with his hand in the dirt in the pros making him a scheme-versatile prospect.

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Of course, there will be questions about his maturity after he was dismissed from Florida back in 2017. For what it’s worth, however, his coaches at UAB did say that he grew into a leadership role in his senior season.

He’s still a bit raw and will need time to further learn the nuances of the position — he plays a little too upright and struggles when facing powerful tackles. And the fact that he’s already 23-years-old certainly won’t help matters.

But Smith is your classic mid-round swing at edge rusher. A player who has all the physical tools to be a dominant player at his position, but still needs more refinement.

That’s the type of player that general manager Joe Douglas could take a chance on, provided that he isn’t concerned about Smith’s prior legal issues.

Next: 3. Payton Turner

3. NY Jets draft target: Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston

Payton Turner is one of my personal favorite prospects in this draft class. A high-effort freak of an athlete, Turner combines a massive wingspan (at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds) with an unrelenting motor.

Turner is more of a tweener than a true edge rusher and he played predominantly as a 4i defensive end at Houston (lined up inside the offensive tackle), although he did shift into more a true edge rusher role in his junior and senior seasons.

At 270 pounds, he has the inside/outside versatility to play on the edge on early downs before shifting inside on passing downs. And given his size, he’s quite the athlete.

Turner has excellent lateral mobility despite his tall stature and thrives chasing down the ball carrier with his long strides and above-average speed. His competitive energy just adds to his arsenal.

The 22-year-old could still use a bit of polish in the pass-rush department. His size works against him when it comes to the leverage battle and is more of an effort rusher than a true pass-rush specialist at this point.

You could also make the argument that Turner’s skill set is a bit redundant on the Jets. Both John Franklin-Myers and 2020 third-round pick Jabari Zuniga are seen as tweeners with outside/inside flexibility.

Turner is a more natural athlete than both, but perhaps it wouldn’t be the most sensible pick for the Jets.

That said, you could never have too many talented pass-rushers. And Turner is an excellent Day 2 prospect who should provide value to any NFL defensive line as soon as his rookie season.

Next: 2. Patrick Jones II

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.

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.

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.