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This is a good year to be shopping for this need.
Talking about the Jets need for a coverage linebacker, and this draft has quite a few good ones. This might not be as sexy a need as a QB, CB or pass rusher, but it’s a big one for Gang Green.
Former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah, who worked with Joe Douglas in Baltimore, feels there is a big-time sleeper out of Kentucky, who might be moving into the first round.
“If you’re asking me for somebody that’s going to go outside the top 10 that I think could be a Rookie of the Year type impact, I’ll go to Kentucky and I’ll go to the linebacker because Jamin Davis, who is listed at 6’4″, 234 pounds, again, I keep telling you guys what these guys are listed at because we have no verified numbers on any of them,” Jeremiah said. “He looks so much like Darius Leonard (Indianapolis Colts) when you study him, and you saw the impact that Darius Leonard had as a rookie coming in the second round.
“I think this kid is going to find his way in the first round once he gets to the pro day and people get a chance to really put their eyes on him. But he’s just got some wow plays with his range, with his ability again in pass coverage. You watch the Tennessee game, that kid has got a 85-yard pick six in that game. He covers tight ends all over the field. He’s quick to trigger. He’s got really good eyes.
“So he’s somebody that — I mean, I didn’t honestly know who he was during the fall. Nobody had said anything to me about him, and then you’re kind of going through and watching on tape and this guy just jumps off the screen. I did find out from a couple buddies in the league, yeah, they weren’t trying to get that one out, but you can’t hide how athletic that kid is. He’d be somebody I think has got like legitimate rookie of the year type ability that you don’t hear talked about in the top half of the first round.”
At the top of the list is Penn State’s Micah Parsons, who the Jets might have a shot at if they land a pick in a trade into the 8-12 area.
“As impressive as his range and instincts are against the run, to me it’s what [Parsons] does in coverage,” said Jeremiah. “You see him cover tight ends, you see him cover backs. He would fit in with that versatility that everybody is looking for. But more than anything else, I think with linebackers right now, I’m looking at guys that can really run and cover, and he can do it.”
Who else?
“You’ve got (Jeremiah) Owusu-Koramoah from Notre Dame who’s going to be a fascinating player, who played at like 210, 215 pounds, but just runs all over the place, makes all kinds of plays. You can deploy him in a lot of different ways, almost function as a strong safety, you can use him as a nickel linebacker. You’ve got Zaven Collins from Tulsa. You’re talking about somebody that’s 6’4″, 260 pounds that can really run and cover. Nick Bolton from Missouri; Jamin Davis from Kentucky; Jabril Cox from LSU; Pete Werner and Baron Browning from Ohio State; Chazz Surratt from North Carolina. All those guys are modern-day linebackers to deal with these tight ends and athletic backs out of the backfield. That to me is a really, really good group of off-the-ball guys.”
The Jets need to get one of these guys to work at 1 Jets Drive.
March 11, 2021
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