NY Jets select Alabama DT Christian Barmore in puzzling mock draft

The NY Jets have been linked to a number of different prospects with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. But recently, a new name joined the list in Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe released a full 32-team mock draft on Monday and after mocking the Jets Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick, he decided to make a puzzling decision at 23.

Rather than address one of the Jets’ biggest needs, he instead had the Jets selecting an interior defensive lineman with their second first-round pick.

Not only that, but an interior defensive lineman that is currently seen as a borderline first-round talent. In fact, Volin even insisted that the pick was a bit of a reach.

The NY Jets will not consider drafting Christian Barmore

The 2021 NFL Draft class is probably the thinnest interior defensive line class we’ve seen in some time and there’s a decent chance that no players at the position even get drafted in the first round.

Meanwhile, the Jets have holes up and down the roster, but perhaps the only position that doesn’t need to be addressed is the defensive line. 2020 breakout star Quinnen Williams will return and he’ll be paired with free-agent pickup Sheldon Rankins.

The Jets also have one of the best run-stoppers in football in Folorunso Fatukasi who PFF has ranked in the top-14 out of all interior defenders in each of the last two seasons.

Throw in John Franklin-Myers who has inside/outside versatility and the Jets boast one of the better and deeper interior defensive lines in the NFL. Of all the position groups on the roster, it is the only one that the Jets are completely set at.

To suggest that the team will use one of their first-round picks on a defensive tackle prospect who isn’t even seen as a surefire first-round pick is astonishing. Volin defended the decision by insisting that the Jets actually had a need at defensive tackle.

“This might be a bit high for Christian Barmore, but he’s a safe pick and fills a need in the middle of the Jets defense”

To make matters even worse, Volin insisted that Oklahoma State offensive lineman Teven Jenkins, who was still on the board in this mock and wasn’t picked until 32, was considered, but that the Jets could just address the offensive line later.

“Another option is offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, but the Jets can fill that need early in the second round.”

Volin actually had defensive tackle listed as the Jets’ fifth-biggest need despite the presence of Williams, Rankins, Fatukasi, and Franklin-Myers. Even more egregious is that he listed it as a greater need than cornerback which barely cracked their list of needs.

In fact, somehow the Jets’ second-biggest need, according to Volin, was at tight end. Tight end could certainly be considered a need, but ahead of the offensive line? Ahead of cornerback?

It’s hard to know where to start with this mock. But for the sake of simplicity, and out of respect, we could sum this up very easily.

This scenario will not happen. You can guarantee that.