2021 NFL Draft: Bears land top pick in preseason 2021 NFL mock draft
By Kyle Edmond
2021 NFL Draft Round 1, Pick 28 (New York Jets via Seattle Seahawks, 12-4)
Travis Etienne. player. 30. Scouting Report. Running Back. Clemson. Pick Analysis. 28
After taking Ja’Marr Chase with their first pick in the first round, the Jets continue their offensive rebuild with the top running back of the class in Travis Etienne. With two young rookie stars on the offense, Sam Darnold can relax a bit more in the pocket behind Mekhi Becton and this team is only a head coach away from being ready to score.
Now, you might be asking about Le’Veon Bell. Bell has made it clear lately that this isn’t the team he signed up for and he isn’t happy. On top of that, the Jets coaching staff, which won’t be there next year hopefully, doesn’t like Bell. The whole situation is toxic to the team. Luckily, Bell and the Jets can part ways after this season with New York taking around $4 million in dead cap, which might be worth it.
Because of that, Etienne can step right in and be the bell cow back that Jets fans were hoping to get out of Bell. He has had over 1,600 yards rushing each of the last two years at Clemson while rushing for 24 touchdowns in 2018 and 19 in 2019. He doesn’t need a big year in 2020 to prove his abilities and should be an easy choice for any team looking for a running back.