NY Jets got a ‘first-round talent’ in Hamsah Nasirildeen

The NY Jets have received near-universal praise for their star-studded 2021 NFL Draft class. But one player who has flown a bit under the radar has been Hamsah Nasirildeen.

Drafted in the sixth round of this past weekend’s draft, Nasirildeen has been overshadowed by his fellow draft-mates. The attention has been on the likes of Zach Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Elijah Moore — and rightfully so.

All three were considered consensus first-round prospects and it’s nothing short of a miracle that the Jets were able to land all three. But what if those three aren’t the only first-round talents the Jets drafted?

Shortly after being drafted, Nasirildeen spoke about what the Jets could be getting in the former Florida State standout. And he didn’t hold back.

The NY Jets could have gotten a steal in Hamsah Nasirildeen

Nasirildeen said that he feels the Jets “got a first-round talent” in himself, and that might not be as much of a stretch as some believe.

Many saw Nasirildeen as a lock for Day 2 of the draft with some even having him as a top-75 or even top-50 player in the entire class.

And it wasn’t too long ago that he was considered a consensus first-round prospect either. Just one year ago, Pro Football Network called him a “surefire first-round pick in 2021.”

Unfortunately, a knee injury forced him to miss most of his senior season which tanked his draft stock, but most still saw him as a top-100 player, at the very least. Somehow, however, the Jets managed to land him all the way at pick No. 186.

Nasirildeen was a safety at Florida State — and an impressive one at that. A four-star prospect and the No. 1 recruit in the state of North Carolina, Nasirildeen became a full-time starter in 2019 and earned second-team All-ACC honors leading his team in tackles and forced fumbles.

But with the Jets, Nasirildeen will be asked to play more of a linebacker role, something he’s likely better suited for. While he was a standout run defender with excellent physicality, he struggled a bit in coverage.

It’s easy to see him finding success under the tutelage of Robert Saleh in the Jets’ defense. Expect him to compete for snaps at the WILL linebacker position early on in his career.

And perhaps before long, Nasirildeen could prove that he truly was a first-round talent.