Every Option The Jets Have at #4

Running down all the options available to Gang Green with their top selection.

🗽 Good morning Jets fans. Today we’re doing to flip our attention back to the NFL draft. It’s now 61 days until the commissioner will take to the stage to congratulate so many young men who have just had their dreams come true. In those 61 days, we’re going to try and deep dive into each selection to outline the options the Jets have. Ready? Let’s go.

Trade Down ⬇️

This is only an option if the Jets find a team willing to jump up. Most teams move into the top 5 to select a QB, but unfortunately for the Jets, there is no QB worthy of a top-five selection in this draft. Would a team move up a few places if they were convinced Evan Neal was a franchise LT? The Giants have their left tackle in Andrew Thomas but they could take Neal, the Panthers are also in need of offensive line help so he’s an option there too. I’m not sure Neal is the caliber of player that will have teams falling over themselves trying to jump to get him. Trading down is an option for the Jets if someone comes calling, but I doubt anyone comes calling.

Trade-up ⬆️

I’m going to keep this short and sweet, the option is there, but I’d be shocked if the Jets decided to try and jump up for someone in this draft. They are guaranteed to get one of Hutchinson, Thibodeaux, Neal, or Ekwonu. The Jets want to build through the trenches so unless they absolutely love a player they know will go before they pick, and I mean absolutely love them to the extent they are convinced they’re 10-year All-pros, I can’t see this happening. This to me is the least likely option on the board.

Trade for an NFL starter 🤝

This is an interesting option. During his post-season presser, Joe Douglas was asked if he would be open to trading draft assets for proven NFL players, and he said that option was definitely on the table. Now I think the second-round picks are more likely to be traded for someone like Calvin Ridley (2nd in 2022 and future conditional pick that rises based on performance), but could they move the #4 overall pick? That’s an extremely valuable draft asset, so the player would need to be at the top of his game…but are there any players due to be moved or rumored to be moving who are worthy of a top-5 selection?

Recently NFL.com released a “Five big-name NFL players who should be traded this off-season” article. In there they list the following names to watch:

1) Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
2) Saquan Barkley, RB, New York Giants
3) N’Keal Harry, WR, New England Patriots
4) Clelin Ferrell, DE, Oakland Raiders
5) Landon Collins, SS, Washington Commanders (That still feels strange to say)

If those are the names available, it’s a very hard pass. Kyler Murray is the only name even remotely worthy of consideration for a team willing to move a top-5 selection, but obviously, the Jets aren’t in the market for a QB, especially one who’s throwing his toys out the pram this off-season.

I wouldn’t be moving that #4 for a Calvin Ridley or an Amari Cooper, but I certainly would look at moving later selections for Ridley.

One name that may interest some is Danielle Hunter from Minnesota. The defensive end is 27, so in his prime and he’s recorded 60.5 sacks. The issue here is he was unable to play in 2020 due to a herniated disc in his neck and 2021 saw him limited to 7 games as well. With one big-money defensive end coming off a serious injury, you’re not going to give up a top-5 pick for a player who’s played 7 games in 2 years. He did however record 6 sacks in those 7 games this year.

Draft an Offensive Lineman 👏

As far as I’m concerned there are two offensive linemen who merit consideration at #4 overall, Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu. Some may throw Mississippi State’s Charles Cross in here, but for me, that’s a bit rich and if you’re not taking Neal or Ekwonu, chances are a defensive end has fallen into your lap:

Evan Neal - Whether you see him as a left tackle or right tackle, Neal is a special prospect. He has the size, length, and athleticism to step in on day one and dominate. Neal isn’t the most balanced prospect and he can lean forward over his toes disrupting his pass-set and his lateral movement isn’t ideal for our system. I like Neal as a mammoth run blocker on the right side, but it wouldn’t shock me to see him starting at LT for someone in 2022.

Ikem Ekwonu - You’ve all seen the clips, Ikem is a dominating presence that imposes his will on you every snap. He’s nasty and he’s a finisher but he does play under control with only 4 penalties called in 2021. He can be too aggressive and he’s only a year removed from giving up 7 sacks, but his ceiling is high and his floor as a dominating run blocker is high.

Draft a Defensive Lineman 💪

It starts in the trenches. If the Jets don’t select an offensive lineman, chances are they’re addressing the other side of the ball. A lot of people only see two options here with Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux, but I see four. I’d add Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson and Georgia’s Travon Walker to the mix here.

Aidan Hutchinson - It would be a miracle if Aidan was still available at four, if the Jaguars don’t take him at one he’s not getting past Detroit. The local boy, a natural fit and most people’s #1 rated prospect in the draft. Hutchinson just put up a dominating year recording 74 total pressures (3rd behind Alabama’s Will Anderson’s 81 and San Diego State’s Cameron Thomas’s 77). He has a lot to love but there is something about a lack of bend to Hutchinson that concerns me. Either way, he’ll be gone.

Kayvon Thibodeaux - There’s a lot of smoke around Kayvon and nobody can locate the fire. I’ve seen people say he takes plays off, that he’s selfish, that he’s uncoachable…but none of that comes from within the Oregon program. Kayvon has his business interests, but a lot of players do. I watched plenty of Thibodeaux tape in 2021 and I can’t remember thinking he took plays off, I remember thinking “wow he’s getting doubled and still getting pressures”. He’s still the most explosive player in the draft, and he’s still the ideal fit for the wide-9 system the Jets operate. If he’s there you run that pick to the podium.

Jermaine Johnson - Johnson had 46 pressures and 14 sacks at Florida State in 2021, and while some people want to call him a one-year wonder, you can’t aim that shot at Johnson and not put it on Hutchinson’s shoulders as well. The truth is Johnson just didn’t fit at Georgia and it was only when he got in Adam Fuller’s system at FSU that he flourished. That’s perfectly OK, he dominated the trenches with his speed and he packs a punch in terms of power too. His first step and then 2nd/3rd step acceleration make him an exciting prospect for the Jets.

Travon Walker - Walker has been well thought of for a while now, but his play in 2021 really vaulted him into the national media spotlight. His stats of 34 pressures and 5 sacks look pedestrian when compared to others, but his raw skills are as intriguing as anyone in the draft. He has that explosive get-off and a perfect speed-to-power combination that put offensive tackles on skates, the issue with Walker is consistency. His athletic profile on that Georgia defense should have better results, all the tools are there but he hasn’t put it together yet. He’d be an interesting option, but he’s my least favorite of the four edge rushers.

Draft a Secondary Piece 💨

The Jets defense wasn’t much to write home about in 2021 and that ran from the defensive line to the safeties. Joe Douglas focused his assets on the offensive side of the ball in 2021, outside the signing of Carl Lawson who was lost for the entire season. I’m willing to bet that he rebalances things in 2022, but does that mean spending a top-five pick in the secondary? If it’s not on the defensive line I find it hard to imagine, but let’s take a look at the three players who are in the conversation.

Derek Stingley Jr - For me, the LSU corner is the riskiest player in the draft. He burst onto the scene in 2019 with 6 INTs and 15 pass defenses, he showed speed, length, and quickness. He also allowed over 600 yards and 5 touchdowns that season. What’s happened since then? Not a lot. He’s failed to record an interception over the last two years and has only appeared in 10 games. DSJ is the kind of prospect who’s going to make countless All-Pro’s over the next decade, or he’ll get your GM fired. I’m not sure the Jets risk it.

Sauce Gardner - The reason I don’t risk DSJ is Sauce Gardner, my #1 corner in the draft and arguably one of history’s greatest college corners. Gardner has never allowed a touchdown in his college career, he was also targeted 41 times in the red zone last year and didn’t allow a single catch. He also didn’t allow more than 13 yards to any receiver he faced his year. He was the epitome of lockdown and when people say DSJ dominated his rookie year, I point them to Sauce’s record. He'd be an exciting prospect to pair with Bryce Hall if the Jets decide to go secondary.

Kyle Hamilton - If you want to start an argument on Jets Twitter, suggest Gang Green take the Notre Dame safety. There are those that vehemently oppose the idea of taking a safety in the top-5 and there are those that strongly support it. I’m somewhere in the middle, safety is a key position in this defense but it’s not seen as the premier spot in the NFL. Hamilton has a little bit of everything, speed, length, instincts, and play recognition, and he would make the Jets defense better…but do you spend a top-5 selection on a safety? I’m just not sure you do.

Draft Surprise 😮

Listed above are the more obvious choices, but I wouldn’t put it past Joe Douglas to spring a surprise either. Here are some names that could pop up in conversations around that #4 pick but likely will go a little later:

David Ojabo - A speed rusher with a lot of potential from Michigan. Too raw and too much to work on for top 5 consideration.

Trevor Penning - Daniel Jeremiah has him inside the top 10 in his latest mock, for me he’s not even a first-rounder. Can be beaten with speed & power and is a walking yellow flag waiting to happen. (Ready for this to be used against me in the future)

Wide Receiver - I really like different aspects of London/Burks/Wilson/Olave/Williams games. But you only take a wide receiver if they have Ja’Marr Chase level talent and I’m not sold any of these guys are at that level.

Nakobe Dean - One of my favorite prospects in the draft and one of the best “football” players out there. His instincts and production are elite, his size may concern people but It doesn’t worry me, just don’t see linebacker being the pick here.

Devin Lloyd - See above, he’s a tremendous talent and a more rounded prospect than he was a year ago due to the improvement in his coverage, but I don’t see the Jets going linebacker.

George Karlaftis - Talk of the Purdue man has quietened recently, he may be the most powerful edge in the draft but his lack of bend has him sitting outside the top 10 on most draft boards. Would be surprised if the Jets took him at #4.

Kenyon Green - Powerful inside player who can come in and start at RG instantly. But like with Wide Receiver, you only spend a top-5 pick on a guard-only prospect if he’s Quinton Nelson, and Kenyon Green isn’t Nelson.

Trent McDuffie - There’s a lot to like about Trent and very little to dislike outside of his size. McDuffie is a reliable corner who has the instincts to play inside and out…but you’re not taking him over Gardner in particular, and we’re just talking #4 here.

Devonte Wyatt - Here’s a dark horse, Wyatt is a dominating force in the middle of that Georgia line and would very much be in play at #10, but can you spend a top-5 pick on a player with 5 sacks in 4 years? Very unlikely, especially for a system that relies on interior pass-rush from his defensive tackles.

Tyler Linderbaum - Still one of my favorite prospects in the draft, no center has ever been taken in the top-10, let alone the top-5. I don’t think he’s in consideration for this pick. I do think he’ll be an all-pro for many years though.

Power Ranking the Options 📈📊

So how likely are each of these options? Here is how I’d rank them based on everything I’m reading, hearing and what we know of the historical drafting strategy of Douglas and the system the Jets operate.

1) Draft a defensive lineman
2) Draft an offensive lineman
3) Draft a Secondary Piece
4) Draft Surprise
5) Trade Down
6) Trade for an NFL veteran
7) Trade-Up

In terms of the order for each segment. I still think Kayvon Thibodeaux is the best edge in this class for the Jets system and I’m one of the few who would take him over Aidan Hutchinson if given the choice.

Ekwonu is by far the most attractive lineman for the Jets for the system we operate.

Secondary should have Gardner at the top, he has a better resume than DSJ, more production, good length, and enough speed. Physically his tools aren’t as impressive but just feel he’s significantly safer.

Ojabo would be my favorite of the draft surprises to be at the top if not one of the wide receivers, but I really can’t see any of them being the pick at #4, and nor should they be.