PFF Grades the Jets Draft

[Jetlife33]

NEW YORK JETS

R1 (2): QB Zach Wilson, BYU
R1 (14): iOL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
R2 (34): WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
R4 (107): RB Michael Carter, North Carolina
R5 (146): S Jamien Sherwood, Auburn
R5 (154): CB Michael Carter II, Duke
R5 (175): CB Jason Pinnock, Pittsburgh
R6 (186): S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
R6 (200): CB Brandin Echols, Kentucky
R6 (207): DI Jonathan Marshall, Arkansas

Day 1: One year ago, no one could have foreseen Zach Wilson being the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. But here we are. The BYU quarterback had a breakout 2020 campaign that saw his PFF grade shoot up from 80.5 as a freshman and 76.2 as a sophomore in 2018 and 2019, respectively, to a stunning 95.4 mark.

The Jets have thrown a lot of resources at their offensive line already, but they haven’t come close to completing the rebuild yet. And they were smart to acknowledge that with another first-round pick. Trading up to make it happen harms the grade on this pick, but Vera-Tucker is an excellent player, ranking 21st on PFF’s Big Board. He was an excellent tackle at USC, earning an 89.2 PFF pass-blocking grade on true pass sets last year. He could potentially play right tackle or guard for the Jets.

Day 2: The New York Jets take Elijah Moore, who ranked 22nd on the PFF Big Board heading into the draft. Moore is a prototypical super-slot receiver. His floor will likely allow the Jets to replace Jamison Crowder for a lot less money, and his ceiling is an ability to succeed on the outside in a similar manner to other small receivers, such as Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin in Seattle. Moore helps revamp New York’s receiving corps for new quarterback Zach Wilson.

Day 3: Instead of reaching for a running back on Days 1 or 2, the Jets addressed the position in the proper way by waiting until Day 3 to take Michael Carter here at Pick 107. He’s an incredibly small player, but his cuts, balance and overall athleticism helped him put up monster numbers. Since 2018, Carter ranks second to only former teammate Javonte Williams among FBS running backs in percentage of runs picking up a 10-plus yard gain (21%). In 2020, Carter joined Alabama’s Najee Harris as the only back to rank inside the top 10 in both rushing and receiving grades.

Draft Grade: A

[Joe W. Namath]

Its an A+ but they were close.

[Lith]

I really like PFF and highly value their analytics. and player opinions/grades.

At least for today.

[JoJoTownsell1]

Pff hosting a draft recap show now on YouTube. Jets should be up soon.

https://youtu.be/K8K2z515ux0

 

[nycdan]

Simple.  Probably upgraded four starters.  Didn't surrender any future picks to do it.

If you believe that, it's an A.  

[Thai Jet]

Seems like a fair assessment and grade. I hated giving up 2 third rounders to move up but they got the guy they really wanted. 

[Big_Slick]

The draft would have been an A++ if they took Jenkins rather than Moore who, like PFF said, is a replacement to one of the best offensive players we have. I like Moore and his explosive play potential but just feel that JD blew the chance to complete the OL.

[Tranquilo]

7 minutes ago, Big_Slick said:

The draft would have been an A++ if they took Jenkins rather than Moore who, like PFF said, is a replacement to one of the best offensive players we have. I like Moore and his explosive play potential but just feel that JD blew the chance to complete the OL.

I think there were concerns about Jenkin’s hip and I guess how he did in the interviews. We will still improve the line, and hopefully Fant and McGovern are better in the new scheme.

 

[PepPep]

3 minutes ago, Big_Slick said:

The draft would have been an A++ if they took Jenkins rather than Moore who, like PFF said, is a replacement to one of the best offensive players we have. I like Moore and his explosive play potential but just feel that JD blew the chance to complete the OL.

I actually agree. I really wanted them to take Jenkins right there and plug him in at RG (eventually moving him to RT). However, I think the wild card here is that JD may want to see what he has in Clark and Edoga at the RG/RT position in this scheme while he pretty much knows Crowder is not going to be a long term answer and this is his final season. In that sense, it makes sense that he picked up one of the top slot receivers and will probably wait to address the right side of the O-line in the next draft- once he gets a better sense of where Clark and Edoga are in their development.  

[k-met57]

Just now, Tranquilo said:

I think there were concerns about Jenkin’s hip and I guess how he did in the interviews. We will still improve the line, and hopefully Fant and McGovern are better in the new scheme.

 

i think there is an underrated point that McGovern should be much better with AVT on the left side. and McGovern being better will have a knock on effect on the right side of the line as well....no matter who is there.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Better than Chad Reuter on nfl.com, who gave everyone and their mothers an A, but Jets only a B. Would annoy me greatly if I cared about Chad Reuter’s opinion, which I of course don’t. Just an example of an entertaining fool. 

[Leftylarry]

I dunno how you grade a draft in a vacuum.

To me the considerations are, how much draft capital did you have and how much return did you get for that capital.

I look at a team like Cleve drafting pretty late with three less top 100 picks and I would say they maxed out pretty much the most they could have out of their draft capital.

Not sure the Jets did and therefore an A or A+ could only be given to us down the road and only after Wilson and AVT or such huge difference makers that the spending of such valuable draft capital on them is justified.

[Maxman]

39 minutes ago, nycdan said:

Simple.  Probably upgraded four starters.  Didn't surrender any future picks to do it.

If you believe that, it's an A.  

Actually two of the positions weren't actually upgraded starters. Don't you remember last season? It was so bad under Gase that by the end of the year the Jets only had 9 guys on the field for offense.

8 really since one of them was Frank Gore lol.

[CanadienJetsFan]

 

[CanadienJetsFan]

https://twitter.com/mikefrancesa/status/1388714607343194113?s=21

[Lith]

33 minutes ago, Big_Slick said:

The draft would have been an A++ if they took Jenkins rather than Moore who, like PFF said, is a replacement to one of the best offensive players we have. I like Moore and his explosive play potential but just feel that JD blew the chance to complete the OL.

I hear ya, and said the same thing on Thursday night.  But as we got closer to Firday night, I was not sure he wanted to send a rookie QB out there with two rookie starters on the OL. 

With 2 picks each in R1 and R2, I think next year is the time to complete the OL.

[The Crusher]

1 hour ago, Joe W. Namath said:

Its an A+ but they were close.

I guess moving up for the exact lineman they wanted cost them the plus. If he and Becton dominate on the left side for the next decade I think we can forgive it. 

[rangerous]

i think it was a good draft.  wilson seems like he can make things exciting and tucker should hold down an oline position from day one.  moore looks to be a good receiver who will get good minutes this season unless they move on from crowder.  the rest of the guys, who knows.  maybe a little offense top heavy but the oline needed serious work and wilson looks to be a serious upgrade to darnold.  one thing to point out, i'd be willing to bet douglas knows what he's got in the rest of the players on the team.  i can see clark finally getting a shot to move someone out.  it'll be interesting to see if morgan gets a shot too.

now it's all on saleh to make this team work.

[Shockwave]

Ill have a lenghty post in a week or two - But this was my favorite draft or top 2 in the last 20 years. That includes if they all boom or they all bust. 

This is going to be a really fun team soon. 

[Beerfish]

The top end of the draft (1st 4 picks) including the trade up for Vera-Tucker is an A to A + for sure.

Disappointed he did not draft at least one more oilenman in a deep oline draft, the same error he made with Wr last year. 

Very much targeted specific players and types later in the draft which was good but a bit overkill in the back end.

Did not like the KC trade, made no sense, Douglas himself would have to explain that to me.

Overall I'd give it an A but barely, close to a B+

[Wit]

Some of the lower grades have a lot  to do with the Justin fields vs Zach Wilson debate. If you think fields is better than it’s a pretty bad draft and vice Versa. 

[The Crusher]

1 hour ago, Wit said:

Some of the lower grades have a lot  to do with the Justin fields vs Zach Wilson debate. If you think fields is better than it’s a pretty bad draft and vice Versa. 

Ultimately doesn’t matter who we like between those two anymore. The coaches obviously think Zach fits what they want to do on offense the best. Now we wait and see. 

[GreenReaper]

I do admit that my A grade is based on my belief that the collaboration between JD-Saleh is a good one.  And that these picks are a reflection of a cohesive working together between FO-CS.  And that they accomplished what they wanted from this draft.   

Using the higher picks on offense was an agreement that Jets needed to fix it.  To protect ZW and give him weapons to help him succeed.

The mid-late picks focused on what Saleh-Ulbrich wanted for what will mostly be their 4-2-5 schemes.  Hybrid type players.  That have positional versatility with speed and athleticism. The only player picked here that doesn't fit roles at CB-LB-F/S Safety was  DT Marshall.  A 310 lbs athletic freak...that ran a 4.88 on his pro day.  

Add to this are UDFAs and potential FAs that can still be signed.  Yeea...I'm feeling a A grade about this FA-draft process so far.  That's still an unfinished work-in-progress.  More to come me thinks.     

[Wit]

26 minutes ago, The Crusher said:

Ultimately doesn’t matter who we like between those two anymore. The coaches obviously think Zach fits what they want to do on offense the best. Now we wait and see. 

Yeah, that’s why a team that picks a high QB usually shouldn’t be graded for any more than picking who they probably should. After that it’s team building and coaching. 

[Greensleeves]

1 hour ago, Big_Slick said:

The draft would have been an A++ if they took Jenkins rather than Moore who, like PFF said, is a replacement to one of the best offensive players we have. I like Moore and his explosive play potential but just feel that JD blew the chance to complete the OL.

They also said that they love Moore and a receiver that gets open quickly is a QBs best friend. I don't buy what they said about getting two good tackles instead of one great tackle. That reasoning breeds mediocrity. We have a new scheme, new coaches, young OTs that haven't played - you give them a chance with a proper TC and pre-season games. Next year we have a ton of picks and can replace a couple of them if necessary.

[Legend Killa7]

I read this completely expecting a C or C+. Did PFF really give the Jets an “A”. Wow I am shocked! I mean I think they should get an A, just wasn’t expecting PFF to acknowledge it!


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

[Big_Slick]

2 hours ago, Lith said:

I hear ya, and said the same thing on Thursday night.  But as we got closer to Firday night, I was not sure he wanted to send a rookie QB out there with two rookie starters on the OL. 

With 2 picks each in R1 and R2, I think next year is the time to complete the OL.

I understand the starting multiple rookie concerns but if those rookies are replacing guys on the worst OL in the NFL and turn out to be immediate upgrades then maybe it'll be worth it in the long run.

[varjet]

At this point the Jets would have had to extend Crowder or Fant this year.  As we have seen, there is no guarantee to be able to sign a FA T.   So for 2022, Fant either needs to be extended, or we need to rely on a RT draft pick.  That is why I may have drafted Jenkins instead of Moore

But Crowder, and Cole, expire after the end of this year.  

 

[Defense Wins Championships]

Going OFFENSE back to back to back to back with our 1st 4 picks for the first time in 38 years (1983)...

Is an automatic A+ (for our Franchise). 

[Irish Jet]

I listened to their podcast and despite the A they sh*t all over the trade up for AVT.

They do make some good points, there is pressure in AVT to justify giving up what we did but you still have to love the conviction. You have a young QB, go get the sure thing.

I think a lot of these draft analysts fall in love with way too many prospects and are way too confident they’ll produce. Like they were talking about Wyatt Davis like he’s a sure thing to produce. If that were the case he’d have gone much earlier than 86.

[undertow]

3 hours ago, Irish Jet said:

I listened to their podcast and despite the A they sh*t all over the trade up for AVT.

They do make some good points, there is pressure in AVT to justify giving up what we did but you still have to love the conviction. You have a young QB, go get the sure thing.

I think a lot of these draft analysts fall in love with way too many prospects and are way too confident they’ll produce. Like they were talking about Wyatt Davis like he’s a sure thing to produce. If that were the case he’d have gone much earlier than 86.

Plus they don't take anything else into account besides on field analytics...it's clear JD is building a certain kinda culture similar to Baltimore that's why the interview process plays a big roll.   All I keep hearing is AVT lives, sleeps, and breathes football and puts people through the ground.   Analytics removes a human element. 

[southtown24th]

A+

[jetsons]

10 hours ago, JoJoTownsell1 said:

Pff hosting a draft recap show now on YouTube. Jets should be up soon.

https://youtu.be/K8K2z515ux0

 

Jets profile begins at 1:30:30 mark.

[SAR I]

If Adam Gase could get to 7 wins with Mike Maccagnan's injured garbage, it's a no-brainer that Robert Saleh will get us to 10 wins with Joe Douglas' healthy filet mignon.

SAR I

[JoJoTownsell1]

5 hours ago, Irish Jet said:

I listened to their podcast and despite the A they sh*t all over the trade up for AVT.

They do make some good points, there is pressure in AVT to justify giving up what we did but you still have to love the conviction. You have a young QB, go get the sure thing.

I think a lot of these draft analysts fall in love with way too many prospects and are way too confident they’ll produce. Like they were talking about Wyatt Davis like he’s a sure thing to produce. If that were the case he’d have gone much earlier than 86.

The reason for them not liking the trade up is legitimate. But they also preach going QB/OL/WR/CB/Edge early and then RB in like the 4th round. The Jets went QB/OL and WR with their premium picks and took a RB not much worse than Javonte in the 4th so naturally the Jets will still grade very high. 

And the reality is that for all the hate on PFF from many old school people on this board, the NFL has certainly evolved in a way PFF has been begging them to for years.