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No grades which are foolish, but a deep dive on how each guy might help . . .
The Jets ended up making one of their most important picks in the fifth round.
I’m talking the selection of Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall.
Yes, even though it was in the fifth-round, it was one of the Jets’ most important 2020 draft picks.
Outside cornerback was one of the weakest positions for the Jets last season.
I’m not talking about the slot corner, who plays inside. That job was handled by Brian Poole, who did a solid job, and was re-signed.
Talking about the two outside cornerback positions. The play at those positions was substandard, so much so, that the two players who started at those positions to start the 2019 season, are no longer with the team, both released this off-season, both cap casualties.
But it was more than money that led to the decisions to release Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts. Both struggled last year. Johnson only played seven games last year before having his season shutdown due to a pair of ankle injuries. Not sure either was a season-ending injury, but Joe Douglas put him on injured reserve on November 6. How often do sprained ankles end a season in early November? While he was officially released on March 18, the Jets were clearly done with him on November 6.
The signing of Johnson was not only one the most wasteful ($45 million guaranteed) in Jets history, but NFL history. His biggest problem is lack of recovery speed.
Roberts gives you everything he’s got, but is a see-and-go reactor, lacking ideal anticipation, and gave up too many receptions.
Outside cornerback was a huge need for the Jets entering this off-season. And the only player of note they added was the oft-injured Pierre Desir, who is now on his fifth team. He’s not a bad player, but he’s likely not the panacea for the Jets’ cornerback issues. He could emerge as a decent #2 or #3 corner if he can stay healthy.
So it was surprising the Jets waited until the fifth-round to address cornerback. They had a chance to pick Utah’s Jaylon Johnson with the 48th pick, but instead traded back to 59, got an extra pick, and selected WR Denzil Mims, which has been universally applauded, and perhaps rightfully so.
So it would be ideal for the Jets if Hall turns into a starting player, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility. He slipped to the fifth round due to ankle injury as a senior, but if not that for the injury, he could have been in the second-round conversation.
What you have to like about Hall is his great cornerback size and length, and the fact that he got his hands on a lot of footballs in coverage while at UVA, displaying very good instincts.
On top of his size, ball skills and instincts, he has a great work ethic, and is a film junky, always looking at a ton of game tape. He also has top-shelf character and is the kind of guy you want in your locker room.
So this pick is more important than you typical fifth-round pick.
The Jets need this fifth-round pick to emerge as a contender for a starting job, sooner, rather than later.
May 4, 2020
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