McShay post combine mock draft: Neal & Sauce for the Jets

[Claymation]

 

4. NY Jets

Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

With Morgan Moses headed toward free agency and Mekhi Becton having trouble staying on the field, the Jets could certainly stand to add to the offensive line here. I thought about an edge rusher or cornerback, but the value is better for Neal at No. 4. (The Jets can address one of those other positions with their second top-10 pick.) Quarterback Zach Wilson saw pressure on 32.5% of his rookie-season dropbacks (seventh most), and the Jets' 60.5% pass block win rate was middle of the road in 2021. Even so, New York is probably one solid lineman away from a very good starting unit, with or without Moses in the fold. Neal has versatility, he is a dominant run-blocker, and he's a powerful pass protector with a quick first step. He allowed just one sack in 621 pass-block snaps last season.

10. NY Jets

Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

We know this pick has to be on defense after the Jets went offensive tackle at No. 4 (and spent all of their high picks on offense last April), and Gardner still being on the board makes it an even easier decision -- though Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II would make sense, too. Last season, Gardner gave up just 60 total yards, surrendered zero touchdowns and picked off three passes, whereas the Jets allowed 8.0 passing yards per attempt and managed just seven interceptions. Gardner ran a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash on Sunday, and he smothers receivers off the line. The Jets like their young duo of Bryce Hall and Brandin Echols, but he is too good to pass on.

[Jet Nut]

Sign me up

[Jet2020]

Deal.

[k-met57]

i want to see what we do at receiver at FA before committing to this draft. Neil is a tricky fit because he is probably not a guard and neither is Fant, and neither is Bechton, so yes he helps and provides insurance but at what cost? the OL is a good guard away from being good with our without Neil. We have to help Wilson with a receiver and probab 1 or more TE's in this draft or FA.

[JustInFudge]

Seems like it would be silly to take another tackle that high.  Seems like a poor allocation of resources and an unnecessary use of a pick given the fact the OL was the strength of the team.  Also, JD would have to swallow a ton of pride taking Becton’s replacement 2 years after selecting him with an entire year on the IR.  Just can’t imagine this and really hope we don’t see this on draft day.  

[Claymation]

I am happy with this, but the Jets need a playmaker. McShay has both London and Wilson gone before the Jets 10th pick. And there isn't another WO I would want to trade up for. At that point let the draft come to them. Still need a TE, Edge and WO.

[Claymation]

4 minutes ago, JiFapono said:

Seems like it would be silly to take another tackle that high.  Seems like a poor allocation of resources and an unnecessary use of a pick given the fact the OL was the strength of the team.  Also, JD would have to swallow a ton of pride taking Becton’s replacement 2 years after selecting him with an entire year on the IR.  Just can’t imagine this and really hope we don’t see this on draft day.  

The Jets OL was a strength? Quarterback Zach Wilson saw pressure on 32.5% of his rookie-season dropbacks (seventh most).

[JustInFudge]

2 minutes ago, Claymation said:

The Jets OL was a strength? Quarterback Zach Wilson saw pressure on 32.5% of his rookie-season dropbacks (seventh most).

Yes.  By far the best unit on the team.  Not even close actually .

[Copernicus]

Love everything about Gardner, size, speed, exceptional character and maturity level, the only thing I question is that he was rarely challenged in college. He will be challenged in the NFL immediately. It may be enough for me if I were the GM to pass on him  when Karlaftis, Ojabo, or best Wr might be there at #10

[slats]

4 minutes ago, Claymation said:

The Jets OL was a strength? Quarterback Zach Wilson saw pressure on 32.5% of his rookie-season dropbacks (seventh most).

The OL got better as the season went on and they got accustomed to the new zone scheme that they’re running - a scheme whose creator says it takes two years for the OL to get down. Replacing GVR was also a big boost. Resign LDT or someone similar/better in free agency, and they’ll be good as far as the starters go. Backup RT and they’re pretty much done. You don’t draft guards and backups with the 4th overall pick. 
 
It’s going to be interesting to see what they do at CB this year, too. A lot of smoke around the Jets pursuing an expensive one in free agency or taking one high in the draft, but that’s not the way JD has approached the position since he got here, and not the traditional way teams running this defense stock their secondary. 
 
I’m gonna hate any mock that gives the Jets a first round OL, and dislike most of the others that don’t begin with Edge-WR. 

[Flightattendant]

I like this one but sauce @ 10 is a pipe dream anymore.

 

[Jet Nut]

4 minutes ago, Copernicus said:

Love everything about Gardner, size, speed, exceptional character and maturity level, the only thing I question is that he was rarely challenged in college. He will be challenged in the NFL immediately. It may be enough for me if I were the GM to pass on him  when Karlaftis, Ojabo, or best Wr might be there at #10

Wasnt he challenged in his first season, shut everyone down and then was avoided, like Revis?

I take Sauce, he has crazy stat of not giving up a TD his entire college career 

[Jimmy 2 Times]

Where’s the edge?  
I want a edge over both of these players.

In fact, I’d rather have a edge at both 4 and 10. 

[Copernicus]

2 minutes ago, Jet Nut said:

Wasnt he challenged in his first season, shut everyone down and then was avoided, like Revis?

I take Sauce, he has crazy stat of not giving up a TD his entire college career 

You make a good point JN. I would not criticize the pick if we took him at 10. While there is no perfect prospect, for me Gardner's only question mark would be that he hasnt been challenged a lot, or safe to say after his freshman year. Again, I like a lot about Gardner

[Sarge4Tide]

[Copernicus]

3 minutes ago, Jimmy 2 Times said:

Where’s the edge?  
I want a edge over both of these players.

In fact, I’d rather have a edge at both 4 and 10. 

Would you be ok with Mafe or  Ebiketie at the top of the 2nd (if we went Neal and Gardner)?

[FidelioJet]

Just don't get going OL in the top 10. 

Sign an average G in FA or keep the Doctor, keep Morgan as a back up T and roll with what we have...

But go and get some real playmakers....

[Bronx]

5 minutes ago, Jimmy 2 Times said:

Where’s the edge?  
I want a edge over both of these players.

In fact, I’d rather have a edge at both 4 and 10. 

Say what????

[JetPotato]

So if we draft a guy like Neal early, which of the tackles are we moving to guard?

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

I hope we have a much much smarter GM than McShay.  Drafting a potentially dominant guard like Ekwonu (if available) who can also be a stud tackle is one thing but taking an insurance policy at offensive tackle who cannot play guard at that height is a STUPID use of one of our top assets.  Utterly stupid, and I'm not one to use such strong language.  

We have so many other more pressing needs.  

[Dcat]

14 minutes ago, Flightattendant said:

I like this one but sauce @ 10 is a pipe dream anymore.

 

agreed.  gone before 10

[jamesr]

28 minutes ago, Claymation said:

The Jets OL was a strength? Quarterback Zach Wilson saw pressure on 32.5% of his rookie-season dropbacks (seventh most).

Depends how much that pressure was due to poor OL play or due to QB / WR issues ... pressure comes in many forms. Rookie QBs generally get more pressure because they hold onto the ball longer, and if our receivers  aren't getting open quick enough that can also contribute.

On the flip side, we could feel that our OL was a strength only in relative terms ... perhaps "not as  much of a problem as other units" is a more accurate way to put it?

[UntouchableCrew]

2 minutes ago, JetPotato said:

So if we draft a guy like Neal early, which of the tackles are we moving to guard?

I would imagine the plan would be Year 1 Neal plays RG. If Neal and Becton both pan out we move on from Fant. If Becton looks like a bust we extend Fant and move on from Becton with Neal at LT long term.

[Chrebetfan80]

33 minutes ago, JiFapono said:

Seems like it would be silly to take another tackle that high.  Seems like a poor allocation of resources and an unnecessary use of a pick given the fact the OL was the strength of the team.  Also, JD would have to swallow a ton of pride taking Becton’s replacement 2 years after selecting him with an entire year on the IR.  Just can’t imagine this and really hope we don’t see this on draft day.  

I think its going to be more and more likely, although I could see them going edge at 10 then rather than Gardner. 

The way I figure it, the combination of a guy that can step in at Guard and create possibly the best young guard tandem in the league is really attractive for the jets with their desire to keep Zach protected. Also the flexibility it gives the jets if Fants one great year was an aberration, they have their next tackle already in house. Also provides at least some insurance if Becton can never get his act together.  The move just makes sense on a lot of different fronts, and while I agree the allocation of resources (3 first round picks on the OL) is a little much, I just dont see JD passing on Ekwonu or Neal at 4 if they are there. 

[Chrebetfan80]

18 minutes ago, Jet Nut said:

Wasnt he challenged in his first season, shut everyone down and then was avoided, like Revis?

I take Sauce, he has crazy stat of not giving up a TD his entire college career 

Wouldnt hate it, but I feel like you can get corners later in the draft or in FA.  Id rather go edge with the second first round pick and build a deep dominant unit there. 

[T0mShane]

Ekonwu gives a slightly amusing answer about his love for musical theater and the mock draft community rushes to make him the consensus #1 pick. 

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

9 minutes ago, Chrebetfan80 said:

I think its going to be more and more likely, although I could see them going edge at 10 then rather than Gardner. 

The way I figure it, the combination of a guy that can step in at Guard and create possibly the best young guard tandem in the league is really attractive for the jets with their desire to keep Zach protected. Also the flexibility it gives the jets if Fants one great year was an aberration, they have their next tackle already in house. Also provides at least some insurance if Becton can never get his act together.  The move just makes sense on a lot of different fronts, and while I agree the allocation of resources (3 first round picks on the OL) is a little much, I just dont see JD passing on Ekwonu or Neal at 4 if they are there. 

Can you imagine Wilson trying to throw over the head of a 6'7" guard.  Im just not seeing it.

[Chrebetfan80]

2 minutes ago, OtherwiseHappyinLife said:

Can you imagine Wilson trying to throw over the head of a 6'7" guard.  Im just not seeing it.

mac jones did it for a full year and he's only 6'3 (an inch taller than zach).  So i mean its not like its out of the question here. 

[the Claw]

I just can’t see JD going OL in the first again. Even after a decade long dearth, three in a row seems a little kooky.

I’d rather see a trade down at both four and ten if possible, but at least at four. That being said, if the picks stay how they currently are, I think I take:

4- Sauce

10- BA WR

2nd round, BA Edge & TE

I think this makes the most sense to me at the moment. If the players are right, this will move the needle as far as winning some games.

 

 

[OtherwiseHappyinLife]

2 minutes ago, Chrebetfan80 said:

mac jones did it for a full year and he's only 6'3 (an inch taller than zach).  So i mean its not like its out of the question here. 

Fair point but that Alabama line created a pocket that could accommodate the physics of a reasonable passing lane.  In the NFL, I personally don't see it with Wilson at 6'1 and less of a pocket than in college but I've been wrong plenty of times before.  

 

I'm actually with you on creating a dominant offensive line, I just favor Ekwonu at 6'4".  I worry he might be gone before #4.  And I also laugh at McShay's rationale as he doesn't move Neal to guard but keeps him at tackle where we should not quit (yet) on Becton.  Just baffling..

[slats]

I’ve seen a number of mock drafts that have four or so Edges going in the top ten. The Jets have a huge need at Edge, and two top ten picks. At #4, with the Thibs controversy or whatever it is, the team should have its choice there of every Edge in the draft not named Hutchinson. They should take their favorite and not look back. This isn’t rocket science. The strength of the top of the draft meets, arguably, the Jets’ biggest need. Just take one. 

[Jimmy 2 Times]

30 minutes ago, Bronx said:

Say what????

Constant rotation. Throw fresh killers at the quarterback in waves.

[LIJetsFan]

I'm actually leaning towards Gardner at 4 and edge at 10 if JD thinks several good ones will still be there.  I still want OL insurance.  That would include signing Moses and getting a good guard in FA or the 2nd round.

Barring the above OL fix, I'll take McShay's draft and hope like hell that Gardner is still there at 10 or edge as JD sees fit.            

[Jimmy 2 Times]

32 minutes ago, Copernicus said:

Would you be ok with Mafe or  Ebiketie at the top of the 2nd (if we went Neal and Gardner)?

Probably not.

I want one of them in addition to a top ten edge.  

[chirorob]

25 minutes ago, UntouchableCrew said:

I would imagine the plan would be Year 1 Neal plays RG. If Neal and Becton both pan out we move on from Fant. If Becton looks like a bust we extend Fant and move on from Becton with Neal at LT long term.

Agree.

If Becton busts, you can franchise Fant for a year or extend him.   If Becton looks good, you have bookend tackles, let Fant go in FA, and try to get a comp pick for him.