Mel Kiper Mocks QB & LB to Jets

Mock drafts are coming thick and fast with the main event under a month away.

Mel Kiper is back with his latest mock and he has the Jets going in a familiar direction at #2 overall.

No. 2: QB Zach Wilson (BYU)”I’m down to 50-50 here on the Jets keeping quarterback Sam Darnold. Free agency didn’t tip off general manager Joe Douglas’ plan; he went out and got much-needed receiving help with Corey Davis and Keelan Cole Sr., but this team needed weapons regardless of who is playing quarterback. We still have a ways to go until Round 1 begins, but this is the scenario in which Douglas gets a second-round pick for Darnold — maybe from the 49ers, Broncos or Panthers, if my upcoming mock trade doesn’t happen — and the Jets move forward with a new face of their future. Wilson has a superstar ceiling.”

He must have produced this before the 49’ers trade, as there is no way San Francisco moves multiple first-round picks to not take a QB. So you can eliminate them from the San Darnold trade scenario.

I’ve been quite consistent in saying I’m happy with either Wilson or Fields, but all indications are the Jets are heavily in on Wilson. Joe Douglas, assistant GM Rex Hogan and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur will head to Ohio State’s pro-day today, but I’m not expecting that to change much.

Wilson is flashy, he works in this system with his ability to throw on the move and he will bring some energy into the complex at the most important position in football, I’m good with taking him and agree with Kiper in that he has a superstar ceiling.

With the next pick he has the Jets going the linebacker route, with the caveat that if someone like Jaycee Horn was to fall to them, then they should pull the trigger at the CB position.

No. 23 (via SEA): LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame)”I like what general manager Joe Douglas has done in free agency, but the Jets have to address their defense with this pick. I’d keep an eye on every position outside of defensive tackle — Quinnen Williams is a future superstar — and draft the best defender on the board. For me, that’s Owusu-Koramoah, a sideline-to-sideline tackling machine. Yes, New York gets back C.J. Mosley, and it added Jarrad Davis in free agency, but coach Robert Saleh & Co. can find ways to get all three of them on the field. Owusu-Koramoah has some coverage traits that could make him valuable on third down. If one of the top corners drops to No. 23, the Jets should pounce.”

Now personally I absolutely love this selection. Owusu-Koramoah is an elite talent and a player that would instantly improve our linebacking unit. To simply call him a linebacker would be wide of the mark. Jeremiah has lined up all over for Notre Dame, his coverage skills are elite and he often ran toe to toe with top receivers from the slot. He played in the box and his explosiveness is evident on tape. Robert Saleh would use his linebacker/safety flexibility to offer the Jets a versatile tool in multiple sets.

He’s not a perfect prospect, at 6’1 and 200lb’s he’s definitely on the small side and his size can limit him inside between the tackles, and he has been known to overrun some plays as well because he plays at 100% on every single snap. It’ll take a smart defensive coordinator to get the best out of JOK, but I’d back our coaching staff. In 2019 he finishes with 79 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 4 passes defended and two forced fumbles. He followed that up in 2020 with 62 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 passes defended and three forced fumbles. In short, he does a bit of everything. Over the last two years he has received a 88.7 coverage score by PFF, having only allowed a single TD on 72 targets.

If the draft went in this direction, I’d be pretty thrilled.