Mel Kiper’s mock draft has Jets taking a safety and a wide receiver with Top 10 picks

Gang Green needs all the help they can get this offseason.

And the Jets will fill two major areas of need with their two Top 10 picks in April’s NFL Draft, according to veteran ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper.

The Jets have a wealth of assets to play with as GM Joe Douglas looks to keep adding talent to his rebuilding team, but the two most valuable pieces are the No. 4 and No. 10 overall picks.

Kiper didn’t win over many Jets fans with the player he had pegged for Gang Green at No. 4 — Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton — but the Jets do have a major need at safety.

The pushback from the fans likely stems from the fact that the Jets used a Top 10 pick in 2017 on Jamal Adams (No. 6 overall) only to trade him away to the Seattle Seahawks in his prime after back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons.

So why go that route again? Why select another safety after you weren’t willing to pay the last one. Toss in the fact that safeties just aren’t viewed as valuable as defensive ends or cornerbacks.

But it is a real position of need. Their best safety Marcus Maye is an unrestricted free agent after playing last year on the franchise tag before tearing his Achilles midway through the season. Lamarcus Joyner tore his triceps Week 1 against the Panthers and was out of the season after joining the team on a one-year deal.

As a result, the safety spot was a revolving door with Sharrod Neasman, Ashtyn Davis, Elijah Riley, Will Parks, Adrian Colbert and Sheldrick Redwine all taking snaps.

So the position needs an infusion of talent, and the Jets are looking for their version of San Francisco 49ers standout Jimmie Ward in Robert Saleh’s scheme.

A guy with cover skills to guard slot receivers and tight ends, but who can also be physical in the run game as the safety spot in Saleh’s defense must be able to get downhill to help stop the run.

Hamilton is viewed by experts as a player that can play around the line of scrimmage but also possesses the range to cover down the field. He had eight career interceptions at Notre Dame. The 6-4, 220-pound versatile safety suffered a knee injury during the 2021 season, but he should be ready to work out at the NFL combine, according to reports.

So, if the Jets went with Hamilton, it would be justifiable. But with free agency approaching, don’t be surprised if the Jets go the money route to fill the need. There are solid options hitting the market in Marcus Williams of the Saints, Jessie Bates of the Bengals, the Vikings’ Xavier Woods and Quandre Diggs of the Seahawks.

With the No. 10 overall pick, Kiper sent USC wide receiver Drake London to the Jets. This is where things get interesting.

While there have been reports that the Jets may prefer to trade this pick — whether for an established player or more draft capital — if they stay put Drake is a receiver that would complement what they have with Corey Davis and Elijah Moore.

The Jets believe Moore will become a stud. The 2020 second-rounder flashed promising potential and finished with 43 catches for 538 yards with six total touchdowns in 11 games. But the Jets want another big body receiver, who can consistently make contested catches. The Jets receiver group had only 24 contested catches (Davis led with six), according to Pro Football Focus.

In comparison, Washington Football Team receiver Terry McLaurin had 25 contested catches.

The Jets want a receiver who can consistently win in those situations to help Zach Wilson’s development.

London’s skillset matches up with the Jets’ desire. He’s 6-5 and 210 pounds and is lauded for his ball skills as he has the ability to consistently catch the ball in traffic. And he can secure the ball in contested catch situations.  He’s also physical in the run blocking game.

In 2021, London had 88 catches for 1,084 yards with seven touchdowns. He had five games where he caught 10 or more passes. But he also didn’t escape last season unscathed as he fractured his ankle against Arizona on Oct. 31.

Hamilton and London both fit the bill for what the Jets are looking for, but a lot can happen between now and draft day.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3fGbIx1