Content available exclusively for subscribers
As we all know, the Jets have two picks
high in both the first and second-rounds.
And aside from using them to acquire players who can help them immediately, this might also afford them the opportunity to do something unique with an eye toward the future.
Clearly, with several needs, they need to land some immediate starters. However, when you have four picks that high, and you signed a bunch of free-agent starters, you don’t necessarily need to get four immediate starters in the draft.
You can use one or two of these picks with an eye toward the future.
So this brings us to Michigan defensive end David Ojabo and Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams. Both are considered first-round talents, but likely won’t be available to play next season, or some of next season, due to injuries.
Ojabo tore his Achilles tendon at Michigan’s pro day late last week. He is considered one of the top edge-rushing prospects in this year’s draft. He is 6-4, 250 and ran a 4.6 forty, which are great triangle numbers. A torn Achilles tendon often keeps you out 8-12 months, so that could be mid-late 2022 season. Or a team could decide to just let him sit out this entire year to not take any chances.
So perhaps the Jets could consider using one of their second-round picks on Ojabo, redshirting him next season, and having a first-round pass-rusher in the fold for 2023.
Now this wouldn’t preclude them from picking an edge-rusher in the first round, but when you have four picks in the first 38, you can comfortably make a move like his that will benefit you down the road, and still pick three other guys who can help immediately.
Or they could use one of their second-round picks on Williams, who blew out his knee in Alabama’s National Championship loss to Georgia on January 11, 2022. While a torn ACL generally is a shorter rehab than a torn Achilles, Williams still could be out 6-8 months, so he might or might not be available for the beginning of the NFL season. He will likely start the season on the PUP list.
Now it’s possible some team(s) might take a flyer on Ojabo and/or Williams late in the first round, a team without a lot of immediate needs.
But if one, or both, slip to the second round, the Jets would be wise to use one of their second-round picks on one of these two guys, at two positions of need.
Look, if this was 20-30 years ago, it might not be as wise to do this, because it might be too risky medically. But sports medicine has come so far, and is so amazing now, most guys come back from these kinds of injuries with no problem these days. Of course there is a slight chance they don’t, but things are so advanced these days, that is a rarity.
So it would be wise for the Jets to consider one of these guys if they slip to them in the second round.
And hey, they can still land three potential starters with the other three picks in the top 38.
This is the beauty of having so many premium draft picks.
March 21, 2022
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Tuesday.