A look back at the Jets 2021 NFL Draft
There was much hype surrounding the Jets 2021 NFL Draft. Now, it’s time to take a look a year later on how they all panned out.
The Jets were coming into the 2021 NFL Draft with maybe more questions than any other team in the league.
They had their pick more or less at quarterback and decided to go with Zach Wilson, BYU. Following that they set him up for success going after OL, WR, and RB. Though they didn’t attack the tight end like many thought they would. Following that there was a mix of young defenders who offered multiple position upsides and versatility.
At face value Jets fans loved the draft, depending on how you felt about Wilson vs Fields.
While many Jets fans wanted Justin Fields over Zach Wilson, they went Wilson. At least this time they helped him out and even helped him out in free agency, knowing they would be going quarterback with the first pick in the draft. The bigger questions were what we would see out of the mix of linebackers and corners in this draft.
For the 2022 NFL Draft, it’s possible the Jets continue to stack the offense around Wilson targeting a WR.
Let’s take a look at how the 2021 NFL Draft turned out this year:
2nd pick overall- Zach Wilson, QB BYU
2021 stats- Wilson played in 13 games throwing for 2,334 yards, nine touchdowns, 11 picks, and 55.6% completion. Adding 29 rushes for 184 yards, and four touchdowns. But, was sacked a brutal 44times.
14th pick overall- Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG USC
PFF graded out AVT at 66.8 in 1027 snaps he only allowed two sacks and was penalized just five times.
34th overall- Elijah Moore, WR Ole Miss
2021 stats- Moore started in six games and played in 11 total. Hauling in 43 catches for 538 yards and five touchdowns. However, he came in with a rough catching percentage at just 55.8%. Adding another 54 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
107th overall- Michael Carter, RB UNC
2021 stats- Carter played in 14 games starting 11 of them. Rushing 147 times for 639 yards and four touchdowns. He helped out in the receiving game as well adding 36 catches for 325 yards. Only putting the ball on the ground once.
146th overall- Jamien Sherwood, LB Auburn
2021 stats- Sherwood started in four games getting into five games total, notching just 15 tackles.
154h overall- Michael Carter II, CB Duke
2021 stats- Carter saw time in 15 games and starting in seven of them. He was able to rack up five pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries, one sack, and 72 combined tackles.
175th overall- Jason Pinnock, CB Pitt
2021 stats- Pinnock found himself in 12 games starting in just two of them. With one pass break-up, two forced fumbles, and 16 total tackles.
186th overall- Hamsah Nasrildeen, LB Pitt
2021 stats- Nasrildeen saw time in 12 games starting in two, having just 10 tackles.
200th overall- Brandin Echols, CB Kentucky
2021 stats- Echols played in and started in 14 games. He had two interceptions one returned for a touchdown, nine pass break-ups, 63 total tackles, and two tackles for loss.
207th overall- Jonathan Marshall, DE Arkansas
2021 stats- Marshall saw time in four games with just two tackles and one QB hit.
There was a lot to get excited about when this draft first happened. However, it left much to be desired outside of Michael Carter, AVT and Echols. Zach Wilson was up and down, though he had his own injury issues not to mention the rest of the offense.
The Jets started one of the highest numbers of rookies in the NFL. Depending on how you look at it could be a good thing or a bad thing, but based on their record ill go ahead and say it was a bad thing.
The hybrid linebacker picks look to be a bust, and out of the corners none of them really graded out well for PFF. But, both Carter and Echols showed some good promise on that front next to Hall. Elijah more struggled to find his footing early on, with an offense that couldn’t start the same 11 players for most of the season.
When this draft first came out it was pretty unanimous that the draft was around an A, but a year later a C+ seems like a good grade. Though if it was not for Carter and Echols this grade could be a lot lower.
Related Story. After a questionable 2021 Draft the Jets future hinges on the 2022 NFL Draft. light
As long as they can get more out of Wilson, Moore, AVT, Echols, and Carter matching that with another big-spending FA and another draft with two first-round picks the Jets could finally match drafts and try to compete in the increasingly difficult AFC east.