New York Jets 2019 Rookie Profile: Jachai Polite, EDGE

Did the New York Jets make the right choice by selecting Jachai Polite with the 68th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft? Here, we look at his rookie profile.

Did New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan take too big a risk when he selected Jachai Polite with the 68th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft? Gang Green needs an edge rusher in the worst way but Polite came into the draft with a number of concerns. Among them were that he was overweight at the NFL Combine, ran a terrible 40-yard dash (4.84 seconds) and interviewed very poorly as well.

Those are indeed issues to be concerned about but all that counts is how the University of Florida product performs on the gridiron come September. Maccagnan tabbed the 6-3, 258-pounder to get to the quarterback and he did just that for the Gators in 2018.

Polite registered 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and led the nation with six forced fumbles in 2018. He has plenty of time to get in shape before training camp commences in late July. The Jets need him to become a solid contributor and Polite has the innate ability to do just that.

Let’s take a look at some of his highlights:

The highlights clearly show why the Polite was named to the First-Team All-SEC squad last year. When he is in game shape, he has a tremendous burst of speed at the snap and is able to attack with a fluid combination of quick feet, loose hips and power.

The Daytona Beach, FL native is adept at wreaking havoc in the backfield and stripping the football from the quarterback. You can tell from a mile away that he is an outstanding athlete with top-notch closing speed on film. Polite has superb lateral quickness and owns an impressive spin move as well. He’s also shown a fine ability to shed blocks and track down the quarterback or ball carrier. He’s very instinctive and has a real nose for the football.

On the negative side, Polite does come with some character issues. He needs to mature and keep himself in tip-top condition. He needs work against the rush at the point of attack. However, if he comes into camp focused and in shape, the Jets might have found a true mid-round gem. Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams will help ramp up his intensity level.

Bottom Line: Polite’s ceiling is high, so the risk was worth it for Maccagnan in the third round. Some pundits have declared him boom-or-bust. Gang Green has been yearning for a dynamic edge rusher since the days of John Abraham (2000-05). Polite will have to be monitored carefully regarding his weight and intensity level but he has the potential to be a premier, disruptive force off the edge. If he remains healthy, I predict that he will make the 2019 All-Rookie contingent from the AFC.