Jets Draft Profile: College Football Playoff Defensive MVP Fits in New York?
With the start of the new NFL year fast approaching, the New York Jets may find themselves in need of a versatile presence in their defensive backfield — primarily at safety.
Despite boasting one of the league’s top cornerback groups — headlined by two-time first-team All Pro Sauce Garner and D.J. Reed — the Jets safeties group struggled in pass defense last season.
Should the team choose to upgrade their performance via April’s draft, the Jets may wish to keep an eye on Senior Bowl standout Javon Bullard.
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Bullard earned 56 tackles, two interceptions and five passes defensed last year for the Georgia Bulldogs — despite battling through an ankle injury suffered in Sept. The 5-11, 180-pound hybrid defensive back is a tough, physical player, with great instincts and field awareness. While he may need to add some bulk to an admittedly thin frame to be effective in the NFL, Bullard’s standout practice performances during the Senior Bowl earned him the honor of being selected “top deep safety,” as voted by his peers.
During his time in Athens, Bullard won two College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championships, while earning the CFP Defensive MVP award in Georgia’s 33-18 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2022. He also received second-team All-SEC honors in 2023.
With safeties Jordan Whitehead, Ashtyn Davis and Chuck Clark headed for free agency, New York will almost certainly address the position, either through the Draft or free agency. Though the Jets are widely expected to seek offensive line help with the No. 10 overall selection, they may look to trade up to fill a position of need with a promising, young option either on late Day 1 or Day 2.
Third-year free safety Tony Adams and rookie defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse are the only members of New York’s positional group signed for next season.
