For much of the season, the Jets looked set to land the No. 1 overall pick and with it Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Their two wins against the Rams and Browns took them to 2-14 and gifted that pick to Jacksonville. That kickstarted plenty of discussion about what the Jets should do with the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft. Quarterback looks like the most likely option, but they need help at various other spots on the roster. Here are their best options ranked.
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1. Zach Wilson – QB, BYU
There are still some who see Sam Darnold as the Jets’ future at quarterback, but the numbers are dwindling by the day. Whilst the situation around has not been conducive to success, Darnold hasn’t helped himself. Through the past three seasons he has ranked 30th, 24th, and 32nd respectively in terms of quarterback efficiency. He ranked 26th, 27th, and 31st in PFF grade in each of those three seasons.
If the Jets want to re-invest at the position, then the best place to look is Zach Wilson of BYU. Wilson came out of nowhere this season, putting together one of the best collegiate seasons we’ve seen from a quarterback in recent years. He finished the year with 3,694 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He added another 353 yards and 10 touchdowns as a runner.
What the Jets get with Wilson is an incredibly accurate quarterback, with the ability to make all of the throws required at the NFL level. Wilson ranked fifth in the FBS with an adjusted completion percentage of 80.3. He was especially effective on deep passes, with 1,286 yards coming on throws of 20+ yards downfield.
Wilson combines this arm talent with ideal mobility and athleticism, earning comparisons to Patrick Mahomes for his ability to make off-platform throws. Whilst the level of competition he faced this season will be a slight concern, Wilson has all of the traits you want in a quarterback prospect. He is a high ceiling player and any other year would be a sure-fire No. 1 overall pick.
2. Justin Fields – QB, Ohio State
Coming into the season, Fields was seen as the leading contender to Trevor Lawrence’s spot at the top of 2021 Draft Boards. Whilst he didn’t live up to those lofty expectations, he still put in another excellent campaign at Ohio State. Fields finished with 2,098 yards, with 22 touchdowns and six picks. He added another 517 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, forcing 20 missed tackles on his 63 carries.
Like Wilson, Fields offers incredible accuracy, with his adjusted completion percentage of 80.8 ranking second in the FBS. He is amongst the best deep ball passers in this class and does a great job of protecting the football, with only 18 turnover-worthy plays in his career. He is also one of the most dynamic open field runners and would be a true dual-threat quarterback in the NFL.
When Fields is on his game there are few that can match him. His performance against Clemson in the playoffs was one of the best you are likely to see from a college prospect. He finished the game 22 of 28 for 385 yards, with six touchdowns and a pick. That said, there is some cause for concern. Fields benefitted from a wide open Ohio State offense and only had 54 tight window throws in his collegiate career. Things will be very different in the NFL and it could take him some time to adapt.
Teams are also likely to have concerns about his tendency to hold on to the ball. Fields’ average time to throw of 3.11 seconds was the third longest in the FBS. He could do this because of Ohio State’s elite offensive line giving a tonne of time in the pocket. He wouldn’t be afforded the same luxury at a team like the Jets. Fields might not be the finished product, but he offers all of the tools to be a franchise quarterback at the next level.
3. Trade down
This option is slightly different but it is one that the Jets should give serious thought. This would only be a viable option if they felt that Sam Darnold was their quarterback of the future, or if they were not keen either Wilson or Fields. It should be said that trading down is only really an option if there is a market for the pick. That said, the Jets look to be in an ideal spot and should have willing trade partners.
This is one of the most talented quarterback classes in recent years. Even after Trevor Lawrence is off the board, there will be a tonne of interest in players like Wilson and Fields. This also looks to be a year with a large number of teams in the quarterback market. The Jets would not be short of suitors for the No. 2 pick, and they should consider the option of trading down and accumulating draft capital.
There is certainly merit to this approach. The Jets are easily one of the worst rosters in the NFL and they are not going to be fixed by a single pick. They were woeful on both sides of the ball this season, ranking 32nd in offensive EPA per play and 27th on defense. Trading down would give them picks to address more spots on their roster. If they want to stick with Sam Darnold, then trading down to build around him is the best approach to take.
4. Penei Sewell – OT, Oregon
I think that if the Jets are going to stay at No. 2, the only sensible option is quarterback. Other positions are likely to be available later in the first round and trading back makes sense if their priorities lay elsewhere. That said, they may be in a position where they are unable to find a trade partner and don’t want a quarterback. In that situation, their best move would be to take Sewell.
The Jets hit a home run with the Mekhi Becton pick, who already looks like their left tackle of the future. According to PFF, he was their third highest graded rookie tackle, allowing 23 pressures through his 14 games. He was however, the lone standout in an otherwise poor offensive line. George Fant was particularly poor at right tackle, allowing 33 total pressures and grading as the 66th best tackle in the NFL.
If they considered Sewell, the Jets would likely look to move him over to right tackle, with Becton staying on the left. Sewell has not played on the right side of the line, but he has all of the traits to succeed there. He offers the ideal combination of strength and athleticism in space and was almost unplayable when we last saw him. He has allowed just 11 pressures across his 706 pass blocking snaps since his true freshman year, giving up a single sack in that period.
Sewell is almost universally regarded as an elite prospect, but there are a few questions. He didn’t face many top tier edge rushers in the Pac-12 and Oregon’s screen heavy offense limited his pure one-on-one pass sets. That said, he is still just 20 years old and has plenty of room to develop. The tackle combo of Becton and Sewell has the potential to be one of the NFL’s best for years to come.
5. Ja’Marr Chase – WR, LSU
The other option that seems to be on the cards for the Jets at No. 2 is to consider a wide receiver. The 2021 class has some big names and I have three receivers inside the top ten of my Big Board. It is a deep class too, with 14 receivers in the top 100. Much like tackle, I think that if the Jets want a receiver their best bet is to trade back, but if they have to stick at No. 2 then Chase would be the best bet.
The Jets’ wide receiver situation really is not good. After letting Robby Anderson walk in free agency last summer, they were left with Jamison Crowder as their leading weapon. He led the team with just 699 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2020. Last year’s second round pick Denzel Mims showed some promise down the stretch, but it was clear that they need more help.
Like Sewell, Chase opted out of the 2020 season after an incredible sophomore campaign. In 2019 he racked up 1,780 yards on 84 receptions, averaging 21.2 yards per catch and an SEC record 20 touchdowns. He is versatile, with the ability to win with speed or strength, and performed against top competition. He would also provide the Jets with a legitimate deep threat, having caught an NCAA record of 24 passes of 20+ yards in 2019.
Chase is obviously not perfect. Thanks to the opt out we only got to see one full season of production from him. He is also not going to be a shifty receiver out in space and depending upon the Jets’ shopping list, they may prefer someone with a different skillset. That said, Chase feels like the most sure-fire receiver prospect in this draft class. If the Jets want to build around Sam Darnold, adding a receiver like Chase is a good place to start.
