With the 191st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select…
Name: Braden Mann
Position: Punter
School: Texas A&M
The New York Jets continue to check the boxes as they fill another need. The team selected former Texas A&M punter Braden Mann in the sixth round.
Breakdown
Braden Mann gets selected 191st overall to the Jets in hopes to win the job over current Jet, Ian Berryman. Mann was “The Man” in 2018 winning the Ray Guy award which features the best punter in college football. During his 2018 season, Mann punted 50 times for a staggering 2,549 yards; good for a 51.0 average. Of Mann’s 50 punts that season, he landed 19 of them inside the 20-yard line. Last season, Mann’s average dipped to 47.1, but he was able to pin his opponents inside the 20 a total of 26 times.
Mann also features as a Punter who can also handle kick off duties. Having a Punter handle kick off duties allows NFL kickers to focus on just place kicking, easing the stress. Mann’s versatility continues as known as an above-average open-field tackler (in terms of kickers).
A Bit of a Reach?
Taking a Punter in the sixth round could be seen as a bit of a reach. The Jets probably could have taken Mann a little later in the draft, but in fairness, the Jets don’t own a seventh-round pick. The team has needed a field-flipping punter for some time now. Lachlan Edwards provided one consistent year in 2017, but regressed in seasons after. Edwards also did not do kickoffs so Mann will be able to provide more here.
Gang Green Remaining Needs
Joe Douglas continues again to fill the needs. It is safe to say that at this point of the draft, Douglas has addressed all the needs that required attention. With his final pick in the draft, he could go anywhere. A kicker would be ideal to improve the special teams completely. The Jets could also use a high upside receiver to add to the depth. In this part of the draft, anyone else who can contribute on special teams is what the team is looking for.
