LSU Tigers defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. . Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets are in a rare position where the team’s upside is noticeable.
Despite the lack of success in recent years, the Jets have built a legitimately formidable defensive line that stars Quinnen Williams and Carl Lawson. The offense struggled, but the team now had a wide receiver group of Corey Davis, Denzel Mims, Jamison Crowder, and Elijah Moore to supplement Zach Wilson.
However, the team is not complete yet. There are still some noticeable holes on the roster. Thus, it is wise to look to the future and to understand the players that could land on the team’s radar. The team has a lot of directions it can go thanks to their possession of Seattle’s first-round pick.
As the Jets’ season progresses, these are the positions to examine and the players that could potentially fill the void at said position in the draft.
This is a great class to need a cornerback.
If you look at the Jets’ current depth chart, the listed starters at cornerback are 2019 6th rounder Bless Austin and 2020 5th rounder Bryce Hall. While many draft analysts loved Bryce Hall, the fact remains that the Jets have not put much value into the position thus far.
Luckily for them, this cornerback class is looking to be deep at the top. If the Jets do not progress and once against land in the top 5 pick range, they will be in position to take LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who is currently projected to be the first corner off the board due to his sticky coverage and speed to supplement his coverage.
Outside of Stingley, though, there are options. Florida’s Kaiir Elam is similarly talented and is expected to make a jump as a top corner this season. Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr. is a talented athlete with an absurdly high ceiling and decent floor. Many scouts once considered Georgia’s Derion Kendrick as a first-round candidate in the previous draft, and he should be in that range. Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is a slower but sticky cornerback that could go a bit later in Round 1.
The Jets chose a great year to need a cornerback, as many of the players previously listed are high-ceiling players who have a decent enough floor. If the team misses out on a Derek Stingley Jr. or Kaiir Elam, getting a player like Derion Kendrick later still helps the team.
If the Jets’ corner room does not prove itself, these names will be on the front office’s mind.