Correcting Jets mistakes just one year later in 2019 re-draft

The run of limited Jets capital continues into Day three. The Jets make their first and only non-altered pick in round five.

Round 4:

Pick 121 – Original Pick: TE – Trevon Wesco
New Pick: Receiver – Hunter Renfrow

The Jets selected West Virginia tight end, Trevon Wesco, with their fourth round pick. Wesco was drafted with the intent to be a backup for Christopher Herndon IV, and that’s exactly what his numbers will tell you. Wesco didn’t see much field time in 2019, and when he did he did not contribute much to the offense. The rookie finished 2019 with two catches for 47 yards.

The Jets took Wesco to be a backup, and believed he could step while Herndon was serving a suspension. He did not. Wesco was eligible for every game, but only started week one, versus the Bills. He proved to be a non-factor as a rookie.

New York could’ve taken Clemson receiver, Hunter Renfrow, who went 28 picks after Wesco. Renfrow posted 605 yards a rookie, with the Raiders. For reference, Renfrow would have finished second on the Jets in receiving. A Renfrow and Jamison Crowder duo could have been a weapon out of the slot for a team that dealt with injuries and inconsistency at the Quarterback position.

Round 5:

Pick 157 – Original Pick: LB – Blake Cashman
New Pick: LB – Blake Cashman

There is no need for the Jets to redo this pick. Cashman was solid as a rookie. Originally drafted out of Minnesota to be a depth piece; Cashman was thrown into the starting role after New York lost both starting linebackers, Avery Williamson and C.J. Mosley.

Cashman played solid for a Jets team that was ravaged by injuries. Cashman missed the second half of the season, but has promise to be a valuable depth piece going forward. Cashman totaled 38 tackles in five starts. Cashman helped the Jets field one of the best run defenses in the leauge, in 2019. With Williamson and Mosley returning, Cashman’s opportunities will be limited, but he will be a valuable rotation linebacker for New York.

Round 6:

Pick 196 – Original Pick: CB – Blessuan Austin
New Pick: CB – Nik Needham

New York selected Rutgers corner Blessuan Austin in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Austin didn’t play much in 2019, but did rack up a forced fumble and four pass deflections. Sixth round picks are not expected to play much, but for an injury-riddled Jets team, it was necessary for Austin to start multiple games for “Gang Green”.

A player the Jets, and every other NFL team, passed on was UTEP corner, Nik Needham. Needham went undrafted out of UTEP. He was a bright spot in a lost season for the Miami Dolphins. Needham recorded two interceptions for a porous defense in Miami.

Needham is clearly a better option than Austin. Needham isn’t a starting outside corner for a good football team, but he could have provided valuable depth for a team that dealt with so many untimely injuries, and finished the season 7-9.