The NFL Combine is coming up, and all 32 teams are keeping close eyes on certain players. The combine begins February 27th and ends March 5th. Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan and the scouting team are preparing to evaluate tons of players, and some players more than others. Here are five players Gang Green should watch closely at the combine.
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
This is a no-brainer. Josh Allen is the most questionable of all the quarterbacks in this draft. His height, size, and throwing power are all incredible, but his accuracy is questionable. The Jets, among many other teams, will watch Allen very closely during the combine to see how inaccurate he really is. Many wonder if his throwing power is enough to outweigh his accuracy problems, and coaching staffs around the league are wondering if he is worth a top pick in this year’s draft.
Shaquem Griffin, LB, UCF
We all know the story of Shaquem Griffin. The one-handed phenom finally got his combine invite and looks to prove all the doubters wrong. Griffin has the edge-rushing ability the Jets have needed for years, but many wonder if his abilities can translate to the NFL. Will one hand be enough against NFL competition? Many scouts will look to the combine to find out if he’s worth the risk. His inconsistency concerns teams around the league. Many teams are worried about his ability to disengage from blocks as well. Time will tell if Shaquem Griffin can shush the doubters once again at the NFL combine.
More than a feel good story, UCF's Shaquem Griffin is an excellent player (via @PFF_Sam)https://t.co/WfzvoXhILf pic.twitter.com/31OUpw6sUx
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) February 20, 2018
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Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
Sony Michel’s name arose late in the college football season, and he is now looking like a lock for day two. Bilal Powell and Matt Forte are aging, and Eli McGuire is more of a feature back than anything else. The Jets are in need of a spark in the backfield and Michel provides that. They will look to the combine to determine if he has the agility, speed and vision to be the future of the Jets’ backfield.
Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Quenton Nelson is looked at as one of the top lineman coming out of college we’ve seen in years. The Notre Dame beast has drawn Zack Martin comparisons (who also played for Notre Dame). He’s one of the best run blockers coming out of the draft anybodies seen in a long, long time. If the quarterback position is settled through free agency, the Jets may look to boost the offensive line through the draft. Nelson is one of, if not the best prospect in this entire draft. That being said, it is very possible the Jets go best player available with the sixth pick.
Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Denzel Ward is among the top cornerback prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft, and the Jets have a subpar cornerback unit. Buster Skrine is a nickel player at most, Morris Claiborne has health concerns and Darryl Roberts is inconsistent in coverage. The Jets could possibly look to the draft to continue improving their secondary, and pairing Ward with Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye is scary. The only concern with Ward is his small size and length, along with his lack of strength to body receivers. Scouts around the league will look to the combine to determine if his superb athletic ability outweighs his weaknesses.
– James Cunningham is a staff writer for Full Press Coverage Jets and covers the New York Jets. Like and follow on Follow @nyjfansnationFollow @FPC_Jets
