New York Jets make strides in pre-free agency 7-round mock draft

Particularly with Trumaine Johnson getting cut, the Jets are in need of upgrades in the secondary. While some may not consider cornerback a primary need, it’s something that must be addressed early on. And Troy Pride Jr. is a player who continues to rise up draft boards after strong showings at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine.

It was clear throughout his time at Notre Dame that Pride is an instinctive cornerback with a great feel for the game with the mental aptitude to play in man or zone coverage. He showed his strength in the former in drills at the Senior Bowl. While he might not have ideal size, his ability to make the jump to the NFL shouldn’t be in question and he should make the Jets defense miles more effective.

Something that I’ve beaten into the ground over the past few years is the Jets’ lack of prowess at the edge rusher spots. It’s been over a decade since they’ve found a consistent contributor in that regard, particularly with getting after the quarterback. That’s why they’d have to jump at Darrell Taylor if he were there for them in the middle of the third round.

Taylor has the body to be an ideal 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL and his traits from that position are phenomenal. He plays with great strength and explosiveness and is just a physical force. The issue is that he needs coaching in terms of his pass-rush plan and counter moves but the tools are there for him to be a high-end player.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it many times: The Jets need help on the offensive line. And that doesn’t just mean they need a new tackle in Andrew Thomas. The interior of the offensive line also needs quite a bit of work and Solomon Kindley could come out of Georgia and help New York in that capacity.

Kindley is a massive human being at 6-4, 336 pounds and he plays like it. He has a mean streak with a ton of power in his game. While Gase would likely look for him to get leaner to add more mobility to his game, his ability to immediately set the tone and move people in the run game would be an asset for the Jets.