The New York Jets defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15, completing one of the biggest upsets the NFL has seen in recent years. Seventeen point underdogs, there were few who expected Gang Green’s winless streak to come to an end against Sean McVay‘s impressive unit. Yet, it happened, and fans of the Jets know all too well this likely means the end of the Trevor Lawrence dream. The Jacksonville Jaguars currently possess a nearly insurmountable lead in the tiebreaker for the first overall selection. Only a Jacksonville victory can put the Jets back in the driver’s seat to acquire the Clemson signal caller. If the Jets were to select second, the picture of what they will do muddies significantly. Here are some likely scenarios that may transpire if the Jets remain at second overall, rather than getting the first pick.
Options for the New York Jets after Losing the First Pick
Select Oregon Tackle Penei Sewell
Mekhi Becton has largely exceeded expectations in year one of his NFL career. Boasting an impressive Pro Football Focus grade, Becton certainly appears to be on track to be one of the NFL’s premier tackles. So why would the Jets select another tackle at two? Put bluntly, Oregon tackle Penei Sewell is a freak. Regarded by many as the best offensive line prospect to come out since Quenton Nelson, Sewell would give the Jets an incredible luxury of bookend tackles. He would almost certainly be the best player on the board at this point, and would help reestablish the identity of the dominant offensive line in New York.
This move makes sense under one key assumption- Sam Darnold remains in New York. Understandably, fans may be wary of any move that involves keeping the struggling Darnold in New York. When Lawrence seemed like an inevitability, there seemed to be a consensus among fans and pundits that Darnold and the Jets would each benefit from a fresh start.
In light of the Jets victory, however, the concept of retaining Darnold is something that should be discussed seriously. Darnold has regressed, but how much of that can be attributed to the presence of Adam Gase remains to be seen. If the Jets were to stick with Darnold, giving him Sewell and Becton along with a new coach would go a long way towards giving him a proper evaluation. The move would likely be met with some backlash, but it would not be out of character for general manager Joe Douglas to build up front.
Select A New Quarterback
Another scenario, and one that may be more likely right now, is that the Jets abandon the Sam Darnold experiment and select a new quarterback. Joe Douglas was not involved in the selection of Darnold, and it would make sense for him to get his own guy in at quarterback. That guy would likely be one of two players. Ohio State’s Justin Fields has been the favorite for most of the year to be selected after Trevor Lawrence. Recently however, it is BYU’s Zach Wilson who has generated the most buzz in relation to the second overall pick. If the Jets were to move on from Darnold, it would almost certainly be one of these two players since they lost the first pick.
Justin Fields
Fields has had an extremely efficient and successful 2020 campaign. He was expected to do so, and he has largely lived up to expectations in Ohio State’s shortened campaign. Fields has a number of question marks surrounding his game. His ability to read the field and more complex defenses is firmly in question and he will likely require a good bit of coaching at the next level. Still, Field’s athleticism and natural arm talent are surely enough to get him drafted in the top five. Joe Douglas will certainly be doing his homework on Fields come draft time.
Zach Wilson
BYU’s Zach Wilson is a much more intriguing prospect, as his rise to the top five discussion is much more akin to that of Joe Burrow last year. Wilson was rarely in the discussion at the beginning of the year, but his impressive performance in 2020 has catapulted him into the discussion. Wilson boasts a flashy skillset. He can move and has a big time arm. There are questions about the level of competition Wilson has faced. However the upside he boasts may be too tempting for Douglas to pass up with the Jets first pick.
Trade Down
The least likely of all the scenarios is a trade down from the second overall pick. After the quarterbacks and Sewell, there is a bit of a drop off in terms of talent at positions the Jets need. Sure, a player like Ja’Marr Chase would be a fun pick, but it likely would not solve the underlying issues with the lethargic Jets offense. Still, if a team falls in love with one the remaining quarterbacks, it is not out of the question that Joe Douglas would move down and acquire more picks.
This move would especially be plausible if Douglas is a fan of Trey Lance. The North Dakota State quarterback has been largely forgotten in this process. Lance has an intriguing skillset and has a ton of upside. The least likely of these scenarios, a trade down would be the most difficult to predict. Still, do not put it past Joe Douglas to acquire as much draft capital as he can.
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