Kelvin Benjamin, Austin Seferian-Jenkins visiting New York Jets
Kelvin Benjamin speaks to the media in a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets could add a high-impact cornerback in the first-round of the draft for a second straight year, but it’s more likely that they will try to add another offensive weapon to help Geno Smith in his second season. Eric Decker was a huge offseason signing and Jeff Cumberland was a solid re-signing at tight end, but the Jets clearly need more help. They clearly can’t count on Stephen Hill for anything, and Jeremy Kerley is probably better off as a top-notch third option in the passing game instead of a subpar No. 2 guy.
I’d say that the dream pick for the Jets at 18 would be Odell Beckham Jr., though Marqise Lee would also be a strong option for them. The Jets have been working out all of the top wide receiver prospects in this year’s draft class, and the latest top WR they are bringing in for a visit is Florida State Seminoles big wideout Kelvin Benjamin, who is known as a boom-or-bust prospect. According to the New York Daily News’s Manish Mehta, both Benjamin and Washington Huskies star tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, whose pre-draft injury is of no concern, are visiting the Jets today.
The Jets seem to be enamored with Benjamin, but most Jets writers believe that he is somebody the team should avoid in the first round. I would agree with that, and hopefully the Jets don’t fall in love too much with his size and athleticism. He isn’t a bad player and could be amazing in the NFL (some people like to stretch his upside into the Calvin Johnson territory), but he is very unpolished and has major drop issues. In my opinion, he’s far too risky to take with a top 20 pick.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins would fill a need for the Jets, since they are looking for impact tight ends of wide receivers. There are better options with the 18th pick, though I wouldn’t rule out ASJ in the first if the Jets are sold on him. That said, it would be huge for the Jets to be able to get him in the second round, and they might even pass up on a cornerback in the second (assuming they draft a WR in the first) if he’s still there. He is the most well-rounded TE in this class due to his pass-catching and blocking ability, and I think there are plenty of people who underrate him as a prospect.