NY Jets: 5 players to target on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft

The NY Jets had a relatively quiet Day 2 after making a splash on Day 1, but they still came away with a near-consensus first-round prospect in Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore.

The Jets have only made three picks to the point, but general manager Joe Douglas has made them count.

First, it was the long-expected selection of BYU quarterback Zach Wilson at No. 2 overall. Wilson gives the Jets a young hopeful franchise QB with elite upside.

Then the team traded up to select USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker with the 14th overall pick. Their aggression cost them both of their third-round picks, but it’s hard to argue it wasn’t worth it to add the best interior offensive line prospect in the class.

And on Friday, they managed to land a player at 34 who few believed would be available that late. The Jets, who reportedly planned to take Moore at 23 if they did not trade down, certainly didn’t believe he’d be there.

The Jets have done a superb job of adding three cornerstone offensive players on the first two days of the draft. And with six scheduled picks to make on Day 3, their work is far from over.

Gang Green will have two picks to make in Rounds 4, 5, and 6. Will they utilize all six of those picks? It’s certainly possible. But which players are still available that they could target?

We take a look at five of the best prospects the Jets could target on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Next: 4. Robert Rochell

4. The NY Jets could target CB Robert Rochell

The Jets have failed to address the cornerback position to this point in the offseason. And with a current starting trio of Bryce Hall, Blessuan Austin, and Javelin Guidry, it’s easily the weakest position group on the roster.

Unfortunately, there was a run on cornerbacks toward the end of Round 3 leaving the Jets with fewer options than expected at this point. If they do target the position (as is expected) on Day 3, one guy who could pique their interest is Robert Rochell.

Rochell was a three-year starter at Central Arkansas developing into one of the best cornerbacks at the FCS level. At 5-foot-11, 193 pounds, Rochell has an excellent blend of speed and length and projects as a high-upside prospect in the NFL.

He’s admittedly a developmental project, but definitely someone worthy of an early-Day-3 selection.

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Rochell originally committed to Central Arkansas as a wide receiver before switching to the defensive side of the ball in his redshirt season. He’s long, quick, and twitchy which should allow him to match up against NFL receivers despite his lackluster level of competition in college.

On top of that, he proved himself to be quite the ballhawk at UCA intercepting a total of nine passes in 2018 and 2019 combined. With 38 career pass deflections and 10 interceptions, Rochell’s ball skills are notably excellent.

He’ll need some time to develop in the NFL and his lack of technical refinement could keep him off the field early in his career. But Joe Douglas has proven to like high-upside athletic freaks.

Rochell certainly fits the bill.

Next: 3. James Hudson

3. The NY Jets could target OT James Hudson

The Jets already addressed the offensive line on Day 1, but that won’t prevent them from doing so again on Day 3. If they do, one player who makes a ton of sense as a target is Cincinnati’s James Hudson.

Hudson emerged as a potential mid-round prospect following a standout 2020 season that saw him named first-team All-AAC after starting 10 games at left tackle for the Bearcats.

Originally a four-star defensive tackle recruit at Michigan, Hudson transferred to Cincinnati and moved to the offensive line in 2018. As such, he remains a bit raw as a prospect.

That said, the athletic/physical traits are there for him to develop into a quality starting tackle in the NFL.

Hudson stands at 6-foot-4, 313 pounds, and possesses fantastic lateral mobility making him a great potential fit in a zone-blocking scheme. He’s mobile, but also has a nasty side to him with a mean streak when finishing his blocks.

He’ll take some time to develop in the NFL, and he lacks the ideal length you look for in an offensive tackle. But as a Day 3 developmental tackle prospect, he might be your best bet.

The Jets could draft Hudson as an immediate replacement for Chuma Edoga as the team’s young, athletic, developmental swing tackle with the hope that he could eventually take over for George Fant as the long-term answer at right tackle.

Hudson is a scheme fit at a position of need with the potential to develop into a quality starter. Certainly someone worth taking a chance on.

Next: 2. Kenneth Gainwell and Michael Carter

2. The NY Jets could target RB Kenneth Gainwell and Michael Carter

These two players will be combined into one entry as they serve the exact same role. The Jets haven’t addressed the running back position yet (no surprise there), but they definitely could look to do so on Day 3.

And two of the best options the team had going into the draft remain on the board as we head into the fourth round — Memphis’ Kenneth Gainwell and North Carolina’s Michael Carter.

Both Gainwell and Carter would occupy the exact same space in the Jets’ backfield. A dynamic, explosive outside runner who doubles as an effective pass-catcher and could be a perfect fit in an outside-zone scheme.

Gainwell was a one-year wonder at Memphis shredding defenses in 2019 as a redshirt freshman. The Missouri native topped 2,000 total scrimmage yards en route to being named a Freshman All-American and first-team All-AAC.

He decided to opt out of the 2020 season, but his 2019 season speaks for itself. If you’re looking for an electric committee back who can be used in a variety of ways on offense, Gainwell is your guy.

Carter projects as a very similar prospect, although he comes with a bit more mileage/experience. The soon-to-be 22-year-old formed one of the most dynamic running back duos in the country alongside Javonte Williams at North Carolina.

At only 5-foot-7, he’s never going to be a three-down, between-the-tackles running back (much like Gainwell). But he’s a patient runner who possesses the vision and quickness to excel in an outside-zone scheme.

Both Gainwell and Carter would be superb targets on Day 3, possibly as early as the 107th overall pick.

Next: 1. Jabril Cox

NY Jets Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

1. The NY Jets could target LB Jabril Cox

One of the more underrated needs for the Jets remains at the linebacker position. And it just so happens that one of the best coverage linebackers is still on the board as we head into Round 4.

LSU’s Jabril Cox is essentially the prototype of a Robert Saleh linebacker. He’s athletic, rangy, and fantastic in coverage making him a perfect fit in a Saleh-run defense.

Cox spent the first three years of his college career as a star in the middle of the North Dakota State defense where he was twice named first-team All-American and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for his conference in 2018.

His lone season at LSU garnered him more national attention. Cox was named a team captain despite him just joining the program (he’s been widely praised for his leadership and maturity) and was one of the standouts on LSU’s defense.

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It’s a bit of a surprise that he hasn’t been selected through the first three rounds, but the Jets could look to take advantage as early as the second pick of Day 3.

Cox is still developing as a run stopper and is an inconsistent tackler and gap-filler, but his coverage ability gives him the potential to be a day-one starter in the nickel.

The Jets could line Cox up at the WILL and pair him with a returning C.J. Mosley and the recently-signed Jarrad Davis to give Saleh three supremely athletic linebackers to play with.

And given that neither Mosley nor Davis is guaranteed to be on the roster in 2022, it makes sense to address the linebacker position.

Cox should be a top target of the Jets early on Day 3.