Mel Kiper Mocks Devonta Smith & Jaycee Horn to Jets

Are we officially into mock draft season? It’s probably a little too soon, but most draft-heads are starting to release their first picks.

Now it’s important to remember it’s early in the process, these picks will change and it’s largely a very pointless exercise as nobody knows what JD is going to do with trades or free agency.

Saying that, they’re pretty fun to talk about. Here is the link to Mel Kiper’s mock draft, you will need an ESPN insider account to read it.

He has the Jets selecting Heisman Trophy Winner, Maxwell Award winner, Walter Camp Award Winner, Biletnikoff Award Winner, Paul Hornung Award winner and 2 x National Champion DeVonta Smith to the Jets with the #2 overall pick.

A dynamic receiver who absolutely torched defenses this year to the tune of 117 receptions, 1,856 yards and 23 TD’s. He had a pretty good year.

Is he the best wide receiver in the draft? That is going to be debated right up until draft night. Is Chase better? Is he even as good as his teammate Jaylen Waddle? Personally, I don’t think there’s a lot between the three of them, and I’m going to throw Rashod Bateman in there as well.

With the #23 pick in the draft, he has us taking Jaycee Horn. If Horn is available at #23, I’m running that ticket up and not looking back. Patrick Surtain is often considered the top corner in this draft, not for me. Horn has lockdown potential, he has the size, speed, strength and length to play outside in the NFL and personally I think he’ll be the best corner to come out of the 2021 draft. He needs to clean up his tackling, but his ball-skills are going to be elite, he’s a momentum shifter.

I’m not sure on the Smith selection at #2, as you’ll get a very good wide receiver a little further down, so the chance to trade down and pick up extra selections is enticing. I love the Horn selection at #23. If this ended up being our draft, I could live with it.