The New York Jets need to upgrade their defensive line in the 2018 NFL Draft. A player that they should strongly consider is Bradley Chubb of NC State.
It’s never too early to gaze into the crystal ball and contemplate who the New York Jets may select in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. It’s a lot of fun, isn’t it? As presently constituted, Gang Green is 5-10 on the year and should pick in the 6-10 range in round one based on their final record. That will probably be 5-11 after their season finale in New England this Sunday.
The Jets are in need of a young franchise quarterback but Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen may be off the board by the time they’re on the clock. Other potential signal-callers like Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield may be available but Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan could go a different route. What was once a strength (their defensive line) now needs an upgrade. That’s why New York should consider drafting defensive end Bradley Chubb of North Carolina State in the first round.
The 6-4, 275-pounder has recorded 10 sacks so far for the Wolfpack in his senior campaign with the Hyundai Sun Bowl still to come. He would boost a lackluster Jets pass rush that is in desperate need of improvement. Gang Green ranks 26th in the league in sacks (26) and Muhammad Wilkerson will be playing elsewhere next year. You can count on that.
That’s why Maccagnan has to give strong consideration to drafting Chubb. Let’s take a look at some of his highlight plays, via YouTube:
As the video clearly demonstrates, the Marietta, GA native has excellent burst off the line of scrimmage. Putting pressure on the quarterback is the name of the game in today’s NFL and although he is a tad light at 275 pounds, he is still stout at the point of attack. Chubb possesses a quick first step and can be effective using a swim move or a bull rush to penetrate into the backfield.
A first-team All-ACC selection, Chubb has outstanding lateral speed to finish plays. He sheds blocks well with a combination of power and flexibility. Chubb is a superb athlete but he can improve his ranking by developing a spin move to take his game to the next level. He has been effective against the run where he has displayed the strength and balance to shed blockers to make the tackle in traffic.
The Wolfpack have played a strong schedule this year and Chubb has stepped up his performance against quality opponents like Clemson (eight tackles); Notre Dame (eight tackles and a sack) and Boston College (eight tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble). His skill set is best suited for a 4-3 defense but he is athletic enough where he can thrive in a 3-4 formation as well.
Next: NFL 2017: 20 Bold predictions for Week 17
The bottom line is that Chubb can get to the quarterback. That’s how you win. If Sheldon Richardson returns to Gang Green next year, a combination of Leonard Williams, Richardson and Chubb would be quite formidable on the defensive line. Chubb would be a very tempting option if he is available when the Jets are initially on the clock in the upcoming NFL Draft.