NFL Draft Analyst Has Jets Taking These Two Offensive Playmakers in Mock Draft
After finishing the last two seasons with the worst offense in the NFL, there's no question the Jets need to make a slew of changes on the offensive side of the football.
New head coach Robert Saleh will certainly help point this unit in the right direction, injecting a fresh scheme with his talented coaching staff, but that doesn't mean the Jets won't need to add a few offensive weapons in this spring's draft.
In his first mock draft of the offseason, Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network predicts New York will use both of its first-rounders to add playmakers on offense.
Jeremiah predicts the Jets will swiftly address their quarterback situation by drafting BYU's Zach Wilson with the No. 2 pick before selecting Clemson's running back Travis Etienne later in the first round.
The Jaguars and their new head coach Urban Meyer will surely go with the presumptive top pick Trevor Lawrence with the first pick. Therefore, as Jeremiah notes, the draft starts with the Jets.
Although New York has several options here—from sticking with Sam Darnold to taking either Ohio State's Justin Fields and North Dakota State's Trey Lance—it's Wilson's upside that makes him impossible to pass up on.
Wilson had a tremendous campaign this past season as a third-year signal-caller at Brigham Young. He threw for 3,692 yards, completing 73.5 percent of his passes with 33 touchdowns (and only three interceptions). His 196.4 passer rating was second in the nation to Alabama's Mac Jones.
Former NFL Head Coach Says Jets Should Draft BYU's Zach Wilson and Keep Sam Darnold
As for New York's second selection in the first round, the 23rd overall pick acquired in the Jamal Adams trade last summer, Jeremiah has the Jets taking one of the best (and most experienced) running backs of this year's class.
Travis Etienne rushed for just under 5,000 yards over four years at Clemson, adding another 1,155 receiving yards out of the backfield. He led the nation in 2020 with 588 receiving yards, falling just short of his third-consecutive season with 1,000 yards on the ground.
"Don't get caught up in the 'we can't take a running back in the first round' conversation," Jeremiah wrote. "You need to have playmakers on offense to play winning football. Etienne would add an explosive element as both a runner and receiver."
New York took a running back—La'Mical Perine—in the fourth round of last year's draft. Due to some time on the injured list, as well as the durability of Frank Gore, Perine only played in 10 games and had 64 carries over the course of his rookie year.
It's worth noting, Jeremiah has some takes in this mock draft that some may disagree with. He has LSU's wideout Ja'Marr Chase going third overall to the Dolphins and Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith falling down to the Detroit Lions at No. 7. He also has Penei Sewell (who many consider the best available for the Jets at No. 2) dropping down to the 10th overall pick, going to the Dallas Cowboys.
To check out the rest of Jeremiah's first-round mock draft, click here!
MORE:
- NFL Draft Insider Explains Why the Jets Will Take Oregon's Penei Sewell With No. 2 Overall Pick
- Should the Jets Draft DeVonta Smith With the Second Overall Pick?
- Jets' Head Coach Robert Saleh Noncommittal on Sam Darnold's Future in New York
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