Three takeaways for the Jets from the NFL Draft
Jets first-round draft pick Armand Membou is introduced to reporters during a news conference at the team's training facility in Florham Park, N.J., on Friday. Credit: Jeff Bachner
1. Justin’s team, Justin time
It’s abundantly clear that the Jets’ priority in the NFL Draft was to build around and for new quarterback Justin Fields. General manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn got Fields a protector and a weapon with the first two picks: Missouri right tackle Armand Membou and LSU tight end Mason Taylor.
This was the right way to approach this draft: give Fields more.
“We want to surround Justin with just good skill players along with a good offensive line,” Glenn said. “Any time you can do that within any offense with any quarterback, man, that’s an A-plus. That’s always been the plan. That’s something that we’ve talked about before: Let him be quarterback and surround him with good players.”
The Jets’ offensive line is in good shape now. Every member of their projected starting group is 27 or younger. They can continue to grow and develop together.
Three of the Jets’ first four selections were offensive players. They took speedy Georgia receiver Arian Smith — a potential deep threat and impactful player on special teams as a gunner — in the fourth round.
2. Secondary needs handled
The first two defensive players the Jets drafted were Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas and Alabama hybrid safety Malachi Moore in the third and fourth rounds, respectively. Neither is particularly fast, but Thomas is a big, physical corner and Moore can play multiple positions on the back end. Both should have an opportunity to compete for snaps, and not just on special teams.
The 6-2 Thomas said he will “smother” opposing receivers and “lock down one side of the field.” Glenn said the Jets “look highly at . . . how disruptive you are at the line of scrimmage” and added that Thomas “was one of the better ones coming out this year.”
Mougey traded up to take the versatile Moore, a four-year starter.
It’s a passing league, so the more long, athletic bodies in the secondary, the better. The Jets added that in free agency (Brandon Stephens and Andre Cisco) and now in this draft.
3. All about Fields, Part 2
Not drafting a quarterback was surprising. Fields is “The Guy,” but there’s no guarantee he’s the long-term answer.
The Jets could have taken a quarterback on Day 3 and tried to develop him. They signed Membou’s Missouri teammate, Brady Cook, as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Cook was this draft’s 17th-rated quarterback, according to NFL.com.
You certainly can make a case that the Jets could have used one of their two fifth-round picks on a quarterback. They chose Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa and edge rusher Tyler Baron. Glenn sees something in them that he believes he and his coaches can develop.
“We talked about a lot of the quarterbacks, obviously going into this draft and throughout the process,” Mougey said.
Fields, Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis and Cook make up the Jets’ QB room. Travis was unable to practice as a rookie last year because of a lower leg injury he suffered at Florida State. It’s unclear where he is physically or if he’s part of the Jets’ plans.
“I won’t speak on any of the players' medical publicly right now,” Mougey said.
Another surprise was the Jets not drafting a defensive tackle. Mougey acknowledged it was a “deep” and “good group” and that “certain character issues or medical issues” made the group thinner. They signed undrafted West Virginia tackle Fatorma Mulbah.
Mougey feels good about free-agent signings Derrick Nnadi, Byron Cowart and Jay Tuefele playing alongside Quinnen Williams.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
More New York Sports
