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Maybe he is, but it would shock many if he is . . .
Entering the off-season, it was pretty clear the Jets needed some reinforcements at cornerback.
Yes, they have some promising young guys, but none has displayed the earmarks of a #1 cornerback. They all seem to be #2 or #3 type corners, which is okay. Those are important positions also in a pass-happy league.
The Jets did add a corner in free agency, and paid him decently.
Former Seattle Seahawks cornerback D.J. Reed, who got a three-year deal for $33 million with $10.5 million guaranteed.
That is nice money, especially for a former fifth-round pick, but not really #1 cornerback money.
One newspaper feature on him described him as #1 cornerback.
Look, he could shock many in the football world and emerge as a #1 cornerback, but most view him as a #2. He’s 5-9 and runs 4.51, so he really doesn’t have #1 CB size or speed.
Some viewed him as a slot guy coming out of Kansas State, but he’s proved he can play on the outside.
Look, the could be a terrific signing for the Jets, and he definitely will help them, but he’s probably not a #1 corner.
So the Jets still need to add one high in the draft, like a Sauce Gardner, Derek Stingley or Trent McDuffie.
Cincinnati’s Gardner seems to have emerged as the draft’s top-rated corner.
“Gardner is a tall, long cornerback with elite movement skills and toughness,” wrote the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. “He has abnormal fluidity for such a huge cornerback (6-3, 200). He’s rarely out of position, but if it happens, he has an incredible burst to recover. He has natural ball skills; he can find it and play it. His overall awareness is excellent. He is very willing as a run defender and blitzer.”
Jeremiah has Gardner rated as the fifth-best prospect overall in the draft. He has LSU’s Stingley ranked 12th.
“Stingley has ideal size (6-1, 195), speed and fluidity for the position,” wrote Jeremiah. “He had a monster freshman season, but his play was inconsistent in 2020 and 2021. Stingley is always in position downfield, but he’s given up some plays on 50/50 balls. His instincts are excellent, but I do have concerns with his effort and execution as a tackler. Overall, Stingley has all of the tools to be an elite cover man, but he needs to play with more urgency and aggression.”
Jeremiah ranks Washington’s McDuffie as the 13th best prospect in the draft.
“McDuffie is a slightly undersized cornerback with tremendous quickness, awareness and toughness,” wrote Jeremiah. “He can anticipate and drive on the ball very quickly. McDuffie is rarely out of position and that’s probably why he doesn’t get much action to his side of the field. He is an aggressive run defender and a sure tackler in space. He’s also an explosive blitzer and he’s been productive on punt and kickoff teams. Overall, McDuffie is one of the safest players in the draft.”
It would probably be in the Jets’ best interest to land one of these three players with one of their two first-round picks.
Because while they have plenty of candidates for the #2 and #3 cornerback spots, they need a #1.
April 5, 2022
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