New York Jets: Full post-Combine 7-round mock draft
By Cory Kinnan
Round 1, Pick 3: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Currently sitting at the third overall pick and a desperate need for an upgrade along the offensive line, the Jets take a very popular name at this point in Jawaan Taylor from the University of Florida. With Kelvin Beachum aging and no real answer anywhere along the offensive line, this pick is not a sexy one, but a needed selection to protect Sam Darnold, keep him upright, and give him time to make plays.
More from New York Jets
- Aaron Rodgers offers perspective on the Jets offensive line
- By signing Dalvin Cook, New York Jets confirm they’re all-in
- What does Dalvin Cook bring to the New York Jets?
- Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson’s bond will lead to promising future
- New York Jets undrafted rookie receiver stealing someone’s job
Listed as the best tackle in the class at this point in the pre-draft process, Taylor is not a long shot to hear his name called in the top-five of this year’s class. The junior dominated SEC pass rushers in 2018 and his film has people buzzing, not to mention the agility and footwork that he displayed on the field at the NFL Combine.
Again, while it is likely that the Jets could trade out of the third overall pick with a quarterback needy team, gather assets, and target someone like Jonah Williams, Cody Ford or Andre Dillard instead, no trades have taken place to this point.
The Jets should avoid the flashy pick and opt for the functional needs, which most certainly includes finding high-end players to keep Darnold upright. Here, they snag the No. 1 ranked tackle in in the 2019 class in Taylor.