This is perfect

While this stuff can be considered

pure guesswork, certain mock drafts have a little more value than others, based on who is doing them, and their relationship with the GM making the picks.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah unveiled his first mock draft of the year a few days ago. Jets GM Joe Douglas and Jeremiah are very close from their time together as Baltimore Ravens scouts. Not saying Douglas is telling Jeremiah exactly what he wants to do, but they talk, and Jeremiah knows Joe’s thinking better the most. Jeremiah was reportedly in line for a position under Douglas with the Jets, but chose to stay in the media and not uproot his family from California. Along with working for NFL Network, Jeremiah also is the Los Angeles Chargers radio analyst. He also has strong family ties to Southern California, with his father, David, serving as the pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church. So Jeremiah chose to stay in Southern California.

And the two players Jeremiah has the Jets picking are a perfect combination, at least from where I’m sitting.

With the 4th pick of the 2022 draft, he has them picking Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, and at 10, he has them grabbing Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie.

That is ideal since these are perhaps their two biggest needs, dynamic edge-rusher and #1 cornerback. And this wouldn’t be reaching for need, which is generally a mistake, but marrying need with the value board.

Here is what Jeremiah said about the Jets picking Thibodeaux:

“I’d be very tempted to take Ikem Ekwonu here (I have the N.C. State tackle as my top offensive lineman), but the Jets defense was notoriously awful last year. They will get Carl Lawson back (Achilles), but they still need more pass rush. I could see Thibodeaux sliding, but his blend of length and burst is impressive.”

While Douglas loves picking offensive linemen, he needs to take a pass this year, at least in the first round, because as Jeremiah noted, the Jets’ defense was “notoriously awful” last year. They were ranked 32nd in the NFL. Doesn’t get worse than that. And for people who point to the offensive line issues, keep in mind, the Jets line wasn’t bad for a nice stretch, but then was awful in Buffalo, but keep in mind, their starting center Connor McGovern and left tackle George Fant were out, two guys who had very good seasons and are both under contract next year.

As for picking McDuffie, Jeremiah wrote:

“McDuffie is an ultra-clean player on tape. He’s quick, fluid, tough, rarely out of position and can play the ball. He’d upgrade the Jets’ intriguing mix of talented young players at the position.”

Man, do they need a guy like this. There are people hyping up the Jets’ young corners now, and it’s a bit hyperbolic, considering what we witnessed this past season, with good quarterbacks generally having their way against the Jets’ pass defense.

As for the theory that Robert Saleh, coming from the Pete Carroll tree, thinks you can get system corners late, they need to put that theory on the back burner this year. They need a bonafide #1 cornerback with elite cover skills. They can’t get cute this year and wait until late to address this position, it needs to be done early.

So this combination that Jeremiah has the Jets picking in the first-round is flat-out perfect, and if it actually happens, the Jets and their fans should be thrilled.

January 24, 2022

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