Jets Scouting Combine Notebook: 5 Standouts On Day 1
Despite what many fans may want, the New York Jets are going to be selecting some defensive players in the 2024 Draft.
With that understanding now established, it's important to look at some of the defensive linemen and linebackers who performed well on the first day of the NFL Scouting Combine.
While there are going to be questions the Jets have to answer following a Combine with plenty of needs on the roster, it's time to look at some of the stars on Day 1.
Mekhi Wingo - DT, LSU
Texas' Byron Murphy was probably the most complete defensive lineman in the entire group today. He'll be gone by the time the Jets think about any players on the defensive side of the ball, though.
That's where some under-the-radar players might come in handy.
Mekhi Wingo was a nice surprise in pass-rushing drills. He moved very fluidly and with a great motor. In these kinds of drills always difficult to determine who will be a standout during Sundays, but it's nice to see a player like Wingo stand out.
He could be considered a late second-round/third-round talent so New York might not need to trade up a large amount to get him, but he could be an interesting piece on Draft Day to help the organization at a position of need.
Braden Fiske - DT, Florida State
Fiske was an early winner on Thursday afternoon by having the best 40-yard-dash time (4.78), broad jump, and vertical of all defensive tackles - it wasn't close. The interior defender out of FSU showed the kind of speed that teams will be interested in.
For a team like the Jets, they need tackles on both the offense, but also the defensive side. While this isn't the deepest defensive line class, Fiske was a very clear winner on Thursday.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network explained that Fiske's work could have pushed him into the first-round type of conversations, but is a safe second-round option. While the Jets would potentially have to trade up for a player like him (especially if he shows out to be a second-round option), this selection would make a lot of sense.
I agree with Jeremiah in the idea that Fiske is considered a top player for his position. He has a great burst at the line and a tremendous motor. Fiske was a major winner today.
Kris Jenkins - DT, Michigan
Could the son of a former Jets defensive star be heading to New York on Draft Day?
Jenkins said it would be "cool" to be drafted by the team his father played for and had "fond memories" of his time with the organization.
Jenkins was easily the best player on the circle drill - a good sign of his ability to rush the passer on the interior of the line. New York needs a run-stuffing defensive tackle, but pairing an athletic prospect with Williams to rush the passer like Jenkins is very enticing.
The only issue for Jenkins and Gang Green is that the latter will need to trade up to select him. The leader on Michigan's national championship defense certainly solidified himself as - at a minimum - a second-round talent.
Mohamed Kamara - DE, Colorado St.
He wasn't the best defensive lineman to compete in today's group but was certainly strong enough to be considered by the Jets in the later portion of the draft.
Kamara has tremendous production at the Mountain West and was the conference's player of the year after a 13-sack season, but can be considered a project at the position. He's a New Jersey native who has an excellent motor and plays with the kind of physicality that makes you think he could slide right into the current wave of pass rushers on Gang Green's roster.
His 4.57 40-yard dash time was solid and tested pretty well to be a solid Day 3 selection for New York.
Jalyx Hunt - DE, Houston Christian University
Want a raw prospect for a team like the Jets to develop?
Look no further than Jalyx Hunt. His athleticism is off the chart as a former safety but he is incredibly young and raw for the position. The Houston Christian University product performed well, even though most people will gloss over a player performing from the Southland Conference.
That's ok, though! New York has done a great job in developing edge rushers on their own time and could look at Hunt to be the next athletic specimen they develop on the fly.
Hunt will be a late-round player, and could even potentially be an undrafted free-agent target, but the team that takes him could love the kind of project he would be. There's a lot of potential upside here. During drills in Indy, you could see the kind of speed and athleticism that a team like the Jets could be interested in.
BONUS: Payton Wilson - LB, NC State
New York won't need a linebacker in the draft this year with Zaire Barnes and Jamien Sherwood as the young backups to the All-Pros currently starting.
That being said, if there's a linebacker that showed promise that came as a bit of a nice surprise, it was linebacker Payton Wilson out of N.C. State. At 6-4 Wilson has excellent size and had the fastest 40 time out of any linebacker in the group Thursday at 4.44. He's a high-riser of this class and could be the perfect kind of project the Jets may be interested in.
The only issue with Wilson is that his high-frame can cause him to be too uptight. I didn't see that much in drills today, though. Wilson looked really good throughout workouts.
