Drafting a Guard in Each Round
If the Jets were to target a guard in each round, who should they target?
Good morning Jets fans. Welcome to Monday’s edition of TJW where we’re talking all things offensive guard. Fresh on the heels of the senior bowl wrapping up with a Jets-coached team victory, we’re going to be focusing on the draft this week, with a few positional breakdowns.
Today, I thought it would be a good idea to focus on one guard in each round who may be available for the Jets. This isn’t me suggesting we take 7 guards, this is me suggesting a player for each round, showing that the Jets do have options throughout the draft.
Nobody really knows where players will go, there are guys being spoken about in the 5th or 6th that will likely go in the 3rd and there are some 3rd round guys who may not go until the 6th. So to try and make it as accurate as possible I’ve taken composite rankings.
We sometimes get really focused on certain names, we fail to look beyond, I’m as guilty of that as anyone. The purpose of these articles is to try and focus attention on some names later in the draft, after all, who had really focused on Michael Carter II before his name was called last year? I know I hadn’t.
First Round - Ikem Ekonwu, NC State
2021 Stats: 3 sacks, 10 hurries allowed
Ikem has spent the majority of his college career at left tackle, over 2000 snaps have come at that position with just over 200 coming at guard. He’s a 6’4 320lb power player who is well suited to playing inside or out at the next level.
Ekwonu has gained a reputation as a finisher, his aggressive blocking style will make the highlight clips, and while he’s a better run blocker than pass-protector, he’s no slouch in keeping his QB upright.
Ekwonu isn’t a perfect prospect, he can be over-aggressive at times leading to examples of him being unable to reset his hands, but he has so much raw talent you can easily work through the issues. Length, strength, and physicality are the names of the game with Ikem and he also has a high school wrestling background, which is always a plus for me when it comes to an offensive lineman.
Other options: Kenyon Green (Texas A&M)
Second Round - Zion Johnson, Boston College
2021 Stats: 1 sack, 2 hits, and 3 hurries allowed
I personally think that Zion Johnson has done enough to hear his name called in the first round come the draft, and his outstanding week in Mobile has done nothing to convince me otherwise.
Johnson spent the majority of the 2021 season at LG after spending 2020 at LT. Johnson looked significantly better inside and looked comfortable playing center at the Senior Bowl.
Johnson may not be as physical as Ikem but he has plenty of physicality to his game and his consistent technique make him an interesting option for any team. He is a better pass-protector than run blocker, but he’s still an above-average run-blocker.
Johnson also hasn’t played on the right-hand side of the line, but with how quickly he picked up the center position this week, I have no doubt he can pick up the right guard position.
Other options: Sean Rhyan (UCLA), Darian Kinnard (Kentucky)
Third Round - Dylan Parham, Memphis
2021 Stats: 0 sacks, 2 hits, 8 hurries allowed
Parham is a really interesting prospect because he’s only around 290lb’s which usually limits you to the center position at best. But Parham is an outstanding athlete who packs enough power into his frame to play inside at guard.
(Edit - he did weigh in at 313lbs at the Senior Bowl)
Dylan was a 4-year starter with the Tigers spending two years at left tackle before moving to right tackle in 2020 and then right guard in 2021.
His athleticism is his main selling point, and that kind of quickness will work in a heavy zone system that requires the guards to get out and block in space. He has the footwork and technique to mirror in pass protection.
Parham is here mainly for what he could become, if he could add 15lbs to the frame without losing the athleticism then in years 2-3 he could be a very valuable starter in the NFL. He has a consistent technique that many will like.
Other Options: Tyler Smith (Tulsa), Spencer Burford (UTSA)
Fourth Round - Cole Strange, Chattanooga
2021 Stats: 1 Sack, 4 Hurries
If you’ve followed me for more than 24 hours, you’ll know that Cole Strange is one of my favorite prospects in the entire draft.
Along with Zion Johnson, Strange took reps at center during the Senior Bowl, a position he hasn’t played in college. Strange spent the majority of his time at left guard, while also filling in when needed at left tackle and right tackle.
There were some concerns around Strange and his frame, but he weighed in at over 300lb’s in Mobile and he showcased a strong technique in pass protection against FBS competition.
He has the athleticism that the Jets will value, and his blocking in space is excellent. He may not be the people mover that some will want from the guard position, but he has an incredible amount of potential.
I think Cole could start in year one, but I think we’ll see the best of him from year two onwards after he’s had a year in a NFL weight room on an NFL nutrition plan.
Other Options: Ed Ingram (LSU), Justin Shaffer (Georgia), Tyrese Robinson (Oklahoma).
Fifth Round - Lecitus Smith, Virginia Tech
2021 Stats: 2 Sacks, 10 Hurries
I’m a big fan of Smith who spent the majority of his college career at left guard with a spot start at left tackle against Richmond in 2021.
There is a lot to like with Smith, who has good athleticism for a guy who will likely weigh in north of 320lbs at the combine. He has aggressiveness to go with that athleticism and he’s absolutely a guy that can play through the whistle.
Saying that he’s being projected in the 5th round for a reason. He doesn’t play with consistent technique and his hand placement can be troubling with defenders disengaging and him finding it hard to reset. He doesn’t possess the elite length either.
Smith is a developmental guard who could be starting in years 2-3, and I think the Jets would love his aggressive style of play.
Other Options: Donhovan West (Arizona State), Cade Mays (Tennessee)
Sixth Round - Joshua Ezeudu, North Carolina
2021: 2 Sacks, 2 Hits, 12 Pressures
Here’s a guard prospect that I actually really like, a guard who I believe is being underrated due to a down 2021 season.
The reason for the down year in my opinion is due to him having to kick out to play left tackle. In 10 games last year he was asked to take snaps at both positions in the same game and that’s never going to lead to stability and success.
Before 2021 Ezeudu had allowed 0 sacks on 653 pass-blocking snaps, most of them coming a guard. He’s a 6’4, 325lb guard who has good grip strength and plenty of churn in the legs.
He’s going to be a developmental guard, but I personally think he has 5th round type talent. Had he stayed at one position through college, his stock would be higher, but he didn’t so you may be able to get a bargain.
Other Options: James Empey (BYU), Ja'Tyre Carter (Southern), Luke Fortner (Kentucky).
Seventh Round - Chris Paul, Tulsa
2021 Stats: 2 Sacks, 1 Hit, 12 Hurries
Chris Paul was moved all over the offensive line during his career at Tulsa, making appearances at every spot outside of the center position, and he ended his career with back-to-back years at right tackle.
Personally, I don’t think Paul sticks on the outside and believe his path to an NFL career is inside at guard.
The main positive with Paul is that he uses his hands well, his punch is effective and accurate and he has the ability to re-set his hands to fight off counter moves. The downside to Paul is that he can overset and lose his balance and his lateral agility needs some work. He may not be the perfect guard for the Jets considering the system but I think he’s one of the better prospects at this stage in the draft.
Paul is academically gifted and is currently working on his MBA and he’s also a musician that released an EP in 2020 under the stage name of The Seventh.
Other Options: Mike Miranda (Penn State), Aaron Frost (Nevada), Xavier Newman (Baylor), Nick Brahms (Auburn), Brock Hoffman (Virginia Tech)
