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Let’s look at some of the guys we haven’t gone over . . .
We went over first-round defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, third-round outside linebacker Jachai Polite and seventh-round cornerback Blessuan Austin. Now get into all the guys in-between Polite and Austin.
With their second third-round pick, the Jets picked USC offensive tackle Chuma Edoga.
First thing that comes to mind there is that he was Sam Darnold right tackle at USC in 2017. In 2016, he played in eight games and had two starts protecting Darnold.
Some people might think this isn’t a big deal, but it is. Darnold is a QB who likes to move around a lot. He’s not just a pocket passer. Edoga comes in the building already possessing a good feel for Darnold’s running tendencies as a mobile QB. That is very helpful.
He’s also really smart and should pick things up fast, so if called into action early, at left or right tackle, and he can play both, he should pick up the system quickly and be ready to roll.
While he’s only 6-3, short for an NFL offensive tackle, he should be able to play offensive tackle on the NFL level. Why? Because he has quick feet and really long arms (34 3/4”). It’s very hard for short-armed shorter offensive tackles to stay at OT in the NFL. His arm length along with his great feet will allow him to stay outside. I could see him as the Jets’ backup swing tackle tackle in 2019. Brent Qvale can’t really be considered as the backup swing tackle because he doesn’t have the feet for the left side. Qvale best fits at right tackle and guard.
In the fourth round the Jets picked West Virginia tight end Trevon Wesco. I saw somebody write this was a need pick because they needed a blocking tight end to compliment Chris Herndon.
I respectfully disagree. Eric Tomlinson is a terrific blocking tight end. Just watch his tape from the last two years. He does a nice job of setting the edge.
This was a value board pick. They added a good football player in Wesco, one of the best blocking tight ends in the 2019 draft.
While he needs some work on pass protection, he enters the building as a dominating run blocker who Le’Veon Bell will like running behind. Also an underrated aspect of this pick is how much Wesco will help the Jets’ return game. He’s not just a very good blocker on offense, but on special teams. By the way, he has really long arms like Edoga (34 3/4”). This is so helpful for blocking positions – helps in the leverage game.
But he will have stiff competition to get on the field (if the Jets are done anointing people with the new coaching change). Obviously Herndon will be the #1 tight end, and Tomlinson is underrated, but also Neal Sterling is back. Sterling was playing very well last year before two concussions ended his season. He’s not only a speedy tight end who can stretch the field, but also has improved immensely has a blocker since entering league from Monmouth as an over-sized wide receiver in 2015. It’s time for Jordan Leggett to stand up and be counted after entering the league as fifth-round pick in 2017. I still wonder if that knee injury he suffered in his rookie camp has taken away from him a little bit. Also in the mix is Daniel Brown, who played for the Chicago Bears the last three years. Like Sterling, he entered the league as an over-sized wide receiver, and is now comfortable in his tight end skin.
I will get into Blake Cashman and some of the undrafted free agents on Wednesday.
April 30, 2019
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