Talking Bryce Lance

Edition #1050: We're starting to turn our focus away from free agency towards the draft, that is until Trader Mougey decides to go back to work.

Good morning ☕

What does Darren Mougey have in store? Through the first 12+ months of his reign he’s made 12 trades. Most of them have been celebrated on these pages here. I can’t believe that he’s done for a minute.

But while he focuses in on where his next move will come from, we’re going to start focusing a little more on the NFL Draft, starting today with Bryce Lance. A receiver who has exceptional athleticism and production, but isn’t being spoken about half as much as he probably should be.

We’ve also got a couple of mock drafts to sink our teeth into and the ever pointless off-season power rankings.

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NEWS & NOTES

• Mel Kiper Jr has a new mock draft out yesterday and he had the Jets selecting Texas Tech OLB David Bailey and Alabama QB Ty Simpson:

  • On Bailey: “The Jets really need an instant impact edge rusher. They were 31st in sacks last season (26) and traded Jermaine Johnson, further thinning out the unit. They have to find foundational players off the edge. And Bailey is explosive and productive, posting 14.5 sacks (tied for first in the FBS), 71 pressures (second) and a 20.2% pressure rate (first) last season.”

  • On Simpson: “This is a good range for Simpson, who has only 15 career starts but throws with accuracy, processes quickly and moves well in the pocket. He threw 28 touchdown passes in 2025 and is a first-round QB in my book. Simply put, New York has to take some swings to figure out the long-term solution under center.”

• The Broncos sent a first round pick to Miami for Jaylen Waddle, which means they have a packed receiver room. Could they be open to moving someone like Troy Franklin who fell a little out of favour last season but had 700+ yards and 6 touchdowns as a rookie. It’s probably worth Darren Mougey making a call to his old employers about the cost.

• Daniel Jeremiah also had a mock draft out today and he had the Jets taking Arvell Reese and Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr which is a name I haven’t really seen mentioned for the Jets, or even in the first round.

  • On Reese: “I go back and forth between Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey here. Reese, with experience playing on the line and off the ball, gives the Jets more scheme flexibility in their 3-4 defense.”

  • On Cooper: “Cooper would be an awesome complement to veteran receiver Garrett Wilson. The former Hoosier is a tough pass catcher who can play inside and outside.”

• In the latest edition of desperate for content…the NFL released some off-season power rankings. They had the Jets all the way down in 31st, which is fine by me: “If you want to say that Aaron Glenn is trying to build a more professional locker room, fine. But this approach also tells another story: Glenn has to win next season. That’s what I took away from the Jets trading for Geno Smith and Minkah Fitzpatrick and signing Demario Davis and David Onyemata, as all of them are well-seasoned veterans. The Jets have retooled the front seven, and that’s a good thing. I am bullish on Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai, too, so maybe the defense won’t turn out half bad. Offensively, they’re counting on a bounce-back season from Smith, more returns from their skill-position guys and a step forward from the offensive line. All in all, though, this is still a team that looks on paper to be well shy of the finish line.”

• What are the main needs remaining for the Jets after the first wave of free-agency, according to PFF it’s QB, WR and Edge. “The Jets have spent their offseason improving the bulk of their roster, particularly on defense. While they added quarterback Geno Smith via trade, he shouldn’t be seen as the long-term answer at the position. There seems to be a good chance that the Jets will kick their quarterback need down the road for one more offseason as they address other needs, though. New York carries a star wide receiver in Garrett Wilson but could stand to add more talent to that position, in turn alleviating the pressure on him to carry the passing game. Despite a flurry of defensive line additions in free agency, the Jets also seem overwhelmingly likely to select an edge rusher with the second overall pick in the draft.”

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BRYCE LANCE

For some reason a lot of the mock drafts have us ignoring the wide receiver market until the 2nd or 3rd round.

I still believe that the Jets will take a WR in the first round, I’m just not sure whether that’s going to be Tate, Tyson, Boston or Lemon. Of the four I think I still prefer Tyson.