With the 2020 draft in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look at the picks made in Joe Douglas’s biggest task since becoming the general manager of the New York Jets. The biggest problem entering the draft was that the Jets had a ton of holes that they needed to fill. Below are a grade for each of the eight new players joining the New York Jets.
Round 1 Pick 11 – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Grade: A
In the week leading up to the draft, rumors began spreading that the top four offensive linemen would be gone by the time the Jets were on the clock. Clearly, that proved to be false. Towering over the competition, one of the best players in the draft fell right into New York’s lap. Becton is not perfect, and will need some time to season. However, the New York Jets may have picked up their franchise tackle. It’s hard to be angry at teams for investing in protection for their star quarterback.
Round 2 Pick 59 – Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Grade: A+
This was Joe Douglas’s best pick of the draft. Not only did Sam Darnold get another target on the field, but Douglas also managed to milk one pick into several more. Mims is the obvious Robby Anderson replacement, with his resume boasting both speed, and the ability to run more routes than the former Jets’ receiver. A solid pickup in every category.
Round 3 Pick 68 – Ashtyn Davis, DB, Cal
Grade: A-
Davis is an athletic freak that will slip right into Gregg Williams’ defense. A hard hitting defensive player, as well as a speed demon when in open space. Davis can showcase his talents on both defense and special teams. Don’t be surprised to see Davis returning kicks once the season gets underway.
Round 3 Pick 79 – Jabari Zuniga, EDGE, Florida
Grade: C-
This was the first pick that came with some question marks, as Zuniga was drafted before a few interesting prospects were taken off the board. Zuniga suffered from injury in his days at Florida, but has the potential to be a solid player for the Jets.
Round 4 Pick 120 – La’Mical Perine, RB, Florida
Grade: C+
Another pick with some question marks surrounding it. With running back depth running thin behind Le’Veon Bell, Perine fits into Adam Gase’s system well. That being said, there were some other prospects that could have been taken at this point.
Round 4 Pick 125 – James Morgan, QB, FIU
Grade: D-
Taking a quarterback at this point made many fans tilt their heads. There is a need for a decent backup behind Darnold. However, taking Morgan this early was not ideal. It never hurts to have a good backup, but they had picks later on that would have made sense. Morgan would have definitely been available later on.
Round 4 Pick 129 – Cameron Clark, OT, Charlotte
Grade: B+
More depth on the offensive line got the Jets back on track. Clark was a solid lineman at Charlotte. If needed, he can be slipped inside to play guard as well. With proper work and development, Clark could become a starter on the team in no time.
Round 5 Pick 158 – Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
Grade: A+
An absolutely amazing pick, considering where Hall was drafted. Some boards had him pegged as a day two draft selection, yet the Jets grabbed him in the fifth round. Hall and Davis make for an amazing addition to a secondary that was depleted last year. Douglas addressed a huge need in a big way with this pick.
Round 6 Pick 191 – Braden Mann, P, Texas A&M
Grade: B+
A ton of people weren’t happy taking a punter with this pick. This punter is special, as he’s got quite the resume behind him as a special teams player. Mann was the best punter in college football the last two years. Averaging nearly 51 yards per kick, as well as the Ray Guy award in 2018, help solidify his case. If he can put a little more air under his kicks, Mann will be a solid punter for New York.
Round 6 Pick 211 – TRADE – Quincy Wilson, CB, Colts
Grade: C-
Give praise to Joe Douglas for addressing the weakest areas of the Jets’ roster this offseason. He has spent cap and draft picks piling on depth for the offensive line and defensive backs. A trade including the final pick for the Jets in this year’s draft brought in Quincy Wilson. While he has a chance at being a better player than other corners at this position, a few falling players could have been intriguing pickups here. Players like K.J. Hill out of Ohio State, Thaddeus Moss from LSU, or even adding a solid kicker in Rodrigo Blankenship out of Georgia would could have been positive additions.
