2020 NFL Mock Draft: What if the Bengals pass on Joe Burrow?

Prior to the 2018 season, the New York Jets were in desperate need of finding a new quarterback to build the franchise around after numerous failed attempts, but the good news is the future appears to be bright with Sam Darnold.

One can only imagine how different the 2019 season would have played out for the Jets if Darnold didn’t miss the beginning while dealing with mono, but at least New York won six of their final eight games to end the year on a high note.

Most importantly, the Jets can enter a draft for the second year in a row without having to worry about finding a potential franchise quarterback since Darnold will be entering his third NFL season in 2020.

But in regards to the draft, New York would be wise to consider using their first-rounder on the offensive line to make sure Darnold receives the best protection possible next season.

Watching Andrew Thomas over the years at Georgia made it clear the offensive tackle would one day make the transition to the NFL, and the best part about a selection like this for the Jets is he would most likely be able to start right away as a rookie.

As previously mentioned, Darnold will need all of the best protection possible moving forward if the Jets are going to have any shot at making the leap to serious contender in 2020, and Thomas would easily put the team in better position to make this happen with his set of skills.