Last off-season, the New York Jets fired general manager Mike Maccagnan shortly after the draft, replacing him with Joe Douglas. The highly regarded former Philadelphia Eagles VP of Player Personnel was known for building teams through the draft – something the Jets have struggled with for years. Fast forward to this past weekend, here are the final results of Douglas’s first draft with Gang Green…
Round 1 (11th Overall): OT Mekhi Becton – Louisville
Round 2 (59th Overall): WR Denzel Mims – Baylor
Round 3 (68th Overall): S Ashtyn Davis – California
Round 3 (79th Overall): EDGE Jabari Zuniga – Florida
Round 4 (120th Overall): RB La’Mical Perine – Florida
Round 4 (125th Overall): QB James Morgan – Florida International
Round 4 (129th Overall): OG Cameron Clarke – Charlotte
Round 5 (158th Overall): CB Bryce Hall – Virginia
Round 6 (191st Overall): P Braden Mann – Texas A&M
Overall Jets 2020 NFL Draft Class Grade: B+
New York Jets 2020 NFL Draft Class Review
The Best Player: Mekhi Becton
Throughout the entire pre-draft process, it was known the Jets needed a long-term left tackle. Gang Green went with the Louisville offensive tackle with the 11th overall pick in the draft, and nobody was happier than Douglas. He fulfilled his promise to quarterback Sam Darnold to protect him, and nobody is better at that than Mekhi Becton. At 6’7” and 360-pounds, Becton is a mammoth of a left tackle who has the highest ceiling of the four premiere tackle prospects. At the combine, Becton put his athleticism on display, as his 5.1-second 40-yard dash time and overall workout showed that even at his size, he is explosive and has great body control. Becton brings an immediate plug-and-play starter to the Jets at either tackle spot and will hopefully lock down the position for the next decade.
The Head-Scratcher: James Morgan
Anybody who watched the Jets from Week 2-4 when Darnold was injured saw how abysmal their quarterback play was. They could barely score any points, let alone get a first down. With the only quarterbacks on the roster being Darnold, David Fales, and Mike White, it was obvious they needed to add another. But to take one in the fourth round when there were other pressing needs not yet filled was quite puzzling. This is not a knock at James Morgan, who flashed a big arm and great accuracy at Florida International. He is a significant upgrade at the backup quarterback position for the Jets. However, to take one in the fourth round rather than the later rounds was not exactly expected by any account.
The Surprise: Ashtyn Davis
The Jets did not need another safety… in 2020. Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye make one of the league’s best safety duos. Nevertheless, Adams has been rumored to be traded for months, Maye has had his fair share of injuries, and his contract is up at the end of the season. Looking to the future, the California product Ashtyn Davis could be a steal. He has the skill and talent that had it not been for a deep safety class, he could have gone in the early second round. The 6’1” and 202-pound safety brings versatility as he excels in coverage and his size allows him to play in the box too. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is going to love using him as the third safety in their sets this season. Going forward, it is possible that Davis cracks his way into the starting lineup after 2020.
The Steal: Bryce Hall
NFL teams love big-bodied cornerbacks who can play on the boundary and wreak havoc in the passing game. That is exactly what Virginia corner Bryce Hall does. At 6’1” and 201-pounds, Hall is a leader with the physicality to match up against anybody. Williams is going to love having Hall defending on the outside, as he has starting upside… if he is healthy. The biggest reason why he went from an expected day two pick to fifth-rounder is because of his injury history. After an insane 2018 season with 21 pass breakups, he only played six games in 2019 with an ankle injury that caused him to miss the remainder of the season. In the end, Hall the size and traits necessary to become an early-career starter if healthy, as years from now people could look back and wonder how he fell all the way to the fifth round.
Most Likely to Turn Heads During Training Camp: Denzel Mims
Another guy who slid to the Jets because of a loaded class at his position, the Jets get Darnold a playmaker at receiver in Baylor’s Denzel Mims. The 6’3” and 206-pound receiver garnered first-round buzz after being a late riser leading up to the draft. One of the biggest winners at the combine, Mims ran a ridiculous 4.38-second 40-time, with a 38.5-inch vertical jump. He does not have the best release or route running, but Mims wins with his insane combination of size, speed, and his catch radius. A contested-catch master, Mims is going to make some jaw-dropping grabs and should quickly become Darnold’s red zone go-to receiver.
The Rest
The Jets entered the 2020 draft with eight picks and walked away with nine as Douglas made multiple trades to maximize value and still get his guys. In the third round, he added Florida’s Jabari Zuniga, who is an explosive athlete off the edge. The Jets only reliable pass rusher on the roster is veteran Jordan Jenkins, who re-signed on a one-year deal. Zuniga is more of a developmental player who will be used as a situational pass rusher early on as he works on his overall game. The Jets also took a teammate of Zuniga’s in running back La’mical Perine. He will immediately step in as Le’Veon Bell’s primary backup. Head coach Adam Gase is going to get him plenty of touches as he is another versatile back.
The Jets also invested another pick along the offensive line with Charlotte’s Cameron Clarke. A tackle in college, Clarke will likely transition inside in the NFL, providing the Jets with a versatile backup. He has high upside with his size and power as long as he can limit penalties going forward. If developed well, Douglas added a potential starter down the line. Lastly, the Jets closed out their 2020 draft by taking a position of need with punter Braden Mann. The Texas A&M product has a powerful leg than can pin opponents back deep. The best punter in college football in recent years, Mann will handle kickoffs too for the Jets. It is not impossible to envision Mann as one of the league’s best punter if he becomes more consistent on his hang-time.
Last Word on the New York Jets 2020 NFL Draft Review
Joe Douglas hit absolutely aced his first draft with the Jets. He filled multiple needs as well as added depth where it was needed. Douglas also made various trades also brought the Jets 2021 pick total to nine too. He is preparing this team to not only win games in 2020 but for years to come. Safe to say the Jets had a great draft that has made Douglas one of league’s most belove general managers by his fan base.
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