2021 NFL Team Draft Page

There are two position groups that most worry HC Adam Gase and the rest of Jets' management heading into the Week 1 contest against the Bills.

First up are the wide receivers. On paper it looks like middle-of-the-road group with some above average components. Slot reciever Jamison Crowder is back and a friendly face for QB Sam Darnold, last year he hauled in 78 catches for 832 yards and 6 TD. Then there's Breshaud Perriman, a former left-for-dead RD1 draft pick speedster. He parlayed his last chance deal in Tampa Bay into a 1-year $6.5M contract with the Jets after going nuts in his last 5 games with the Bucs when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were out. Next up is Denzel Mims, a rookie RD2 pick in the historically rich 2020 draft class. Beyond that are journeymen spackle who won't embarass the team, but won't win games either: Donte Moncrief and Chis Hogan headline this group. For the purpose of the draft in 2021, most of this group are Free Agent after the season (Perriman, Hogan, Moncrief, Jehu Chesson and Josh Malone) and Crowder is FA the year after. For the upcoming season, many have been injured and haven't been practicing, specifically Perriman and Mims who need to develop continuity with Darnold.

In our summer mocks we've been going with CB the past three month waiting to see how the new CBs pan out in live games. And we continue to do so here with Shaun Wade of Ohio State. The current Jets CB group precisely mirrors our description of the WRs: a serviceable group with some B+ guys, but no difference-makers. Still, the Giants are rightfully envious. The biggest problem is that all three starters listed on Ourlads depth chart are scheduled Free Agents after the season: Brian Poole (a B+ guy) along with Pierre Desir and Arthue Maulet. Word from camp is that 2019 RD6 pick Bless Austin is pressing Maulet for a starter spot. If the Jets scouts were as successful with the 2020 CB group as with Austin, then perhaps we'll see Bryce Hall (RD5) make an impact, though Hall is behind the curve after missing several weeks with COVID. We're high on UFA's Javelin Guidry and Lamar Jackson too. Both were listed in draftable territory in Drafttek's CB rankings for 2020. It will be great to see all 3 make not just the practice squad, but the53-man roster.

DraftTek introduces team pages this month. The Jets' Team Page shows the entire roster of Jets' picks for Consensus Mock Draft #4 all with one click.

We detailed the Jets woes at WR in the first comment with pick #6. I will leave it to you to peruse this Jets free agency page. With the exception of rookie Denzel Mims, the great majority of the 2020 expected pass-catching production will be on the street after the season.

Jaylen Waddle doesn't have the big stats at Alabama, with just 33 catches for 560 yds and 6 TDs as a true sophomore for the Tide, in fact he had better stats as a freshman (45=848-7TD). Just the fact that Waddle was even a contributing component in his first few years is a testament to his talent. During the past two seasons, Bama fielded perhaps the most talented quartet of wide receivers ever seen on a college football field. Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs are rookie first-rounders this year, while DeVonta Smith and Waddle project to RD1 in the 2021 Draft.

What's great about Waddle (and Smith too) is that we'll actually get to see him play this fall. Many other of the top-WR prospects (Chase, Bateman, et. al) have opted out of the season. Here I present Jaylen Waddle highlights from his first two years - what particularly stands out to be is that no defender can seem to get a clean hit on him. Waddle and Mims would make a nice pair or WRs to build off of for Sam Darnold.