6 Players the Jets Should Focus on at the NFL Scouting Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine starts on February 28, and there promises to be a lot of talent at the event.
Who should the Jets be paying attention to?
Every offensive linemen in attendance.
Since General Manager Joe Douglas was hired, the Jets have given up the fourth most sacks in the NFL (190). During the past three drafts, Douglas has been picking the players, and he has only selected four offensive linemen.
Needless to say, efforts to piecemeal the offensive line together outside of the draft have proven to be less than successful.
Currently, New York has eight offensive linemen under contract for next season, and the team is particularly thin at offensive tackle and the center positions.
Actually, it's worse than thin at center.
The team doesn't have a center under contract on the roster.
These two offensive line positions will need to be the Jets' primary focus at the Scouting Combine.
Who are some of the best prospects in attendance?
Offensive tackle Cody Mauch (North Dakota State University)
A modern day Joe Jacoby who's much more athletic than the former 3-time All-Pro, and four-time Pro Bowler. Mauch is just plain fun to watch on game film, and his lateral foot speed and footwork is phenomenal. He's also one mean run blocker, who can pull and get to the second-level where the linebackers reside like he has a second-home out there. Easily, he's the top left tackle in the draft on game film. Plus, he's shown he can play every position along the line. Having the kind of ability Mauch has shown, plus this kind of versatility, would make hearing Mauch's name at pick No. 13 a dream come true.
Offensive tackle Anton Harrison (Oklahoma)
Harrison is one of the top graded offensive tackles in this draft class. In fact, he reminds me on game film of 49ers' left tackle, Trent Williams. Harrison makes it look easy in pass protection, and he run blocks like he means it. Game film gives the slight edge to Mauch on the draft board, but Harrison would be one heck of a consolation prize for the Jets.
Center John Michael Schmitz (University of Minnesota)
An aggressive technician who would be a solid fourth-round pick. John Michael Schmitz is chippy and gives a top-shelf effort while pass and run blocking. The only big knock is a lack of raw brute power, which shows up across the boards. This Golden Gophers' center has a good head on his shoulders and has what it takes to take over at center for the Jets.
The second biggest need on this roster is quarterback (QB). This position is in a real state of flux right now (to say the least). My bet is the Jets will end up with a mid-tier free agent QB and they'll need to draft another. Who should be on Douglas' radar?
Quarterback Malik Cunningham (Louisville)
A lot of scouts are going to miss on Cunningham because he played in a methodical ball control offense and his stats fell off this past season. I see him as a first-round value. Not only did he leave Louisville with a higher QB rating than Lamar Jackson at the school, but also with a higher completion percentage and yards-per-completion too. Cunningham fits the direction the league is headed, and his skill set easily translates.
Quarterback Jaren Hall (BYU)
Jets' fans will cringe hearing about another QB prospect from BYU after the Zach Wilson debacle, but please keep reading. Hall is who most everyone thought Wilson was. I couldn't get enough of watching Hall on game film, and I feel he will prove to be a great pick in the second-round. He doesn't throw a bunch of crazy ill-advised passes (like Wilson) and he is extremely instinctual. He has some of that dual threat to his game as well, and he would make a great backup, who could start if he had to.
Quarterback Jake Haener (Fresno State)
I have a strong feeling about Haener, and this is coming from a guy who compared Iowa State's QB Brock Purdy to 2002 NFL MVP Rich Gannon pre-draft last year. Based on my 2021 game film study, he'd make a great third-round pick. Haener is a competitive gunslinger, who is going to be around in the NFL for a good while.
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