A Post-Combine Look At Acceptable Jets First-Round Picks
The Jets’ scouting department, led by General Manager Joe Douglas, attended the annual NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis last weekend, an event that I’ve heard some call “Fool’s Gold.” That’s because it is common for some teams to be smitten with workout warriors who dominate the drills rather than sound football prospects.
So don’t automatically assume that because University of Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy smashed the Combine record by running a 4.21 40-yard dash, he will be the next Tyreek Hill. The previous mark was set by John Ross, who caught 62 passes in his NFL career and was out of the league after five seasons by 2021.
Count me as a fool as well with regard to Henry Ruggs III, whose 4.27 dash in 2020 was then tied for the eighth-fastest time ever. I lobbied for the Jets to select Ruggs with the No. 10 overall pick and was sure he’d torment the franchise for years when the Raiders snagged him one pick later.
Of course, the number of years turned out to be just one, the infamous Gregg Williams “Cover Zero” call in the closing seconds of the Jets’ inconceivable loss that December, because Ruggs was released following his guilty plea for killing someone while driving drunk.
I’d like to commend the Jets for knowing better, but the player they took instead was left tackle Mekhi Becton, whose size and athleticism—he ran a 5.1 40, the heaviest player to run that fast since 2006—wowed Douglas. Unfortunately, four injury-plagued seasons later, Becton will be seeking a new employer in free agency in a few weeks.
New York is back at No. 10 in next month’s 2024 Draft, and many experts assume they will be looking at selecting Becton’s replacement, if not a tackle on the opposite side. A wide receiver to complement Garrett Wilson is also a possibility.
Jets fans should scream if Douglas defies his owner Woody Johnson and goes in a different direction, like he did last year with his selection of redundant edge rusher Will McDonald IV. Using three different mock draft simulators, I narrowed a preliminary list down to three acceptable choices who were available in at least two of them, so if you think I missed someone, it’s probably because he was already selected in these simulations. I also included one player who some Draftniks think could fall to Gang Green, but would scare the hell out of me. Choose one:
1) Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State tackle
With Notre Dame’s Joe Alt and Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu off the board, Fuaga is the consensus pick here. All of his snaps last season came at right tackle, per ProFootballFocus.com, but he was very good there—he didn’t allow a sack in 351 pass block snaps, including 148 out of “true pass sets.” The scouting reports indicate he is Douglas’ type of prospect—he goes to work with a physical mentality and was a team captain. There isn’t another left tackle rated this high, so look for the Jets to (over)spend on one in free agency. For the right side, Fuaga seems to be the best plug-and-play option available.
2) Rome Odunze, Washington wide receiver
Per PFF, Odunze is another player who fits in the Jets’ mold in that he is big and versatile enough to play all three receiver positions—he ran a little under 20% of his snaps last season out of the slot and scored touchdowns via a jet sweep and a punt return. At 6-foot 3, 212 pounds, he has run blocking potential as well. Odunze’s stats (92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns) weren’t inflated by catching screens (17). High contested catch numbers, though, could be a double-edged sword—Odunze led the nation with 21 such grabs (out of 28 contested targets, per PFF) but sometimes that’s an indication that a receiver doesn’t get enough separation, which is problematic against more physical pro cornerbacks. Odunze, though, was a Nevada high school state champion at the 200 meters and was clocked at a respectable 4.45 in his 40 sprint at the Combine. Attendees apparently raved about his work ethic and noted his leadership skills as a team captain at Washington. Odunze wasn’t diminished against top competition as he averaged 19.3 yards on 11 receptions over his two NCAA College Football Playoff games. The Jets could use another playmaker, especially in the red zone.
3) J.C. Latham, Alabama tackle
Different mocks have Latham going around Fuaga’s slot, but in my mind there’s too much that screams Becton about him. Though Latham played every game for the last two seasons, an injured left ankle suffered on the final play of the Crimson Tide’s loss to Michigan in the CFP Semifinal prevented him from doing agility drills at the Combine. At 6-foot 6, 342 pounds, he is considered just as much of a people-mover as Becton was coming out of Louisville, though Latham was exclusively a right tackle. The negative: 2 sacks and 14 total pressures allowed this season plus 18 penalties over his last two seasons. Still, you will find some scouting reports that just love Latham, so he might not be the worst fallback pick.
Please Don’t: Brock Bowers, Georgia tight end
Every team is looking for the next Travis Kelce or George Kittle, the star tight ends for the Super Bowl participants Kansas City and San Francisco. Except they were selected in the third and fifth rounds of their respective Drafts. The Jets happen to have a lousy history using high picks on tight ends, but then again, they generally have a lousy Draft history. I’m not predicting that Bowers will be Kyle Brady 2.0, even if some scouts have questions as to whether he’ll be able to separate from faster NFL defenders. Bowers is supposed to be a tremendous blocker and has terrific hands with some yards after the catch ability. Still, with Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert at the position, the Jets have far more pressing needs. He’ll most likely be gone when it’s Douglas’ turn, but just in case…don’t.